A Deep Dive into Amrut’s Two Indies Rum
Amrut’s distillery in Bengaluru, India, is globally known for its legendary Indian single malt whiskies. Did you know they also produce some delicious rums? One of their most popular rums is Two Indies. This complex spirit is a rare blend of Caribbean rums with Indian pot-distilled sugarcane rum made from jaggery. Perfect for premium craft cocktails and delicious on its own, Two Indies has received an incredible international reputation.
Tribute to the Sugarcane Industry
Two Indies rum has a unique story. Its name is a direct representation of both the marriage of flavors and the joining of cultures of the East Indies and the West Indies. Because it is a fusion of India and the Caribbean, its goal is to bring their two historic cultures together and reflect upon their rich ancestral heritage. This rum is a tribute to the souls that have been involved in the sugarcane industry in both regions of the world.
Both India and the Caribbean have a long history and strong reputations in the flavors they bring to the table. The rums of the Caribbean are incredibly popular, and they have gained a status as producing some of the best rums in the world. Sugarcane and the earliest production of sugar came from northern India. India is currently the world's 2nd largest producer. Marrying the best of both worlds into one spirit resulted in an incredible rum.
To produce Two Indies, Amrut uses rums from Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana and combines them with jaggery made from sugar cane taken directly from their farm. According to Man’s World India, India is the world’s largest rum market. People search for Two Indies all over the world because it offers such unique and delicious flavors. In 2018, it was voted as one of GQ’s top rums and was coined as “an excellent unexpected option for your next party”. The rich blend is truly a successful tribute to these two diverse cultures.
The Making of Jaggery
Known as the perfect combination of eastern and western flavor profiles, Two Indies gets much of its distinct tastes from jaggery. Jaggery (also known as “gur”) is a non-centrifugal cane sugar. Its rich molasses flavor is perfect for making candies and desserts. The taste is also a great addition to teas and rum. Two Indies is India’s first natural rum, made from Jaggery and sugarcane juice.
Making jaggery requires expert knowledge and is a hands-on trade. Jaggery is essentially unrefined sugar. The process of making it is complex, but the end result is well worth it. First, farmers must harvest the Indian sugarcane and squeeze and filter the juice from the cane. They then boil the raw sugarcane juice in a round-bottomed vessel, fired by wood. After boiling, stirring, and turning the juice, it is cooled to become a brown sugar-like substance called jaggery. Finally, the moisture is squeezed out leaving jaggery balls that are used to produce the rum.
Rum producers use both sugar and jaggery to add a sweet taste to their spirits. The differences in sugar and jaggery are stark, and the main distinctions lie in color, consistency, and taste. Jaggery keeps the strong molasses flavor whereas sugar processes much of that out. Amrut chooses the traditional sweetener of India in their Two Indies rum.
Two Indies is the perfect rum for premium cocktails and an unbelievable price.. Amrut describes its flavor profile as “sugarcane with a dash of tropical fruits and honey and running slightly dry”. With a sweet and dry finish and an affordable price tag, Two Indies is the perfect rum to try when making your next cocktail.