Paranubes Oaxacan Rum. This is a fascinating bottle of rum hailing from the land of mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico. Oaxaca is known as the region where most mezcal are produced, and one of the biggest draws of mezcal is its rustic nature – essential libations produced purely based on tradition in rural villages, imbibed and shared with the community.

The reason mezcal exists is because agave plants grow abundantly in Mexico. Turns out, in some regions, the predominant crop is sugarcane. About 6 hours from Oaxaca City in the high altitude mountainous “cloud forest”, lies a small family producer making “aguardiente de caña” (sugarcane spirit)

Paranubes is produced using locally farmed sugarcane with wild yeasts in the environment. Mesquite bark is added to aid the fermentation, a practice common in high altitude regions to ensure fermentation stays active (this is done for mezcal as well)

Flavorwise, it’s beautifully funky and briny, with a strong perfume of fresh green plants, olives, and gasoline (the spirits world – where gasoline can be described as a “perfume”), with a faint sweet fresh-squeezed sugarcane juice undertone. If you like rich funky rums, this is one you’ll massively enjoy.