Elements 8 launches new cocoa-infused rum

Elements 8 Rum has launched a barrel-infused cocoa rum to “stretch” the brand’s appeal in the UK.

The new variant takes a blend of aged St Lucian pot and column still rums and infuses it for up to four weeks with Criollo cacao beans native to St Lucia. The result is a smooth, dry rum containing notes of dark chocolate.

Carl Stephenson, director of Elements 8 Rum, said: “We decided to use Criollo cacao to add a chocolate flavour to our finest aged rums while staying true to the brand’s distinct characteristics. This infusion stretches the rum’s appeal.”

The new expression is suggested to be drunk as a single serve, chilled with a twist of orange peel or used as the base for classic rum cocktails, such as the Espresso Martini, Daiquiri or Old Fashioned.

“This is a sophisticated rum which needs to be subtly balanced with other ingredients in cocktails and I look forward to tasting the creations of mixologists,” added Stephenson.

Criollo Cacao Rum is the second barrel-infused expression Elements 8 has added to its range. The first, Barrel Infused Spiced Rum, was released in 2010.

The new variant is available in the UK via Elements 8’s distributor Mangrove.