We recently tasted Hawksbill, a Caribbean Spiced Rum, with more than just great taste on its agenda.

In 2015, Spirit of Harrogate embarked on an adventure to create a product that would celebrate the heritage of Harrogate and bring to life the essence and restorative nature of the region. They have recently spread their fins across the Atlantic Ocean, with their sister company Intercontinental Brands, to launch Hawksbill Spiced Rum.

The Rum

Crowned the ‘drink of lockdown’, rum and its growing popularity has gained momentum in the spirits world, with a total off-trade worth of £430 million, and spiced rum leading that growth.

Hawksbill is the newest spiced rum to enter the emerging scene, bringing a tropical Caribbean influence into the market.

Uniting the very best Caribbean rums sourced from Guyana and Trinidad,  charged with a distinctive and unique combination of spices. Not only does their rum taste good, but it does good too! And if you couldn’t guess, the brand name derives from its cause.

Tasting Notes

Expect sweet vanilla to float across the palate before a wave of toasted nutmeg, cinnamon and raisin breaks, finally allowing a hint of cardamom and sea salt to nestle on the taste buds.

Bottled at 38.8% ABV – the sweet spot for the desired recipe allowing the molasses base to shine through.

The Cause

The Hawksbill Turtle. A critically endangered creature facing a huge amount of threats.

Sea turtles have been swimming in the oceans for much longer than humans have been on the planet, however, they are now at risk of extinction due to climate change, illegal trading, coastal developments and plastic pollution; killing the coral reefs that they rely on for food.

Helping coral reefs to survive and thrive and keeping the oceans healthy, they are beautiful,  important creatures.

The team behind Hawksbill are passionate about giving back and supporting conservation projects to help protect the Hawksbill turtle and preserve its future. With Barbados having one of the largest nesting populations of Hawksbill turtles from the insular Caribbean, the team behind the rum they have partnered with the Barbados Sea Turtle Project at the University of West Indies.

Spiced rum and turtles may not be the most obvious combination, but it’s definitely one to get on board with.

The Mission

The mission is to recover marine turtle populations through research, education and public outreach as well as monitoring nestings and hatchlings.

Not only do they produce a drink with great taste and origin, but they have created something which will make a tangible, positive impact on the majestic Hawksbill turtles, which are so in need of our support.

Every bottle sale gives 10% of its profits directly towards funding the conservation efforts.

To ensure environmental awareness is at the forefront of every level, production, packaging and outputs, the brand commits to sustainable business practices – using recyclable and sustainable materials including glass bottles and cardboard boxes, corks from waste materials and sugarcane fibre paper labels.

Read more about the best sustainable drink brands or check out what we are doing at The Cocktail Service to be more sustainable.

Recipe Ideas

Whilst the pandemic restrictions aren’t currently allowing us to travel, why not bring the tastes of the Caribbean to your home drinks cabinet.

Try a simple Hawksbill Rum and Ginger Ale, shake up a storm with the vibrant,  passion fruit flavours of a Hurricane or try a riff of some timeless classic cocktails. All ingredients in these recipes bring out the signature spice of the Hawksbill Rum for well-rounded cocktails that are dangerously drinkable.

Drink rum and help to save the turtles!

Hawksbill Rum & Ginger Ale

Recipe
50ml Hawksbill Rum
Top Ginger Ale

Method
Use plenty of ice, squeeze a wedge of lime and you’re ready to go.

Gingerbread Mojito

Recipe
50ml Hawksbill Spiced Rum
10ml Gingerbread Syrup
Ginger Beer
1 Lime
A handful of Mint Leaves

Method
Muddle the lime in a tall glass with the syrup then add crushed ice and 50ml of Hawksbill Spiced Rum. Give it a stir before adding the mint leaves and more crushed ice. Stir again and top with a splash of ginger beer and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Hawksbill Daiquiri

Recipe
50ml Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum15ml Grapefruit Juice
15ml10ml Lime Juice
5ml Maraschino Liqueur or Syrup
1 Teaspoon Demerara Sugar
Grapefruit Peel

Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Double strained into a chilled martini glass and zing it up with fresh grapefruit zest garnish.

Damp & Drizzly

Recipe
50ml Hawksbill Rum
150ml Fever-Tree spiced Orange Ginger Ale
Half a Lime sliced into quarters
½ Teaspoon Demerara Sugar

Method
To make this Dark & Stormy riff muddle the lime over the sugar in the bottom of a glass. Mix the sugar with the lime until you get a paste. Add crushed ice, rum, top with spiced orange ginger ale and stir lightly.

Hawksbill Spiced Latte

Recipe
50ml Hawksbill Rum
50ml Espresso
10ml Vanilla Syrup
25ml Double Cream
Cinnamon Dusting

Method
Shake rum, coffee and vanilla syrup together with ice and strain into a glass. Separately shake 100ml double cream with 10ml vanilla syrup until has thickened and pour over back of bar spoon. Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon.

Hawksbill Rum & Rhubarb Mai Tai

Recipe
35ml Hawksbill Rum
25ml Slingsby Rhubarb Gin
10ml Triple Sec
10ml Lime Juice
10ml Orgeat Syrup
15ml Grapefruit Juice
50ml Pineapple Juice

Method
Throw all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake hard and double strain into a rocks glass.

#SaveTheTurtles

Hawksbill Rum is available to purchase on both the Spirit of Harrogate website and Amazon Prime, and stocked in leading bars around the UK.

Find out more about their other products on, Spirit of Harrogate & Intercontinental Brands or follow @HawksbillRum on Instagram.