The Rum Barrel Blog

Well, I can somehow proudly say I’ve seen and tasted hundreds of rums, and while I know there are many more out there, I wasn’t expecting something like this. I never thought I’d have to write these words on my blog in this day and age, but yet here we are. This is a brand from Placencia, Belize with a questionable image which it doesn’t seem to be exported in Europe.

Big Titty is actually a range of rums that include white, aged and flavoured expressions and it’s the invention of Frankie Gagliano who arrived in Belize in 1968. After a few ventures he opened the Afrodite Bar where his outlandish rum was being sold. Afrodite is now closed due to COVID, but Big Titty Rum can be now found at the… Big Titty Rum Bar in Belize.

It looks like the brand doesn’t have a distillery, instead the rum is being bought from other producers in Belize before being blended and, where is the case, infused with different flavours. The 44D (which I assume it’s an allusion to the bra size) expression is described as being aged in “select charred oak barrels” and free of additives, but I somehow have a hard time taking anything they say for granted – especially when the front label and back label are showing different proofs – 80 and respectively 90. There’s not much other information either, so let’s get talk about something else.

Now… what’s going on with this kind of marketing and imagery still being allowed in 2023? Big Titty Rum? Seriously? And a label designed by a white man featuring a sexualised caricature of a black woman? I’m a white fella myself so maybe I have no right to open this conversation, but it’s too outlandish and questionable to not at least point out. Is it misogynistic? Is it racist? All I can say for sure is that I would never support or condone this sort of branding. Their excuse is the old “rum is fun” and, honestly, that’s not enough…

While I was searching for information about the rum I stumbled across an article where the author, Deborah Mencias McMillan, is expressing her dissatisfaction with Big Titty Rum and I do think it’s worth a read if you’re still not sure if their branding and others like it should be allowed on the market.

Big Titty Rum 44D has no production details, but I’ll assume is molasses based and that it definitely contains column distillate. Aged in unspecified oak barrels for an unspecified amount of time and bottled at 80 American proof (40% ABV) – not sure about additives, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it contains any.

On the nose it smells like it hasn’t been matured for long. Bourbon biscuits, smoked ham, cola and Guinness. Barbecue, caramel and raisins. It has a very subtle layer of menthol as well, but it mostly smells like burnt wood. Black pepper, vanilla and maple syrup.

On the palate it’s pretty light bodied. Smoked bacon, burnt oak and biscuits. Caramel, brown sugar and black pepper. Not a lot to pick up here, it’s not exactly complex. Vanilla, some dried fruits and cloves. The finish is short with barbecue wood and caramel.

As I said, it’s pretty uni-dimensional and it simply tastes like barbecue. I’m almost sure it contains sugar and/or caramel and that it spent very little time in actual barrels judging by the taste. Can’t say I’ve had high expectations, but this is pretty boring.

Outrageously offensive rum and a bland taste, I’m glad this doesn’t seem to be exported in Europe, but it’s very sad that it actually exists. I can’t find any price for it, but I assume it goes for quite cheap in Belize.

Big Titty Rum 44D:
Flavour/taste: 24/70
Value for money: 3/15
Transparency/purity: 3/15
Overall: 30/100

Cheers!