146: O Reizinho and the Tradition of Madeira Rum Making (with Pedro Ferreira)

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums.We talked to Pedro about:What sets Madeira rums apartEvolving his father's small distillery from a clandestine "friends and family" operation to a commercial producerThe unique challenges of cane cultivation in MadeiraWhat it's like to send your rums through the tasting panel that certifies Madeira rumThe pros and cons of operating a distillery from your own garageThe direct-fire Portuguese stills that craft O Reizinho's rumMadeira's quirky age statement rulesLocal rum cultureAnd more!If you're interested in learning more about Madeira rum, be sure to check out our Guide to Madeira Rum episode.