Koloa Kaua'i Coffee Flavored Rum

Kōloa Kaua'i Coffee Rum. Kōloa Rum Company, Kalaheo, Kaua'i, Hawai'i — a collaboration with Kaua'i Coffee Company, twice-distilled from pure Hawaiian cane sugar in a vintage 1,210-gallon steam-powered copper pot still, infused with locally grown Kaua'i coffee, and bottled at 34% ABV for a lower-proof format that allows the coffee character to develop at extraordinary complexity.

Kōloa Rum Company was founded in 2009 as the first licensed rum distillery on Kaua'i — the island where Hawaii's commercial sugar industry was born in 1835. The Coffee Rum is a collaboration with Kaua'i Coffee Company, one of the largest single-estate coffee producers in the United States, whose coffee grows on the island's volcanic soil just as the sugarcane once did. The combination is a natural expression of Kaua'i's agricultural heritage in a single bottle.

The lower ABV of 34% (68 proof) is intentional rather than a compromise — Kōloa found that the lower proof level allows the complex flavors of the locally grown coffee to express themselves with far greater nuance and clarity than they would at standard rum strength. The result is a rum that opens as a well-crafted espresso, transitions through dry vanilla and chocolate, and delivers hazelnut and stone fruit on the finish with each returning sip.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Intensely rich coffee — robust espresso with a dark, deep aroma. The rum base and volcanic-grown coffee complement each other immediately.
• Palate: The initial sip is a highly robust espresso balanced with white cane sugar — presenting as a well-crafted espresso cocktail. Dry finish of light vanilla with hints of chocolate follows. Second and third sips reveal hints of tropical fruit, hazelnut, and stone fruits.
• Finish: Dry and clean with light vanilla, hints of chocolate, and lingering hazelnut. Slightly peppery with dark chocolate overtones on subsequent sips.

Specs

• Distillery: Kōloa Rum Company, Kalaheo, Kaua'i, Hawai'i (est. 2009)
• Coffee: Kaua'i Coffee Company (local Hawaiian-grown coffee)
• Base: Pure Hawaiian cane sugar; filtered rainwater from Mount Wai'ale'ale
• Distillation: Twice-distilled in vintage 1,210-gallon steam-powered copper pot still
• ABV: 34% (68 Proof) — lower proof optimizes coffee flavor expression
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Kōloa Coffee Rum taste like? Intensely robust espresso on the nose. The palate opens as a well-crafted espresso balanced with white cane sugar, then transitions to dry vanilla and chocolate. Subsequent sips reveal hazelnut, tropical fruit, and stone fruits with a slightly peppery close.
• Why is it bottled at 34% rather than standard rum strength? Kōloa found that 68 proof allows the complex flavors of the locally grown Hawaiian coffee to express themselves with far greater nuance and clarity than at standard rum strength. The lower ABV is intentional for flavor optimization, not a cost-cutting decision.
• What is Kaua'i Coffee Company? One of the largest single-estate coffee producers in the United States, growing coffee on the volcanic soil of Kaua'i. The collaboration with Kōloa brings together two of the island's most important agricultural products — coffee and sugarcane — in a single bottle.
• What cocktails work best with Kōloa Coffee Rum? Espresso Martini (the lower proof integrates beautifully), Coffee Rum Colada, or simply over ice with cream. Also excellent as a dessert pour over vanilla ice cream.
• Is Kōloa Coffee Rum sweetened? The sweetness comes from the pure Hawaiian cane sugar base and the natural character of the coffee — not from added sugar syrup. Like the rest of the Kōloa range, it is crafted without artificial additives.