Daring Special Edition 2024

It's 2019. My phone is ringing. Thor is calling me. Two guys from Hamburg are trying to revolutionize the spirits market on social media. Now they would like to have their first own spirit, he tells me. They've already been to a number of producers, but somehow no one has managed to get the flavors right in the bottle.
“You’re such a madman,” says Thor, “I’m sure you can do it!”

Numbers are exchanged. The creative genius Waldemar tells me about his idea:
One of New York's hottest bars (I think it was PDT) would have a popcorn drink on the menu, which gave him the idea to launch a white popcorn rum.
I immediately get to work.
“Why didn’t I think of that myself?” I think to myself as the corn pops in my face and the smell of caramel fills my nose.

We meet in Hamburg. I present them the white popcorn rum exactly as they wanted it. They also get my version: based on mature rum, with a pleasant, caramelly sweetness.

BAM! A direct hit. The product is an instant success. The award for “Most Innovative Spirit in the World” is also flying in. Champagne to that!

The journey continues. Huge amounts of popcorn rum are sold. A top product plus the best marketing is simply a good mix. Everything changes over time.

A few years later, the thought occurs: What happens if I don't take anything into consideration? If I just use the best, without compromise. Without any calculations in the back of my mind.
To select the raw materials and process them in such a way as if it were only about taste?

The corn pops in my face again. The caramel melts in the pot. Fleur de Sel is added and turns the sweet dream into hipster sweetness.
17 year old rum from Barbados is used.

The rum is incredible. Powerful, yet mild. The finish in the Madeira barrel has really done it good, I think to myself as the fine drop runs down my throat.
The perfect base for my new creation.

I carefully fold in the caramel. I add the corn distillate drop by drop.
Sensorially perfectly adjusted to 44.7% VOL. So I stop. Everything is fine.
Powerful with a nice melt. The taste is extremely boosted by the fine salt note, without any bitterness.
What a firework! How great can something be if you just give in to the taste without considering anything else?
I can hear my brother complaining again: “Am I out of my mind? In terms of calculations, it doesn’t make any sense at all! The work alone costs a fortune!”

I don't care. After all, it's our special edition. It's a one-off. So don't bother me, I think to myself as this incredible aroma spreads through my nose.

By definition: fun in a glass.

Our Wagemut Special Edition is now available: LINK

PHOTO BOTTLE

**Hard Facts:**