This non-alcoholic rum from Philters has a spice-forward profile and works both served neat and mixed.

When I first saw Philters Ruhm I assumed the title was a play on “rhum” the French spelling of rum (e.g. “rhum agricole”), though after a look at the rest of their lineup (Jynn, Mezkahl, and Wiski) it seems as though they just like misspelling things as a brand exercise.

The first impressions of the nose seem to further disprove any connection to rhum agricole, as it’s profile is far from grassy or vegetal. Rather it leans into warm spices (specifically allspice), maple syrup, banana, and a touch of oak. On the palate you get a pretty early onset burn that hits near the back of the throat, more spices, french toast, and oak. The finish is moderately strong as far as non-alcoholic finishes go, leaning into an okay cinnamon.

Another aspect worth stewing on is Philters’ inclusion of adaptogens (Holy Basil, Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Passionflower, Fenugreek, and L-Theanine to be specific). I’m not against any of the individual ingredients listed, and in fact I take an L-Theanine supplement every day, though I’m generally skeptical of adaptogens in non-alcoholic drinks. Often the marketing seems to promise “all the fun of being drunk off your ass, with none of the consequences!”; in the best case scenario this is just a lie, and in the worst they attempt to achieve this by including unregulated drugs with addictive potential (true story). I include this context to explain my general skepticism, but in practice I can’t really ding Philters: all their ingredients seem reasonable, and importantly, it’s not their main value proposition, and they’re not trying to sell you on some false promise of euphoria (ahem).

In our blind taste test we thought it was pretty good neat (7.0/10) and great mixed into a daiquiri (8.6/10). Overall Philters strikes a position on heat and flavor just below the threshold of being too much. If there was any more heat it would veer into Arkay territory (not a good thing), and if it was any more flavorful it might start tasting artificial. As is, it sticks the landing of being drinkable neat, while also avoiding getting lost in a cocktail. Nicely done Philters.

 

The Superficial: In general a nicely constructed presentation. The stopper has a really quality wooden stopper and a synthetic cork, and while the label looks like a thin plastic, it has a matte texture and overall pleasing design.

Tags:  Standard Release | Zero Proof