{"product_id":"denizen-merchants-reserve-8-year-old","title":"Denizen Merchant's Reserve 8 Year Old","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDenizen Merchant's Reserve 8 Year Old Rum. Denizen Rum, blended in Trinidad — a master blend of aged Jamaican pot still rum and Rhum Grande Arome from Martinique, specifically formulated to recreate Trader Vic's original “second adjusted” Mai Tai rum formula from 1944.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe story of Denizen Merchant's Reserve begins with a cocktail: Trader Vic's Mai Tai, created in 1944 by Victor Jules Bergeron in Oakland, California. Bergeron's original formula called for a specific style of rum — Jamaican in character, funky with pot still esters, with a molasses-derived richness and depth that lighter column-still rums could not provide. Denizen was founded on the premise that the rums available today rarely match the character of what Trader Vic was actually using — and Merchant's Reserve is their attempt to recreate it as accurately as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe blend combines two very different styles. The majority component is aged Jamaican pot still rum — intensely aromatic, funky with the banana, tropical fruit, and earthy esters that characterize Jamaican rum at its most expressive. The supporting component is Rhum Grande Arome from Martinique — an unusual molasses-based rum from an island primarily famous for its sugar cane juice-based Rhum Agricole. Grande Arome is produced in very small quantities and is almost never seen on its own, existing primarily as a blending component prized for its extraordinary aromatic intensity. The two together produce a rum that is, in the words of its admirers, “intensely aromatic and unapologetically funky” — a modern classic and the default Mai Tai rum for serious tiki bartenders.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intensely aromatic and unapologetically funky — tons of fuel, ripe tropical fruit, banana, and an almost fermented quality. Tree bark, wet earth, and coconut (husks and all). Caramel syrup underneath.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich and full-bodied with genuine Jamaican pot still character. Funky tropical fruit — overripe banana, pineapple, mango — with earthy, vegetal depth. Caramel and molasses sweetness balanced by the Grande Arome's aromatic intensity.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long and complex. The funk persists with dried fruit, earth, and a warm molasses fade. Excellent in cocktails; holds its own as a well-balanced sipper.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBlended by:\u003c\/strong\u003e Denizen Rum, Trinidad\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jamaican Pot Still Rum blend with Martinique Grande Arome\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eComponents:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aged Jamaican pot still rum + Rhum Grande Arome from Martinique\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 years\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePurpose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Formulated to recreate Trader Vic's original Mai Tai rum recipe\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40% (80 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBrowse our full selection of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/rum\"\u003erum at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Denizen Merchant's Reserve taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Intensely aromatic and funky on the nose — ripe tropical fruit, banana, tree bark, wet earth, coconut, and caramel syrup. The palate is rich and full-bodied with Jamaican pot still funk, overripe fruit, and earthy depth. The finish is long with dried fruit, earth, and warm molasses.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy was this rum created?\u003c\/strong\u003e To recreate Trader Vic's original “second adjusted” Mai Tai rum formula from 1944. Trader Vic's original recipe called for a specific funky, aromatic Jamaican rum style that most modern commercial rums don't replicate. Denizen formulated Merchant's Reserve specifically to fill that gap.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Rhum Grande Arome?\u003c\/strong\u003e Rhum Grande Arome is an unusual molasses-based rum from Martinique — unusual because Martinique is best known for its sugar cane juice-based Rhum Agricole. Grande Arome is produced in very small quantities and is almost exclusively used as a blending component for its extraordinary aromatic intensity. It is rarely bottled on its own.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the best Mai Tai recipe with Denizen Merchant's Reserve?\u003c\/strong\u003e Trader Vic's original formula: 2 oz Merchant's Reserve, 1 oz fresh lime juice, ½ oz Cointreau (or orange liqueur), ½ oz orgeat almond syrup, shaken with plenty of ice and served over crushed ice with a spent lime shell and fresh mint garnish.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCan I drink Denizen Merchant's Reserve neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — though it was designed for cocktails, it holds its own as a well-balanced sipper with genuine complexity. Best for those who appreciate funky, aromatic Jamaican rum character rather than a smooth, sweet profile.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What does Denizen Merchant's Reserve taste like?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Intensely aromatic and funky on the nose with ripe tropical fruit, banana, tree bark, wet earth, and caramel syrup. Rich and full-bodied on the palate with Jamaican pot still funk, overripe fruit, and earthy depth. Long finish with dried fruit, earth, and warm molasses.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Why was this rum created?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"To recreate Trader Vic's original Mai Tai rum formula from 1944, which called for a specific funky, aromatic Jamaican rum style that most modern commercial rums don't replicate.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What is Rhum Grande Arome?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Rhum Grande Arome is an unusual molasses-based rum from Martinique, produced in very small quantities and almost exclusively used as a blending component for its extraordinary aromatic intensity. It is rarely bottled on its own.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What is the best Mai Tai recipe with Denizen Merchant's Reserve?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Trader Vic's original formula: 2 oz Merchant's Reserve, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 1\/2 oz Cointreau, 1\/2 oz orgeat almond syrup, shaken with plenty of ice and served over crushed ice with a spent lime shell and fresh mint garnish.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Can I drink Denizen Merchant's Reserve neat?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Yes — though designed for cocktails, it holds its own as a well-balanced sipper with genuine complexity. Best for those who appreciate funky, aromatic Jamaican rum character.\"       }     }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Denizen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42904506892359,"sku":"898498001049","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/Denizen_Merchant_s_Reserve_8_Year_Old.png?v=1782424986","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/denizen-merchants-reserve-8-year-old","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}