As we search for new products, I love coming across new rum bottlers. While I was initially interested in Virago Spirits rum I was extremely impressed with their distilling process. Those products won't be available for a few years. Luckily, their sourced rums are fantastic! They really show off Virago's blending abilities. Here's a look at their distillation setup:

We distill our spirits on a vintage, direct-fire, 2,500-liter Charentais-style alembic still – one of only a few operating in the United States. The process is laborious and slow and requires significant patience, skill and attention-to-detail. The results, however, are spirits and liqueurs of uncompromising quality, balance and depth of flavor.

• Direct-fire adds layers of depth and complexity of flavor – much as with grilled food.

• Distilling “Low and Slow” – where a single distillation can take upward of 12 hours and a complete distillation cycle (three ‘broullis’ distillations + one ‘bon chauffe’ distillation) requires upwards of 48 hours – maximizes our ability to separate out the crude portions of the distillate and to concentrate flavor.

• Glycol-chilled water cooling allows for precise control over the temperature of the final distillate, providing for a smoother, more aromatic product.