Sir Ranulph Fiennes launches rum distilled with date palm

Intrepid English explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has launched a rum brand distilled with “exotic” woods inspired by his expeditions, including date palm from Oman.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr John Waters taste their Great British Rum at Waters’ distillery in Essex

Said to be the first rum distilled in the UK, Fiennes’ Great British Rum is made in collaboration with Dr John Waters of English Spirit Distillery.

Rather than resting in one type of wood for five years, three different wood types inspired by Fiennes’ adventures – sequoia from Canada, pine from Norway and date palm from Oman – are placed within the still during the production process to give the rum a multi-dimensional wood profile without the need for ageing.

Triple distilled in small batches from pure sugar cane molasses, according to Waters, the rum has “an unbeatable rich flavour and a distinctly British character”, offering notes of “orange, caramel, spiced Christmas cake, vanilla, milk and dark chocolate, golden liquorice and a hint of tobacco”.

“This launch represents a milestone for British rum production. We are putting a marker into the ground that Britain can produce a premium, quality rum and it’s the perfect testament to a legendary British expedition leader,” Waters said.

Fiennes added: “Rum has always been associated with exploration and adventure, but I only wanted to work with a distillery that was daring and determined.

“When Dr John told me of the world’s doubt that Britain could make a truly great rum, that sealed the deal. From that moment, we aimed to tread new ground.”

Fiennes’ Great British Rum has gone on sale in the UK with an RRP of £49 for 70cl.

Commonly known as Ran, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is widely considered to be the world’s greatest living explorer.

The author and poet was the first person to visit both the North and South Poles by surface means and the first to cross the Antarctic continent.

In 2009, aged 65, he climbed the summit of Everest, and is the oldest Brit to achieve the feat. English Spirit has distilleries in Essex and Cornwall.