Ak Zanj 10 Year Old Haitian Dark Rum
Ak Zanj 10 Year Old Haitian Dark Rum spends a full decade in Limousine oak ex-Cognac casks — a cane-juice spirit from 100% Madame Mueze sugarcane, wild-yeast fermented and distilled in a 60+ year old Creole column still, then bottled at 43% ABV in a 750mL bottle with no sugar, color, or additives. The house of Ak Zanj — "With Angels," for the share the casks take — builds Haitian rum the slow way. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 86 proof (43% ABV) — 750mL bottle
- Age: 10 years in Limousine oak ex-Cognac casks
- Base: 100% Madame Mueze cane juice; wild-yeast fermentation
- Still: 60+ year old Creole column still
- Additives: none — no sugar, no color
The Decade Mark in Haitian Rum
Ten years in a tropical climate is a long time in a cask, and the Ak Zanj 10 Year shows it: the grassy, vibrant cane-juice distillate has rounded into something deep and polished, while the Limousine ex-Cognac oak contributes structure without smothering the agricole character. It sits between the youthful base expression and the profound 15 Year — arguably the sweet spot of the range for the price. Compare it across the rum collection or see all of Ak Zanj at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Dried apricot and fig, warm baking spice, and toasted oak on the nose, with the signature grassy cane-juice thread. The palate brings cocoa, tobacco, and dried citrus peel with a balanced, medium-long finish. Rounder than the base, less brooding than the 15.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a few drops of water to open the fruit. Makes an exceptional Old Fashioned variation — the cane-juice character gives the cocktail a lift that molasses rums don't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ak Zanj rum made?
Haiti — distilled from 100% fresh cane juice in the Haitian agricole tradition and imported by High Road Spirits.
Is the 10 Year sweetened?
No — Ak Zanj adds no sugar, color, or other additives. The richness comes from a decade in Limousine oak ex-Cognac casks.
What's the difference between the Ak Zanj ages?
The line runs from an unaged white (San Zanj) through the base dark rum up to 8, 10, and 15 year old dark expressions — all from the same cane-juice program.
The decade-aged heart of the range — get Ak Zanj 10 Year Old Haitian Dark Rum at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.