Kuleana Rum Works Hokulei Rum
Kuleana Rum Works Hokulei Rum is a 92-proof (46% ABV), 750mL Hawaiian rum blend of seven rums aged from 18 months to 18 years — named Wine Enthusiast's "Best American Aged Rum" 2024. The blend centers on Kuleana's own fresh-sugarcane-juice Hawaiian rum agricole (aged 18 months in ex-Cognac barrels) alongside rums from Panama, Nicaragua, Barbados, Venezuela, and Trinidad, with no additives or coloring. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof) — consensus; one retailer lists 40%, treated as an outlier
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: seven rums aged 18 months–18 years (not a straight 18-year-old)
- Key components: Kuleana Hawaiian rum agricole (fresh cane juice, 18 mo ex-Cognac) + molasses rums from Panama, Nicaragua, Barbados, Venezuela, Trinidad
- Origin: blended and bottled in Hawai'i by Kuleana Rum Works; estate grows 40 heirloom sugarcane varieties
- Additives: none — no additives or coloring
A Garland of Stars in a Bottle
"Hōkūlei" means a garland of stars, and the name fits: this is a constellation of seven rums — four molasses rums from Panama, Nicaragua, Barbados, and Venezuela; Kuleana's own fresh-juice Hawaiian rum agricole, distilled from heirloom sugarcane grown on the estate's Kohala farm and aged 18 months in ex-Cognac barrels; a 15-year Barbadian; and an 18-year Trinidadian accent. Nothing is hurried and nothing is hidden: no additives, no coloring, and batch and bottle numbers on the label. The judges noticed — Wine Enthusiast named it Best American Aged Rum 2024, with a Double Gold at the NY World Spirits Competition. For rum collectors, it's proof that Hawai'i belongs on the world rum map.
Tasting Notes
Rich and layered: Demerara sugar, dried tropical fruit, and toasted oak over the grassy, fresh-cane brightness of the Hawaiian agricole component. Full-bodied at 92 proof — dark chocolate, baking spice, and a long, elegant finish.
How to Enjoy
Sip neat to taste the full blend, or with a single cube. At 92 proof it elevates a Mai Tai or a rum Old Fashioned into something memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really 18 years old?
No — it's a blend of seven rums aged from 18 months to 18 years; calling it a straight 18-year-old would misstate it.
What is rum agricole?
Rum distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses — grassier and more vibrant; Kuleana distills its own from estate-grown heirloom cane.
Are there additives?
No — Kuleana states no additives or coloring in Hōkūlei.
Browse more Kuleana Hawaiian rums and our full rum collection. Award-winning Hawaiian rum is still a find — order online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.