Kō Hana Agricole Rum Tasting Tour

Rum is my favorite spirit, so I was very excited to have been invited by Kō Hana Agricole Rum to go on a Tasting Tour at Kō Hana Distillers.

Located on land once occupied by Del Monte, Kō Hana Distillers crafts rum from the juice of different varietals of Kō, or sugarcane, whereas most of the world's rum is made from molasses.

Tiffany was my tour guide, and we began the Tasting Tour with a shot of fresh pressed cane juice.

The tour then continues to an observation deck overlooking a 30-acre hydroponic farm, Kunia Country Farms, which is owned by Jason Brand, who is also the co-founder of Kō Hana Agricole Rum.

We then went on to the Sugar Cane Garden, where I learned about the different varietals of sugar cane that Kō Hana grows, and how each variety has its own distinct characteristics, flavor profiles, and story, most often revolving around love.  

The Manulele sugar cane was used in a love ceremony, Hana Aloha; Pilimai was used as an aphrodisiac; Papa`a represented ever-lasting love.

It was so intriguing to hear the different stories!

Next we visited the distillery, where a custom-made rum still (nicknamed Da Rum Machine) transforms sugar cane juice into agricole rum.  

At the end of the tour is the tasting, where I sampled white and aged rums, each made with different varieties of sugar cane.

The awesome guide, Tiffany!

Each bottle is labeled with the harvest date and cane variety.  My favorite was the Kokoleka, which is blended with raw honey and pure cacao, for a mild, sweet rum.  I liked it so much I bought a bottle!

I also tasted the popular Barrel Aged Honey, as well as a very delicious Rum Cake.        

    

At the shop, you can also find Barrel Aged Coffee, apparel, and even a fun message wall at which you can write a message of aloha and stuff it in a bottle.

At the end of the tour you get a souvenir tasting glass.

It is so obvious how much work and passion goes into each bottle of Kō Hana Agricole Rum.  Four tons of sugar cane produces 500-600 gallons of juice, which goes into a single barrel of rum!

From the day-long, hand-harvesting of sugar cane, to the pressing, to the distilling, to the months-long aging, to the bottling - each bottle is crafted with a labor of love.

For more information on Tours & Tastings, click here.

Kō Hana Agricole Rum 

92-1770 Kunia Rd #227

Kunia, HI 96759
(808) 517-4067