What are you trying to notice?
Give yourself a specific task: compare two samples or describe one clearly enough to remember it. This is more useful than trying to identify every possible aroma. Separate what you notice from whether you personally enjoy it; a distinct flavour can be interesting even when it is not your preference.
Formal spirits education also uses structured observation. Readers who want a professional framework can explore WSET's tasting resources. The informal prompts below are for getting started, rather than a reproduction of its system or a claim that the Academy offers a WSET qualification.
How should you approach the aroma?
Bring the glass towards your nose gradually and smell gently. If the alcohol feels overwhelming, move it farther away and pause. Try a broad description first: fruity, floral, woody, spicy or another familiar comparison. Add a more specific word only when it actually helps describe your observation.
An aroma word is a comparison, not proof of an added ingredient. “Vanilla-like” or “nutty” does not establish an ingredient list. If you have an allergy, ask about the actual product before tasting; do not use smell or a flavour description as a safety test.
What should you pay attention to in a sip?
If you choose to drink, take a small sip and give yourself time. Notice the first impression, what seems most prominent and what remains afterwards. That lingering impression is often described as the finish. You can also ask whether the sample feels light, rounded, drying or warming to you.
Pause between samples and use the water provided. There is no requirement to finish each serving or to keep pace with someone else. At the Academy, you must be 18 or older to drink. Enjoy responsibly and arrange a safe journey afterwards.
How can you write useful tasting notes?
| Prompt | Example of a useful personal note |
|---|---|
| What do I smell? | A fruit-like aroma, with a quieter spice impression |
| What stands out when I taste? | The spice becomes more noticeable than the fruit |
| What remains? | A warming finish that lasts longer than the previous sample |
| Would I choose it for my blend? | Perhaps as a supporting note rather than the main character |
Use these examples as vocabulary prompts, then record what you actually notice in your own glass. Keep the same prompts for each sample: aroma, taste and finish. Add a personal preference such as 'I'd like less sweetness' or 'I enjoy that dry finish.' Those notes give you a useful starting point when the class moves into creating your own rum.
How does tasting help with a rum class?
The Academy begins with a guided tasting before the creative stages. Use it to identify a direction you would enjoy and to explain that preference to your instructor. You are gathering information for your own choices, not competing to identify a secret ingredient.
Read what to expect at an Antigua rum tasting or the complete class sequence to connect these ideas to the session. Tell your instructor about dairy, nut, spice or other allergies before the tasting begins so they can recommend what to avoid.
Published by Academy of Rum Antigua, an interactive rum education and blending experience at Galleon Beach. External references are linked beside the information they support. For current bookings and operational details, use the experience, pricing and visit information pages.
Galleon Beach · Antigua
Experience rum differently.
Taste, learn and create your own rum at our Antigua mini distillery, with guidance from your first flavour choice to your finished bottle.
18+ to drink. Please enjoy responsibly.
