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Where Passion Meets Purpose: The Urban Rhino Ethos

Urban Rhino was born not in a boardroom but in the African bush. The brand’s story begins with its founders witnessing firsthand the brutal realities of rhino poaching in South Africa. Struck by the courage of conservationists and the vulnerability of these majestic animals, they built a brand that could fund protection efforts through consumer passion—one bottle at a time.

Urban Rhino dedicates 10% of its profits directly to rhino conservation charities, including The Rhino Orphanage and Waterberg Rhino UK. It’s not lip service. It’s impact—real, measurable, and baked into the company’s DNA.

But here’s where it gets even more compelling: the product doesn’t just lean on its purpose. It delivers a drinking experience that holds its own, and then some.

Distilled Integrity: The Making of Urban Rhino Rum

Crafted at The Henley Distillery in the UK—a multi-award-winning, small-batch operation—Urban Rhino African Spiced Rum is a blend of precision distillation and botanical alchemy.

Here’s how it’s made:

1. Caribbean column-distilled rum forms the base, providing a clean, molasses-driven canvas.

2. That base is then redistilled with spices like cloves, nutmeg, and allspice in traditional copper stills.

3. Post-distillation, the rum is steeped in a vibrant mix of ginger, cassia bark, tonka bean, sweet orange, and African baobab fruit.

4. Finally, a subtle layer of natural caramel is added to smooth the edges and create a warm, rounded finish.

The result? A rum that’s vibrant yet grounded, aromatic but not overpowering, sweet without being syrupy.

Tasting the Wild: Sensory Experience

Appearance

Pouring into the glass, Urban Rhino presents a warm, golden amber hue. There’s a slight viscosity that clings to the sides, promising body without heaviness.

Aroma

The nose is bright and expressive. Citrus peel—specifically orange zest—leads the charge, followed closely by a soft array of baking spices. Clove and nutmeg hover, while a subtle note of sweet ginger and a whisper of vanilla give it an inviting edge.

Palate

The first sip is balanced and silky. Orange and ginger dance across the tongue, quickly followed by a backbone of warming spice—cinnamon and cassia bark come through here, but they never dominate. There's a gentle heat, like the warmth from a glowing ember rather than a roaring fire.

Baobab—rare in the spirits world—adds a slightly tart, almost sherbety lift, giving the rum a subtle brightness that separates it from typical spiced rums. The mouthfeel is rounded but not heavy, aided by the touch of caramel that smooths the transition into the finish.

Finish

The close is long and dry with a floral, peppery tingle. Notes of allspice and orange linger before giving way to an almost tea-like earthiness. It’s refined, leaving you extremely intrigued.

The Bottle: Eco-Centric Elegance

Urban Rhino’s 50cl bottle is an elegant statement in minimalist design. Made from 80% recycled glass, the bottle feels sturdy yet sleek. The label’s earthy tones and signature rhino silhouette project authenticity and quiet strength.

This isn’t loud branding. It’s considered, subtle—and proudly sustainable.

The cork stopper, matte-finish label, and purposeful packaging make it not just a bottle of rum, but a gift-worthy object. Whether on a home bar cart or given as a conscious gift, it looks and feels premium.

Mixing and Matching: Versatility in the Glass

One of Urban Rhino’s best traits is how adaptable it is. While many spiced rums are too sweet or synthetic to mix with sophistication, this one invites creativity.

Ideal Serves:

• Neat or on ice: The clarity of spice and baobab really shines.

• Ginger Highball: Rum + premium ginger ale + orange twist.

• Old Fashioned Twist: Replace bourbon with Urban Rhino, add a dash of bitters and orange peel.

• Spiced Daiquiri: Lime, simple syrup, and this rum over crushed ice—refreshing with character.

Pairing Recommendations:

• Food: Spicy North African dishes, barbecue, cured meats, or dark chocolate desserts.

• Occasions: Fireside chats, gifting to a conservationist, or a winter cocktail night with friends who care about what’s in their glass—and behind it.

Value for Money: Is It Worth It?

At around £38 for 50cl, Urban Rhino Rum positions itself in the upper-middle tier. On volume alone, it’s more expensive than budget brands. But it earns its price tag through:

• Ethical commitment (10% profits go to rhino protection).

• Small-batch UK distillation.

• Rare and thoughtful ingredients (baobab isn’t cheap).

• A fully recycled and responsibly produced bottle.

In short, it’s not just worth the money—you’ll feel better drinking it.

Who’s It For?

• Conscious drinkers: Those who want their purchases to do more than taste good.

• Rum explorers: Tired of sickly-sweet spiced rums? This is your grown-up answer.

• Cocktail enthusiasts: A versatile, botanical-forward rum that plays beautifully in a shaker.

• Gift buyers: Know someone who loves animals and a good drink? This is the holy grail.

Final Verdict: A Rum with Roots and Responsibility

Urban Rhino African Spiced Rum doesn’t just check the boxes of good taste, sustainability, and purpose—it earns every one of them. In a world of empty gestures and greenwashed branding, this spirit is authentic to the core.

It’s a rich, aromatic rum that goes beyond surface-level sweetness, delivering a complex profile that’s as layered as the story behind it. More importantly, every sip supports a real cause: the fight to protect one of Earth’s most threatened species.

It’s rare to find a spirit that does good while tasting this good. Urban Rhino has found the sweet spot—without being sweet about it.

Raise your glass. Raise awareness. And toast to rum with meaning.

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