146: O Reizinho and the Tradition of Madeira Rum Making (with Pedro Ferreira)

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums.

We talked to Pedro about:

• What sets Madeira rums apart

• Evolving his father's small distillery from a clandestine "friends and family" operation to a commercial producer

• The unique challenges of cane cultivation in Madeira

• What it's like to send your rums through the tasting panel that certifies Madeira rum

• The pros and cons of operating a distillery from your own garage

• The direct-fire Portuguese stills that craft O Reizinho's rum

• Madeira's quirky age statement rules

• Local rum culture

• And more!

If you're interested in learning more about Madeira rum, be sure to check out our Guide to Madeira Rum episode.

P.S. As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.