While speaking of top Indian rum brands, the first name that comes to mind is Old Monk. The story of Old Monk is indeed very interesting and worth reading! So, without further ado, let’s find out the history, interesting story, and sfome Old Monk cocktails to make at home.
History, and Interesting Story of Old Monk Rum
The story of Old Monk rum can be dated back to 1855, in British India. Father of Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer of Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Edward Abraham Dyer set up a brewery to cater to the requirement of the British for cheap beer. The brewery is located in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, which changed hands with time and is now known as Mohan Meakin Pvt. Ltd.
The credit for the creation of Old Monk can be given to Ved Rattan Mohan, former managing director of Mohan Meakin. Mohan was inspired by the tranquil life of Benedictine monks and their way of brewing drinks in their mountainous lives. And so, the drink got its name. The word ‘old’ also represents the quality of the drink.
Launched in 1954, Old Monk is often known as India’s most favorite rum. A vatted dark rum, Old Monk is characterized by its distinct vanilla flavor. It has an alcohol content of 42.8% and is produced in the city of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Despite no marketing or advertising, Old Monk has been the largest selling dark rum until 2013. The popularity of the drink majorly depends on the loyalty of customers and word of mouth.
The Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Connection
This is another incident that we have to mention when discussing the story of old monk rum. It was in 1964-65 when Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was on his way to Shimla. He stopped by Dyer Meakin distillery in Solan. Since Edward Dyer was the father of Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer of Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru advised on changing the name of the distillery. It was then that the distillery came to be known as Mohan Meakin distillery. Now, that you have learned the story of old rum, let us check out some fascinating facts about it.
Old Monk: One of the Top Indian Rum Brands
Its superior taste and affordable pricing made Old Monk one of the very popular Indian rum brands. There was a time when around eight million bottles were sold in a year. Even today, the secret recipe of Old Monk is guarded by the family, and the bottle still has the same cap and label. Only the vats in the label have disappeared over time. Wondering about old monk rum price? We are discussing that just below.
Talking about the recipe of Old Monk rum, it is 100% column still, molasses-based, with a little bit of cane juice in it.
Old Monk rum is available in the following exciting variants.
- Old Monk Supreme Rum
- Old Monk Gold Reserve Rum
- Old Monk XXX Rum
- Old Monk Deluxe XXX Rum
- Old Monk White Rum
- Old Monk Legend, Limited Edition
- Old Monk, The Connoisseur Collection
The price of Old Monk Gold Reserve Rum starts at INR 75 for 180ml in Delhi. The Old Monk White Rum is priced at INR 105 for a 180ml bottle. You can buy a bottle of 180ml bottle of Old Monk Mat XXX DEL Rum at just INR 60/-.
Apart from India, Old Monk is also sold by some retailers in countries such as Germany, Russia, United States, Finland, Japan, UK, New Zealand, etc.
Exciting Old Monk Cocktails to Make at Home
Although neat Old Monk tastes fantastic, you should definitely try these interesting cocktails to make at home. These cocktail recipes are easy to make and, of course, full of flavors!
1. Monk Mule
The name says it all. The fruity power will elevate the taste of your favorite rum!
Ingredients
- 60ml Old monk
- 15ml Fresh ginger juice
- 60ml Pineapple juice
- 1 Can of Ginger Ale
- 10ml Fresh lime juice
- 10ml Sugar syrup
- 8 Pieces of Mint leaves
Method
- Muddle the mint leaves with sugar syrup and fresh lime juice in a glass
- Fill the glass up with ice cubes
- Add ginger juice, pineapple juice, and Old Monk rum
- Top the drink with ginger ale
- Garnish with candied ginger and a mint sprig
2. Rum Sling
One of the easiest cocktails to make at home on the list, this one is filled with the goodness of oranges.
Ingredients
- 30ml Old Monk
- 30ml White Rum
- 5 to 6 Fresh Oranges
- 60ml Orange Juice
- 15ml Lime Juice
Method
- Mix all the ingredients with ice
- Stir and pour in a chilled glass
- Garnish with a fresh orange slice
Check out the recipes of classic rum cocktails here.
3. Banana Daiquiri
This cocktail recipe is as interesting as the story of Old Monk itself.
Ingredients
- 40ml Old Monk
- 15ml of cream
- 75ml sour mix
- 1 Banana
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
- Add ice with all the ingredients in a blender
- Blend until the mix becomes smooth
- Strain into a chilled glass
- Serve
4. Hot Chocolate Rum
How about trying some hot Old Monk cocktails?
Ingredients
- 30ml Old Monk
- 150ml hot cocoa
- 1 tbsp whipped cream
- 1 tsp sugar
Method
- Combine the rum and cocoa in a mug or glass
- Add sugar to taste
- Now add whipped cream on top
- Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
5. Rum Barrel
This is one of the most refreshing old monk cocktails to make at home!
Ingredients
- 90ml Old Monk Rum
- 30ml Sugar Syrup
- 120ml Chilled Mango juice
- 60ml Chilled Pineapple juice
- 15 – 20ml lemon juice
- 15ml grenadine or cranberry juice
- Splash of Chilled Soda
Method
- Add the juices, rum, and sugar syrup in a glass
- Splash some chilled soda
- Mix well
- Serve
So, this was all about the story of Old Monk rum, one of the top Indian rum brands. The next time you crave for your favorite rum, don’t forget to try out these Old Monk cocktails!
Are you wondering how to drink old monk rum properly or do you like to know about old monk white rum. Let us know in the comment section.
