Don Papa Rum Takeover At FutureStores
Last night I found myself whisked away to the lush, mystical world of Sugarlandia, thanks to Don Papa Rum’s relaunch event in London. And what better date to celebrate than June 12th — Philippines Independence Day!
Held at the new Future Stores near Tottenham Court Road, this immersive pop-up brought the spirit of the Philippines to life. Walking in you’ll be amazed at the animated artwork brought to life by 3D artist Ada Sokol. Make sure you take part in the interactive moments. From tossing wishes into a smoking volcano to beating drums, we had smiles in our faces.
Don Papa rum hails from Negros Occidental — a region in the Philippines affectionately known as Sugarlandia for its lush, volcanic soil and sugarcane fields. In the fertile foothills of the active Mount Kanlaon, this sugarcane is transformed into rich, dark molasses known locally as “Black Gold.” The rum is distilled and aged in ex-bourbon American oak barrels, developing its signature flavour. Expect notes of vanilla, honey, and candied fruit, with a hint of citrus to balance it all out.
We got to try three different Don Papa rums. Sugarlandia Storm (made with Don Papa Baroko) was refreshing and zingy — lime, bitters and ginger beer balanced the sweet vanilla and candied fruit notes beautifully. Don Papa Masskara, a rum inspired by the vibrant, masked celebration of the Masskara Festival has flavours of honey, candied fruit, and sweet citrus, with a kick from siling labuyo chilli. It’s featured in the Masskarita, which also uses pineapple juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and triple sec. This was my favourite as I went back for seconds, with the spicy rim adding an extra zing. The Isla Sa Gabi cocktail showcases the award-winning Don Papa Gayuma. Featuring notes of vanilla, orange peel, cacao, clove and mint and finished in Islay whisky barrels, it has a smoky edge. In the cocktail, ube (purple yam) adds both its striking violet hue and earthy sweetness, while chocolate bitters bring out the deeper cacao notes.
We also enjoyed some Pica Pica (Filipino finger food). This included king prawn rolls with a pinakurat spicy coco vinegar hot sauce on mini bridge rolls with topped with green mango and spring onions, and spiced prawn and pineapple kinilaw (Filipino ceviche) with cucumber, ginger and chilli and crisp garlic. Dessert was a real highlight — a caramelised white chocolate tart with rum-spiced pineapple, plus a scoop of Don Papa rum & raisin ice cream from Araw. My friend went for banana flavour and both were deliciously creamy.
Whether you’re a rum enthusiast or just looking for a unique experience, I honestly recommend stopping by. It’s running until 22nd June, open daily (12-8pm Saturdays avd 12-6pm Sundays).
Address: Future Stores, 95 Oxford St, London W1D 2AD
Website: https://www.donpaparum.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donpaparum
#donpaparum #sugarlandiaiscalling #donpapaxfuture
Written by Caitlin Neal
