Hum Botanical Liqueur 750ML

Hum Botanical Liqueur 750ML is an unfiltered, rum-based botanical liqueur bottled at 35% ABV (70 proof) and infused with hibiscus, ginger, cardamom, and kaffir lime. It earned 94 points from the Beverage Testing Institute and a Gold Medal from the International Review of Spirits, establishing it as one of the most acclaimed botanical liqueurs produced in the United States.

Quick Facts: ABV: 35%  |  Origin: United States  |  Botanical Liqueur  |  Distillery: CH Distillery

Production & Heritage

Hum is produced at CH Distillery in Chicago. The base spirit is a Martinique-inspired rum distilled in a pot still, which is then infused with four botanicals — hibiscus, ginger, cardamom, and kaffir lime — selected according to the philosophy that "what grows together, goes together," as all four ingredients thrive side by side on Martinique. Crucially, the final liqueur is bottled unfiltered, preserving the full depth of color, flavor, and natural character of the botanical infusion. The result is a brilliant deep ruby, almost black-cherry-hued liquid that stands apart from filtered competitors in both appearance and intensity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with vibrant cardamom and floral hibiscus, followed by a layered warmth of ginger spice and citrus from the kaffir lime. It reads complex rather than sweet, signaling a liqueur with genuine botanical depth.

Taste: Entry is round and satiny, giving way to a full-bodied, fruity-yet-dry mid-palate. Peppery ginger surfaces alongside pomegranate-like dark fruit, while warming, jammy notes build toward a peak that balances spice and sweetness without tipping into cloying territory.

Finish: The finish is remarkably long, carrying a spicy mélange of hibiscus, cardamom, and honey that slowly fades. A lingering warmth and gentle peppery tingle round out the experience, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Hum

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the purest way to experience the unfiltered botanical character; the slight dilution from ice opens up the ginger and cardamom aromatics without dulling the finish. Beyond that, Hum's complex, bittersweet profile makes it exceptionally versatile in cocktails:

• Hum Spritz — topped with prosecco and a splash of soda, the hibiscus and lime notes create a deeply colored, refreshing aperitivo.
• Jungle Bird — substituted for Campari, Hum's dark fruit and ginger spice add a tropical, rum-forward twist to this tiki classic.
• Hum Old Fashioned — used as the sweetening modifier in place of simple syrup and bitters, it layers botanical complexity into aged rum or bourbon.

Best For

• Home bartenders expanding beyond traditional Italian amari
• Gifting a cocktail enthusiast who values artisan, small-batch spirits
• After-dinner sipping as a digestif alongside dessert
• Brunch cocktails where color and botanical complexity make an impression

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hum taste like? Hum delivers a round, satiny texture with peppery ginger, dark pomegranate-like fruit, floral hibiscus, and warm cardamom, finishing long with honey and spice. It is fruity yet dry, more complex and less sugary than many liqueurs in its category.

How does Hum compare to Italian amaro? Hum draws philosophical inspiration from Italy's great amaros but builds its flavor from a pot still rum base and tropical botanicals rather than a neutral grain spirit and European bittering agents. The result is fruitier and more floral than a classic amaro like Averna, with noticeable ginger heat in place of gentian bitterness.

Is Hum good for cocktails? Hum is outstanding in cocktails because its 35% ABV provides enough backbone to hold its own in mixed drinks, while its vibrant color and layered spice add visual drama and complexity to spritzes, sours, and stirred drinks alike.

Where is Hum made? Hum is produced at CH Distillery in Chicago, Illinois. The base spirit is a pot still rum inspired by the distilling traditions of Martinique, and the four botanicals — hibiscus, ginger, cardamom, and kaffir lime — are all native to that Caribbean island.

What foods pair well with Hum? Dark chocolate truffles complement its jammy fruit and cardamom warmth. Spiced lamb dishes echo the ginger and pepper notes. Fresh goat cheese balances the hibiscus acidity. Tropical fruit tarts mirror its Martinique-inspired character. Thai coconut soup harmonizes with the kaffir lime and ginger.

What sizes does Hum come in? The standard retail offering is a 750ml bottle.

Is Hum worth the price? Hum positions as a premium artisan liqueur, and its 94-point BTI score and Gold Medal from the International Review of Spirits back up the value proposition. For drinkers accustomed to spending at the upper end of the amaro and botanical liqueur shelf, the unfiltered production and distinctive flavor profile justify the investment.

Why Hum?

A 94-point Beverage Testing Institute rating and an International Review of Spirits Gold Medal place Hum among the highest-regarded botanical liqueurs produced in the United States. Its unfiltered bottling method — still uncommon in the category — retains flavors and natural compounds that conventional filtration strips away, resulting in a depth of color and intensity few competitors match. The pot still rum base gives it structural richness that neutral-spirit liqueurs simply cannot replicate, while the focused four-botanical recipe avoids the muddled complexity that can plague kitchen-sink formulations. For anyone seeking a bridge between tropical rum character and European botanical tradition, Hum occupies a category essentially its own.