From Sparrow’s rum list, Teeda Okinawa is a Japanese rum with a real backstory and a smooth, oak-aged character ($11 by the pour, or $16.50 for a larger pour).
About Teeda Okinawa
Teeda is made by the Helios Distillery in Okinawa, the southernmost part of Japan. The distillery was founded in 1961 by Tadashi Matsuda, and it got its start filling the demand of U.S. military personnel stationed in the region at the time. That history makes Helios one of the oldest names producing rum in Japan. Teeda is distilled in traditional pot stills from local sugar cane molasses, then aged in Okinawa’s subtropical climate for a minimum of five years in new American oak. The warm, humid island setting helps the rum mature and pull color and spice from the barrel, and Helios makes its aged rum (Teeda) only from sugar cane molasses, distinct from its unaged white rum.
Tasting Notes
Molasses-based rum aged in new American oak tends to land in a rich, rounded place, with notes of brown sugar, vanilla, baking spice, and toasted oak. Teeda’s time in the barrel gives it real warmth and a smooth finish, the kind of pour that rewards slow sipping rather than rushing.
What to Pair It With
This is a rum to take your time with. Sip it neat or over a large cube in our 21+ lounge after dinner, or enjoy it alongside something from the Sparrow dinner menu like the Truffle Deviled Eggs or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack. Our daily happy hour runs 3 to 5 PM, and the four-season patio is a fine spot to settle in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Teeda Okinawa rum from?
Teeda is made by the Helios Distillery in Okinawa, Japan, from local sugar cane molasses and aged in new American oak for at least five years.
How much is a pour of Teeda Okinawa at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Teeda Okinawa is $11 by the pour, or $16.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Zacapa 23. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.