In Albania, downtime on operations led him to create a makeshift still from a household kettle. The result... a dodgy tasting raki and a passion for distillation. Early experiments in spiced rum taught Tom the importance of balance, especially after overusing cloves led to mouth-numbing effects. A Caribbean sailing trip allowed Tom to sample diverse rums, refining his vision for the perfect spiced rum. While training Saudi forces, Tom attended a royal banquet where a dessert infused with cardamom and nutmeg captivated him, inspiring his quest for harmonious spice blends.