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HomeRumRum Nook: Assessment 87-89 - Rum Nation Small Batch Uncommon Rums (2016...

Rum Nook: Assessment 87-89 – Rum Nation Small Batch Uncommon Rums (2016 launch)


Photograph copyright © H.Kristoffersen

Two bizarre cousins and a somewhat stoic uncle.


Introduction

Not that way back DDL and El Dorado issued three single
cask, cask power rums. The primary ever immediately from DDL, by DDL themselves.

This marked the start of an period, and across the rum world, whispering was
heard how DDL was now going to kill off the indie bottlers who has been issuing
bottle after bottle of continentally aged, cask power Demeraras (and a
single one who issued tropically aged ones).

Fortunately the rum brokers nonetheless have there grubby palms on a
lot of older Demerara casks, and due to this fact numerous indie Demeraras are nonetheless popping up in all places.

Now, Rum Nation shouldn’t be unknown within the sense of issuing
Demeraras.
They’ve had their Demerara No. 14 for some years now,
and so they have additionally had an virtually annual launch of a 20+ 12 months previous Demerara.
However till not too long ago they haven’t been dealing in cask
power rums, aside from a few Caronis and a white Jamaican pot nonetheless
rum.
Then they issued the Supreme Lord VIII – A gargantuan cask
power Monymusk.
And now they’re firing all weapons, and bringing at least
three small batch cask power rums to the market.
As a result of they selected to problem three Demeraras directly, I
thought it will be enjoyable to assault them in an analogous means, that I did with the
three El Dorado Uncommon Assortment rums.
Very like their Guyanese competitor, Rum Nation has chosen
to problem three single nonetheless, single cask rums.
1)   
An 11 12 months previous Diamond from 2005 bottled at 58,6%
ABV.
2)   
A 14 12 months previous Enmore from 2002 bottled at 56,8%
ABV.
3)   
A 21 12 months previous Port Mourant from 1995 bottled at 57,7%
ABV.
Sound good, doesn’t it. The 11 12 months previous Diamond seems like
one thing I’ve seen 1,000,000 occasions earlier than. However a 14 12 months previous Enmore and
significantly the 21 12 months previous Port Mourant are very, very attention-grabbing.
Nonetheless Diamond, Enmore and Port Mourant are to my information
essentially the most generally indie bottled rums from Guyana, so nothing too particular right here.
Yeah, I do know, I’ve been tackling numerous Rum Nation rums
currently. Nope, they didn’t pay me to do it. I identical to what they do, and so they
have issued numerous very attention-grabbing merchandise unexpectedly today. So,
that’s why.

Now shut up and skim on.

I solely have samples of those rums, so Google might be
supplying the visible knowledge for this paragraph.
For this launch Rum Nation has performed one thing refreshing:
Chosen a brand new design. However not so vastly totally different, that it doesn’t nonetheless relate
to the common releases.
The bottle seems to be very a lot the identical because the newer stubby
bottles, however with a barely extra ”techno” closure. Maybe it’s a glass
”cork”, maybe it’s artificial. I’ll need to ask Mr. Rossi about that once I
see him in October.

[EDIT]: A form reader defined to me, that the closure is a Vinolok glass thingie, which seals off the bottle fully, offers off no style or odour, and lets you stack your rums sideways such as you would with wine. I am out of the blue very thinking about studying extra about these, and probably getting a bag of them to switch previous, damaged corks in my rum assortment.

For the primary time ever the bottles are available tubes. Beige
colored cardboard tubes. With steel lids.
Other than the previous wood bins, this must be my favorite
Rum Nation packaging to this point. Correct packaging simply provides that little further.

The tube is adorned with typical Rum Nation sort graphics
and stamps – and a brand new label with all the precise data.

Following within the
tracks of CdI, Rum Nation is out of the blue beginning to present all related knowledge
proper there on the label. Nice information everybody! 12 months created, 12 months bottled, nonetheless used, origin, power,
cask quantity and bottle quantity.

All in all, I just like the presentation very a lot! It appears
cleaner and extra crisp, than the common Rum Nation look.

Diamond 2005

Picture courtesy of Rum Nation
The well-known double column steel coffey nonetheless has currently been
a big favorite among the many indies. And for good purpose I reckon. I’ve tried
a number of Diamonds alongside the best way, and so they not often disappoint.

The rum has a pleasant mahogany color. Contemplating its somewhat
meagre 11 years of age, it appears darker than I’d count on.

Contained in the glass it creates a pleasant seen layer of residue
when twirled. Nothing too thick, however a hoop is rapidly made seen, and slowly
it morphs into small droplets, which descend slowly.
The nostril comes off somewhat skinny.
It does have some good Demerara notes, like massive juicy raisins
and prunes blended with soaking moist, darkish wooden.
There may be some recent grassy undertones, with a giant bag of
spices.
Principally cumin and cloves, but additionally somewhat vanilla and
cinnamon.
After which, essentially the most stunning factor of all: a wierd layer
of vodka.
It feels tremendous fishy, and I’ve by no means discovered that be aware in a
rum earlier than, however that’s what it jogged my memory of. A slight sharpness and an
huge journey down reminiscence lane to my youth the place amount beat high quality at the very least
two nights per week.
Humorous nostril, however fortunately there was some regular suspects.

Style

Entering into, among the notes from the nostril take the lead.
Large, fats raisins and prunes, together with the cloves, cumin
and soaked wooden.
And that sticks with you for fairly a while, earlier than it
opens as much as show some anise, a splash of vanilla and a giant stick of liquorice.
It does have a sharpness to it, which really feel simply barely
managed. I’m not saying that it’s disagreeable, nevertheless it’s not very nice
both.
Might it’s the excessive power? Maybe. However I’ve had many
excessive proof rums, which was higher managed.
It’s certainly not a foul rum. Not a all. It’s tasty, it’s
fulfilling and it’s good enjoyable. It simply wants somewhat knuckles earlier than it performs
good.

End

Nothing new happening, simply numerous the identical previous at decrease
quantity.
Because the fade kicks in, it feels an increasing number of fulfilling because it
nears the tip.
As if the undesirable parts fades faster than the
fascinating ones.
The vodka reference is bizarre. Tremendous bizarre. It doesn’t
destroy the expertise. Quite the opposite really. Fortunately it tastes nothing
like vodka, so I’m not anxious concerning the high quality concerning the rum.
Humorous nostril, good tasty and lengthy, nice end.
That is undoubtedly an attention-grabbing rum.
Going for round €130 (if you could find it), it’s not the
most costly one. Nonetheless there will even be different indie Diamonds out there
within the value vary. Will it’s single cask? Not essentially. Will it’s cask
power? Most likely not. However just a few could also be, and you need to be certain to test
them out as properly.
This isn’t one of the best Diamond I’ve had, so there could also be
higher options on the market.
Nonetheless, as it is a good rum and certainly an attention-grabbing
drink, it will get a…

Enmore 2002 

Picture courtesy of Rum Nation

Some of the well-known Guyanese stills is the Enmore wood
coffey nonetheless. Usually the supply of an indie rum or two and in my view
typically a giant case of hit and miss.

Recently a lot of the Enmores I’ve encountered are enormous baggage
of pencil shavings, and nothing extra.

I’ve nonetheless met a really superior 2002 Enmore at whereas again,
which now rests on my shelf, and might be adressed at a later time on the weblog.
Due to this fact I’m trying very a lot ahead to attempting this Rum
Nation Enmore 2002 as properly.
The place the Diamond was a darkish mahogany, the Enmore is a
bleached, soiled blond – virtually white – liquid. Twirling it yields acquainted
outcomes. Straightforward flowing, good droplets, blah, blah. The same old pure rum.

Nostril

Okay. Pencils. Boatloads, however somewhat restrained.
While you sit down with it, and permit it to enthrall you,
there may be nonetheless one thing to be found.
Large lime and lemon peels. This rum is big on citrus
notes.
And that’s virtually it. The sunshine woods and the citrus.
The Diamond had that unusual vodka be aware.
This citrus a part of the Enmore jogs my memory closely of
lukewarm gin and Schweppes dry lemon. You realize, that half drink, late on the
occasion the place it’s best to have left an hour in the past. The ice cubes are lengthy gong, and
you possibly can’t keep in mind while you had you final sip.
By now you should be pondering that I’m fully off my
noodle. And for good purpose.
I do know it’s insanely exhausting to imagine, however I’m lifeless critical.
There may be not a lot variety to the nostril of the Enmore, however
it’s fairly the attention-grabbing fellow. There is no such thing as a off notes, and nothing that I
would somewhat have performed with out. And the unusual notes introduced a smile to my
face.
Proper now I’m simply trying ahead to see the place we’re going
from right here.

Style

Fortunately it didn’t style like stale gin and lemon. That
would have disillusioned me past comprehension. It does nonetheless style quite a bit
like different Enmores I’ve tried.
A very good cocktail of pencil shavings, cloves and anise, and a
very distant couple of fruity notes.
It’s nonetheless a really good rum. Though this profile shouldn’t be
my most well-liked one, it’s evident that we’re coping with an amazing rum.
The pencil shavings are managed, tasty and properly
introduced.
It’s spherical, but additionally scorching as hell due to the excessive proof.
Reasonably quick contemplating the power.
The fade brings nothing new, apart from a slight shift in
the steadiness away from the pencil shaving parts. It feels a bit sweeter and a
little extra fruity because it makes its means in the direction of the exit.
And it cleans up tremendous properly. 
Yet one more tremendous attention-grabbing rum. Though it isn’t my most well-liked profile, I loved it a
lot.

Maybe one of the best bottle of pencil shavings I’ve tried.

The large lime peel on the nostril was one thing new and enjoyable,
and I’m grateful that it didn’t carry over to the palate an excessive amount of.
Bought for €150 it is a little more costly than the Diamond,
and I can see why.
It’s clearly a greater constructed rum. Personally I’d go for
the Diamond due to its extra approachable nature with extra regular notes. However
the Enmore is certainly not a canine within the massive image.

You probably have €150 to spend there may be numerous choices. However
there isn’t many cask power Enmores out there. If you happen to’re eager about the
El Dorado Enmore 1993, you’re looking at a rise in value of €75, in order that
is a barely totally different league.

I not too long ago checked out a Samaroli 1990 Demerara, which additionally
had large pencil shrapnel. However the place the Samaroli felt slender, uncontrolled
and harmful, the RN Enmore is extra rounded, extra managed and fewer of an
I.E.D. The warmth is even stored in test, and it felt nowhere close to as aggressive
because the a lot older and weaker Samaroli.
Due to this fact it get away with a pleasant…

Port Mourant 1995

Picture courtesy of Rum Nation

Final however not least, the 21 12 months previous Port Mourant.

Aaah. Port Mourant. Maybe essentially the most well-known of all Guyanese
stills. The double wood pot nonetheless. 

The final one on the planet. In operation
for 1,000,000 years. Made by God on the twelfth day of creation, proper after he
created Adam and Eve, sugar cane, the cane press, yeast and the artwork of
distilling.
Jokes apart, this one is virtually an identical to the
Diamond in color, which elevated my shock with the Diamond color. The PM
is sort of twice as previous and virtually the identical color. Unusual.
If you happen to give it a twirl, it’s going to react as you count on. Good
layer, good ring, good droplets, good gravity.

Nostril

Already on the nostril, you will really feel proper at house.
This can be a very typical Port Mourant.
Heavy in nature, with preliminary notes of darkish wooden, anise,
juice prunes and winey tannins.
I’m questioning the place the large muscle groups of the 57.7% ABV are
hiding.
To date it feels extra like every other sub 50% Port Mourant,
than a sub 60% beast. However I’ve been stunned previously, so let’s see what
occurs.
Beneath the traditional Port Mourant profile, there may be additionally some
ripe limes. Juice and peel.
And within the background, somewhat burnt rubber, however nothing to
intimidating.
All the things blends collectively in a means which is smart. A bit
layered, however not separated.
I hope it tastes equally properly.

Style

And there we have now it … the hidden beast!
Wauw! The primary sip virtually tore my head straight off.
Though ”simply” medium profiled, it confirmed me a stage of
flavour and power, that needed to be taken severely.
First the traditional Port Mourant wooden. Excessive on oak, excessive on
tannins, with a giant, juice pink wine character.
Then got here an unusually giant bag of dried fruits, with
prunes, figs, juicy raisins and apricots.
It feels extra fruity than most different Port Mourants I’ve
tried, and it brings some sweetness to the desk.
Large quantities of liquorice. The uncooked and fairly bitter pure
liquorice. Very good.
The one other wave of darkish, heavy wooden, however with out feeling
over oaked.

There is no such thing as a doubt in my thoughts, that it is a excellent Port
Mourant. It’s tremendous tasty, and feels properly composed, balanced, flavourful and
attention-grabbing.

It dies off a bit too rapidly. While you survive the primary
blast, and also you expertise how tasty it’s, you’ll need it to remain for a really
very long time.
Maybe the bitterness from the liquorice and the tannins
does too good of a job of cleansing up, and form of jumps the gun a bit.
By no means the much less the fade continues to be very tasty, and brings out
somewhat of the lime-features from the nostril.

Score

That is by far my favorite amongst these three new cask
power Demeraras.
Far more tasty and far more properly composed than the Diamond
and the Enmore.
No humorous stuff, only a nice, previous Port Mourant.

I’ve discovered the PM for something between €200 and €250, and
that’s quite a bit.

It’s nonetheless what these previous, single cask Demeraras value
today.
I’d nonetheless recommendation you to strive before you purchase. Cask power
rums should not an immediate love affair for everyone. Some could desire one of many
45-46% Demeraras from the Rum Nation previous – or every other bottler for that
matter.
If you’re a cask power fanboy like me, you’ll get pleasure from
the Port Mourant very a lot.
The standard of this rum needs to be somewhat apparent. I actually assume
it’s. However realizing how insane a cask power Demerara might be, this Port
Mourant is probably too light and too straightforward going.
And that’s the reason it received’t attain the highest of rum world. But it surely nonetheless leaves with a…

Score: 87/100

Ultimate Ideas

What an amazing expertise. As soon as once more Mr. Rossi has issued a
lot of rums, which makes you are feeling that you’re attempting one thing new.
The unusual vodka-Diamond, the gin and Schweppes-Enmore and
the superior, however light, traditional Port Mourant.
Two bizarre cousins and a somewhat stoic uncle.
A set of this unusual household will set you again round €520,
so most individuals will assume twice earlier than getting the total vary.
The cheaper Diamond and Enmore could lure some to offer them a
go with out having tried it first. However in my world the actual gem is the far more
costly Port Mourant.

Even on the €200 mark it’s a nice rum. No query about
it.

Cask power and smaller batch rums are getting extra and
extra standard today, and folks appear to be keen to half with giant
quantities of money for such bottlings, so the evolution of the Rum Nation line-up
may be very comprehensible.
I acknowledge the hassle from Mr. Rossi with these rums, and
I for one am not going to complain about extra cask power rums. However I can’t
assist however marvel if that is really the precise transfer for Rum Nation.
In my view Rum Nation is the king of 40-46% indie
bottlings. They churn out a big and diversified line up of rums from everywhere in the
old style origins, and so they do it very, very properly.
The Port Mourant was stellar, however the different two weren’t up
to typical Rum Nation requirements. In my eyes at the very least.
Not too long ago I tackled the Supreme Lord VIII which was
improbable, and so they have nice success with excessive proof Caronis and a few
whites.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m simply not adjusting to alter that
properly.
I’ll have to attend for additional releases earlier than drawing any
conclusions. For now I’m simply grateful that the world has extra small batch,
cask power rums to select from.
Sustain the nice work, Mr. Rossi.
Diamond 2005: Score 78/100
Enmore 2002: Score 82/100
Port Mourant 1995: Score 87/100

Notes

2-3 years in the past, I obtained the Velier Diamond 1996, Enmore 1995 and Port Mourant 1997 for
round that very same costs, because the three new Rum Nation rums prices. The rum world
has moved a really great distance since then and we’re seeing a totally totally different
market now.

So, in case you get a number of of the Rum Nation small batch
rums, and fall in love, my recommendation might be to replenish. As a result of as soon as they’re
gone, the following comparable rum could also be much more costly.

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