Round 12 months in the past….that was the final time that I felt compelled to place pen to paper (fingers to keyboard) in any critical means. While I used to be by no means prolific, I used to be comparatively common….and while this gained’t essentially see a full time return, the truth that that is occurring is for me, personally, an excellent signal.
Anyhow, what are we as we speak. It’s a Mhoba! However this one is South Africa through Australia.
Mhoba are a producer that I’ve written about beforehand, particularly I wrote an extended kind piece that I view as one of many first and most detailed on the historical past and manufacturing strategies of Robert and the distillery. You could find that by clicking right here…..and just a bit search on the web page will reveal another evaluations of the vary normally.
This bottling nevertheless is from a “relative” newcomer to the unbiased bottling scene, Useless Reckoning. That is the brainchild and life power behind Justin Boseley….Sailor turned Impartial Rum bottler. There was an fascinating perception into Justin over at 88bamboo and also you’ll discover that right here.
Useless Reckoning Mhoba – South Africa – 56% abv – 0 g/l components
What we’ve got here’s a younger Mhoba providing matured in South Africa for a few years in an ex South African Pink Wine barrel (Vrede En Lust). This was then shipped over to Adelaide in an IBC the place Justin put it into an first fill, degree three char ex Makers Mark barrel for a further 5 months of “dry ageing”. That 5 months within the scorching and dry Australian solar the place in summer season the humidity is round 5% and the temperatures can rise to 47 levels Celsius noticed the abv improve by roughly 4 to five%….that’s it will appear, dry ageing and it noticed an Angels share of 21%.
Now lets get into it
Tasting Notes
Nostril: An actual freshness to the liquid within the glass accompanied by a touch of that Mhoba plastic observe. A good looking sharp and bitter observe of tart pink berries accompanies white chocolate shavings and dried cranberries. There’s a few of that acquainted Mhoba grassy sugarcane and ester pushed profile. Fruity acidity, hints of ripe tropical fruits. Improvement within the glass strikes from the more energizing, cane and fruit pushed notes and grows in depth with the barrels coming to the fore. Delicate tannic notes and barrel spice. Musky moist wooden mixes with drier, extra pencil shaving pushed notes. It’s all so effectively built-in and the extent of depth and improvement definitely belies its age. Creamy white chocolate and cranberry cookies. That sourness is definitely a welcome side to the expertise. It sits astride that line between a effectively aged agricole and a top quality excessive ester Jamaican.
Mouth: Wow. Preliminary sips undoubtedly don’t carry the nostril to the palate right away. Somewhat troublesome to sift by way of to begin with. Stability isn’t there instantly. Tingling the tip of your tongue are these tart dried cranberries, crisp apple and acidic tropical fruits. This turns into nearly creamy with such an oily mouthfeel. Banoffee pie. Caramel. Chewy meringue. Candy grain whisky. Sure there are these tart pink fruit notes in there, but it surely turns into splendidly drying on the mid palate. It’s way more barrel pushed than the nostril would have you ever consider…..nearly previous Enmore like. Musky, wooden and previous library books. Pepper. Nonetheless permitting these tart notes to hit the aspect of your tongue although. Sticks of celery and peanut butter. A comparatively quick end to this one however I’m not irritated by that. Creeping dryness and hints of powdery cocoa.
In conclusion: The differing barrels have undoubtedly had their affect on the distillate while additionally permitting the Mhoba character to shine by way of, that mentioned…..I’d wrestle to suppose on one thing that may have the ability to stunt that Mhoba character. All in all, actually pretty stuff and a fantastic bottling for Useless Reckoning to have of their arsenal.
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