The rising recognition of rum appears, to me, prefer it has has inspired extra whisky-focused impartial bottlers (IBs) to bottle extra rum.
If I’m mistaken they usually’ve simply been releasing the identical quantities, then they’re actually getting extra consideration. Manufacturers like SMWS, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Cadenheads, and Hunter Laing’s Kill Satan (Golden Satan within the US) are just a few examples. Malt simply bought a protracted due SMWS Scotch overview final week. I assumed it could be good to squeeze in a trio of Guyanese rum bottled by them.
Whereas this sort of visibility can actually assist bridge whisky drinkers to rum, I’m not fully enthusiastic about this. For one, I’m underneath the impression that these bottlers are simply leaping on the wagon with out respecting and understanding these rums. I bought this impression by means of both listening to tales or tasting some bottlings.
Some tales I hear are principally about these whisky-focused IBs not understanding methods to pronounce some names. The one which involves thoughts was when rum from Guyana’s Uitvlugt was a part of a tasting (it’s pronounced eye-flut), however the staff presenting didn’t know methods to pronounce it. A rum geek from the group needed to step up. Sure, Dutch phrases aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. However should you’re bottling and promoting these, you need to, at the least, know methods to pronounce it. If somebody mispronounced Laphroaig, you’ll be able to guess there’d be a variety of whinging.
One other instance is SMWS R8.6 Dunderfunk WD40. R8 refers back to the Nicaraguan distillery that produces Flor De Cana. Dunder refers back to the backset/stillage from Jamaican rum that’s added to a fermenting wash. Bourbon drinkers will know this as bitter mash. Funk in molasses-based rum typically refers back to the scrumptious “off” flavors of rotten fruit produced by lengthy fermentation and pot distillation.
This Nicaraguan distillery has brief fermentations and makes use of multi-column stills which is able to end in mild distillates. Additionally they don’t use dunder. Because of their mild distillates, a lot of their rum’s taste come from the casks. There’s no method that funk nor something representing dunder will likely be current, which leads me to suppose that SMWS is simply utilizing no matter widespread time period they will to leap on the rum wagon.
If you happen to’re open to making an attempt IBs who solely bottle rum, could I like to recommend you go for many who are pouring their full ardour into them. Some examples can be Holmes Cay, 1423’s SBS and Compagnie Des Indes (CDI). I’ve had interactions with these corporations, they usually actually know what they’re promoting.
In spite of everything my phrases, let’s see how these Guyanese rum bottled by SMWS will do. Even when they don’t appear to have understanding of rum but, they need to at the least have the ability to decide good casks. Due to The Lone Caner for sending me these samples.
SMWS R2.4 Sweeney Todd in a Victorian Kitchen – Overview
67% ABV. 22 years previous.
Shade: Amber.
On the nostril: The ethanol burn sneaks up on me. Initially, there was nothing, however as I breathed in additional of the aromas, the warmth slowly got here out. I get medium, sharp and lengthy scents of ripe bananas, licorice, previous picket furnishings, nutmeg, cloves, leather-based, prunes and darkish chocolate. As I let this open up extra, the aromas change into a bit extra intense. I additionally get delicate aromas of mocha and vanilla in-between the notes above.
Within the mouth: Sharp and shortly alternating tastes of licorice, leather-based, cloves, nutmeg, roasted dandelion tea and cacao. The bananas and prunes linger out and in in between random tasting notes. Like on the nostril, as this opens up extra, the totally different tastes change into a bit extra intense. Additionally they turned rounder.
Conclusions:
I don’t know how that is Sweeney Todd in a Victorian Kitchen. When Sweeney Todd is talked about, pictures of pies and barbershops come to thoughts. This doesn’t odor nor style like pie. Are barbershops within the UK this funky? The flavors of licorice, leather-based and previous picket furnishings are lifeless giveaways that this could possibly be from both the Port Morant double picket submit nonetheless or the Versaille single picket pot nonetheless.
I believe the one factor to get enthusiastic about is the age of this rum. However other than that, it’s not spectacular. I’ve had youthful Guyanese rum which might be pretty much as good or higher than this. This rum doesn’t act its age. The flavors aren’t as cohesive and as “affected person” as they need to be. They bounce throughout the place and the excessive ABV isn’t actually serving to.
Rating: 6/10
SMWS R2.7 Pleasing and Teasing – Overview
63.4% ABV. 13 years previous. 12 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and 1 yr in French oak barrique. (This doesn’t move as a single cask for me)
Shade: Honey.
On the nostril: Surprisingly mellow regardless of the ABV. I get medium intense and lengthy aromas of Cafe Du Monde chicory espresso, licorice, damp wooden, banana peel, ripe bananas, caramel, banana bread, leather-based, and black walnuts. In between are delicate aromas of prunes and licorice.
Within the mouth: The ethanol warmth is sharper, but it surely’s similar to the nostril apart from just a few minor variations. The banana bread style is stronger and extra enveloping. I additionally bought to style extra of the licorice and prunes. It looks like the weakening of the leather-based word allowed for the opposite two to shine extra.
Conclusions:
That is actually pleasing and teasing. I believe that is one other rum from both the Port Morant double picket submit nonetheless or the Versaille single picket pot nonetheless. Regardless of being youthful, I discover this to be a greater rum than the R2.4. This acts older than its age. Each word is extra affected person and built-in. The totally different notes listed below are simpler to establish as they wait to take turns to be extra expressive.
Rating: 7/10
SMWS R2.9 Demerara Deliciousness – Overview
62% ABV. 11 years previous. Aged in new oak.
Shade: Bourbon.
On the nostril: I principally solely get oak and a few bananas firstly, so I let this breathe for round half-hour. The oakiness has toned down. It smells prefer it has change into infused with the bananas and has sprouted allspice berries. There are bits of prunes, leather-based, banana liqueur, and dates enveloped by a zesty lemon and Febreze aroma.
Within the mouth: Extra expressive than the nostril. I get oak, caramel, bananas, leather-based, cloves and allspice berries. In between are delicate tastes of lemon & lime zest, muscovado sugar, coconut sugar, and honey.
Conclusions:
Demerara deliciousness… erm… that is good however I wouldn’t name it scrumptious. It’s extra like a barely tasty chaos. The concept of making an attempt a Demerara rum aged in new oak is one thing I by no means actually thought of, since my preferences has lately been going towards distillate-forward spirits. However after seeing this was aged in new oak, I turned barely interested in how this could prove.
I believe this is among the odder cask power spirits I’ve tried. There’s the anticipated warmth as a result of excessive ABV, however the aromas appear fleeting. It’s actually there, but it surely feels prefer it’s making an attempt to get away from you whereas leaping far and wide. That is higher on the nostril because it’s fuller, extra engaged, and extra expressive. Regardless of being extra expressive, the totally different notes are calmer, in order that they’re simpler to understand and dissect.
Rating: 6/10
Total, not a mouthwatering trio of rums. With the status of SMWS, I hoped these can be higher. However then, that is the problem with single casks. They are often so random. A dud cask can’t be saved by mixing.
This leads me to surprise if The Lone Caner was unfortunate in shopping for these? There are higher Guyanese rums out available in the market, single cask or not. Does SMWS have a resident rum skilled to choose their rum casks?
R2.4 picture courtesy of Whisky Auctioneer. R2.7 picture courtesy of SMWS Japan. R2.9 phot courtesy of SMWS USA.
