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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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January 16, 2022
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Rum is again
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On WF, after fairly an assortment of good outdated Cognacs and Armagnacs ultimately of final yr – we’ll have extra of them quickly as effectively. Let’s have a look at what now we have within the containers and on the cabinets… And maybe begin this from Cabo Verde with a grog/grogue!.
Also, you could watch this.and hearken to this. |
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Barbosa Amado & Vicente ‘Grogue’ (45%, OB, Cabo Verde, +/-2018) 
We have had a ‘Monte Negro’ a couple of years again that was bearing the identical label. It has been fairly beautiful, as these grogues are distilled in small pot stills utilizing pure cane juice, as they do with Haitian clairin. Color: white. Nostril: terrific notes of rotten bananas, mannequin glue, acetone, ‘chemical’ marshmallows, engine oil, steel polish and even antirust paint, then earthy olives and crushed pickled anchovies (on good bread and butter, yummy). Mouth: throat is okay, that is sorted. No style distortions both, phew. So, extra crushed anchovies, brine, olives and bananas 50/50 (one thing to attempt?), margarita, soju and baiju… Issues like that. Very fermentary and proper up my alley. End: actually salty, with olives and simply extra pickled anchovies. The rotting bananas are again within the aftertaste, somewhat varnish as effectively. Feedback: superior spirit, even nearer to clairin, and doubtless to Madeiran agricole rum than I remembered. Would that be the affect of the Atlantic Ocean?
SGP:462 – 87 factors. |
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Arruco ‘VSOP’ (40%, OB, Spirit Drink, Spain, +/-2020) 
That is an ‘hybrid spirit’ you perceive, 70% rum plus 30% cognac, made in Spain. We have already tried their ‘XO’, which is rum plus armagnac, and thought it was really fairly, fairly good (WF 80). Let’s preserve an open thoughts right here (as Zappa used to say, minds are like parachutes, they solely work after they’re open). Color: gold. Nostril: somewhat gentle and ‘matt’, fairly with some vanilla, cake and sawdust, fairly paying homage to the cheapo Scotch blends that you’d discover on the bar in ** motels. You are proper, when there is a bar. So, it is not off-putting, however there is not a lot taking place. Most likely not an ‘hybrid’ geared toward nosers… Mouth: this fairly works on the palate, there is a good cane, some salty bits, olives, somewhat liquorice, now I do not assume the cognac’s acquired a lot to inform on this context. End: quick, with a couple of sucrosey notes. Just a little flat. Feedback: I consider the XO was extra to my liking. That is largely acceptable, although, however it might want ice, in addition to a couple of extra-% ABV.
SGP:352 – 76 factors. |
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Bielle 10 yo 2009/2019 (49.4%, Rasta Morris, Marie-Galante, bourbon cask, cask #RM020, 226 bottles) 
Technically and administratively, Marie-Galante is Guadeloupe, however to many, it is totally different. We have tried a 2011/2019 by Rasta Morris that had been su-perb (WF 90), so there is no cause… Oh and I agree we must always have tried this one earlier, however I appear to recollect they solely launched it a couple of months in the past. Color: bronze. Nostril: lots of steel polish, you’d consider you are at a Harley-Davidson gathering. Then espresso, cedarwood, cane juice, sandalwood, a brand new field of small cigars, and whiffs of agave syrup, bizarrely. I am additionally reminded of the very best Cubans (rums this time, not cigars), which is weird as effectively, I agree, and of some triple-sec. Just a little intriguing, maybe softer than anticipated, let’s examine… Mouth: this can be very agricole, loaded with liquorice and varnishy tones, inexperienced bananas, teas, some caraway and ras-el-hanout, plus some very robust mint tea. Some inexperienced tannicity, not disagreeable in any respect, quite the opposite. End: lengthy and nonetheless stuffed with liquorice, particularly liquorice root. Some ginseng powder too. Feedback: love this liquoricy earthiness. Just a little robust right here and there however that is a part of its charms.
SGP:462 – 88 factors. |
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A Scotsman in The Tropics 2008/2021 (53.9%, Dramful!, Dominican Republic, 100 bottles)
We’re all the time scared once we see rums from the DomRep (they’re normally flat and sweetened-up to the eyes) however this time it is Dramful!, and second, they’ve finished a 2-year end in Laphroaig wooden on it. Sounds a bit like including foie gras to a Huge Mac, however let’s examine… Color: darkish amber. Nostril: have not I already used the phrase ‘intriguing’ right this moment? I am discovering eggplant gratin, artichoke liqueur, leaves, cactus, white asparagus (solely 4 months of ready…), chestnut burr, orange peel… And positively one thing medicinal. With water: outdated ointments and coal tar! Mouth (neat): LOL. Laphroaig imposing its magic, with a deep earthiness, seaweed (wakame salad), a tarry smoke, and a wee rum that is simply… the canvas of the entire portray. Aged gentian eau-de-vie. Spectacular, questioning how a lot ‘L’ was remaining within the cask. With water: eggplant and gentian. Some moussaka! Touches of sweet sugar too, in spite of everything that is rum from the Dominican Republic. End: tarry caramel, liquorice root. Sriracha within the aftertaste. That is chilli. Feedback: the spirit wasn’t thick and the L cask might have finished all of the work. Nicely, it is presumably my favorite rum from the DomRep, ever. Good enjoyable.
SGP:363 – 85 factors. |
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Renaissance 2018/2021 (62%, OB, The Whisky Change, Taiwan, fino cask end)
Taiwanese rum! Let’s quote the very glorious TWE web site: ‘this conventional pot-still rum was distilled on 17 September 2018 and bottled in Might 2021; it is made utilizing molasses refined from native Taiwanese sugar cane, which was fermented with wine yeast for 15 days with dunder; it was distilled on the lees and matured in a brand new 225-litre American white-oak cask and completed in a fino sherry cask; and it was bottled at full cask energy with no added color, sugar or flavourings.’ Capeesh?! Color: workplace espresso. Nostril: in fact we’re questioning if that is ‘the Kavalan of rum’. Every thing’s there, petrol, oils, liquorice, ferments, olives, rotting bananas, brine, eucalyptus wooden… Nicely some might have tried to benchmark Caroni. With water: bitter sauces, bull-dog, hoisin, some sort of mentholated satay, therapeutic massage balm, eucalyptus… Mouth (neat): thick, wealthy, perfumy, with some sort of mentholated oranges, cough drops, rose bonbons… Watch it it is a tough pony, as a result of this profile may make you consider it is a straightforward drink. It is not, bear in mind, 62%. With water: glorious. Minty woods, tar, salty fruits, salt-and-orange paste, terpenes, turpentine… End: very lengthy, holds very effectively. Feedback: undecided I acquired the fino. It is a large distillate, any end might have been somewhat superfluous and redundant. I could not not admit that I am discovering this good, some sides remind me of our loopy mates at Misplaced Spirits within the good outdated USA. Price trying out.
SGP:472 – 87 factors. |
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Caroni 20 yo 1998 (54.2% C. Dully Choice, Trinidad, 280 bottles) 
That is heavy Caroni. Color: amber. Nostril: luminous caramel, nougat, the exhaust of a… wait, say an AC Cobra, copper and forged iron, praline, roasted sesame… I’ve to say I am fairly a fan. With water: no modifications. Chances are you’ll simply add a couple of reheated French beans. Mouth (neat): excellent earthy and coastal humus and sand, liquorice, petroly savours, inexperienced lemons, tar, over-stewed spices and mushrooms, maybe some plastics and glues (branded ‘IKEA’). There’s some brutality to this, one thing that may really feel like… Some 20 years outdated Port Ellen. Yep. With water: bingo, salt, lime focus, benzine, tar, concrete… That is effectively Port Ellen. I imply, heavy Caroni. End: lengthy, even saltier. Come on, they will need to have added seawater. Feedback: very heavy, brutal, onerous to tame, however hey, there’s nothing we won’t pull off.
SGP:364 – 90 factors. |
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Good, out of the frying pan and proper into the fireplace…
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Caroni 22 yo 1998/2021 (60%, Rum Sponge, Trinidad, 230 bottles)
The Sponge admits that this was ‘heavy’ Caroni too, and that they’ve bottled it ‘with slight discount’. Slight discount at 60% vol. do not they sound like reverse headshrinkers? (I will clarify the idea later) Color: gentle amber. Nostril: 60% vol. will not be a superb nosing energy as a result of the imperious taster should still consider he may overcome the problem and discover ‘nuances’ in such kerosene. No, do not attempt, you will burn what Covid’s left. With water: will get very dry. Miso and engine oil, new boots, blue cheese (hints). Mouth (neat): similar because the C. Dully, actually. Liquorice, petrol, glue, salty tar… With water: salty glue, vinegars, two-stroke petrol/oil combination… Not that I’ve ever drunk any however I might have finished something to get a kind of loopy new Kawasakis again within the early Nineteen Seventies (later to grow to be ‘the widowmakers’). End: lengthy, salty, briny, terpene-y. Feedback: yeah, we may name these Caronis ‘the widowmakers’ too. No marvel this was ‘early landed’, many Kawa-riders have been ‘early landed’ too. Anyway, one other nice bottle by The Sponge.
SGP:355 – 90 factors. |
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Clarendon 14 yo 2006/2021 (63.2%, Pattern X, Jamaica, refill bourbon, 283 bottles) 
In different phrases, Monymusk. Color: amber. Nostril: it is all the time enjoyable to have these heavy Jamaicans after some Caronis, or the opposite means ‘spherical. The Jamaicans, together with this one, are much less tarry, and extra briny. They are not precisely as thick, however they’ve this added minerality, this greater verticality, if I’ll. Anyway, white asparagus, chalk, peanut oil, petrol, graphite oil, Brussels sprouts, new books… With water: cleaning soap, Barbour grease, black olives, and maybe marshmallows brochettes. A really regressive factor that we used to make once we have been boy scouts. Mouth (neat): very excessive. I imply, extraordinarily excessive, ultra-dry and mega-drying… Water could also be wanted. With water: I am all the time having bother with these excessive Monymusks. I imply, even essentially the most excessive Ardbegs or Port Ellens have been candy and mellow as compared. Did you see that I did not say ‘easy’? Consuming concrete, crunching chalk, consuming motor oil. End: lengthy, completely drying. I feel I would like a drink. A cup of salt within the aftertaste. Feedback: weren’t they meant to make use of this as dressers? Seasoning brokers?
SGP:276 – 83 factors. |
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I feel we want an ‘straightforward’ Jamaican now, so to talk…
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HD-MJH3 2012/2021 (55.8%, The Whisky Jury, Jamaica, refill barrel, cask #TWJ-HA-03, 279 bottles)
With all these Hs, I might wager that is Hampden. Certain I deserve a medal. Color: gold. Nostril: contemporary paint, barley water, pistachio oil, black nougat, stout, new Kia storage, Tesla batteries, gherkin brine. With water: carbon mud, Muscadet, new tyres, cucumbers, floorcloth… Mouth (neat): elegant, best-in-the-Caribbean, of Ardbeg 1972-1975 high quality. Do they use purifiers at Hampden? Excessive-precision smoky and briny unfolding, very coastal too, balanced, mildly tarry, with a couple of acidic fruits (star fruits, lemons, inexperienced gooseberries)… I am making an attempt very onerous and but I can’t discover any flaws, that is excellent spirit. With water: a blade. Tarry and smoky olives, plus wild garlic (bear’s) and smoked oysters. There’s one thing irresistible in right here. End: very lengthy, salty, with the anticipated liquorice after which simply kippers and sardines. Feedback: this Jury certain is not out. Holy Bob Marley, what a rum! By the way in which, in the future somebody will inform you the story about Bob Marley, the Wailers, snow, and Scotland. Within the meantime…
SGP:365 – 91 factors. |
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We discovered an utter winner, so see you and completely satisfied Sunday to you!
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 Examine the index of all rums we have tasted thus far
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