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| Hello, that is one among our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
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September 4, 2022
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Rums of all nations. Virtually
Let’s have a look at what we discover, beginning with simpler ones as traditional. It is good that we hold the malternatives or putative malternatives for our Sundays, or this awful web site would quickly turn into boozefun.com, which is totally not my aim. We would die.
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Cihuatàn ‘Xaman XO’ (40%, OB, El Salvador, +/-2021) 
We have solely tasted one Cihuatàn this far, a 2004 single cask for Belgium (however naturally) that had been glorious (WF 85). They are saying this very one has been matured for 15 years in ex-bourbon, however additionally they say it’s a solera, then completed in ceiba wooden for one 12 months, which can be referred to as ‘fromager’ within the French west indies. Ex-molasses, column. Color: full gold. Nostril: very good inside that type, on fermenting cane juice, rotting bananas and pineapples, liquorice, some pure rubber/hevea (is that the ceiba wooden?) in addition to blancmange, nicely that is relatively Caribbean than Central-American (the place small El Salavador is situated, in case you did not know). Mouth: certainly, no sugar load within the arrival, even when that is fairly candy, with some honey, sugar cane, a pack of sentimental liquorice, and certainly molasses. No rubber this time. End: medium, relatively too candy now, I suppose it was boosted in some methods. Some burnt caramel within the aftertaste. Feedback: it isn’t usually that these kinds of rum attain the 80-mark in my wee e book. Not that it ought to matter, thoughts you…
SGP:740 – 80 factors. |
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Admiral Rodney ‘HMS Royal Oak’ (40%, OB, St. Lucia, +/-2021)
Not a reputation that is quite common in France, nevertheless it’s true that British admirals have by no means been extraordinarily standard in France, a minimum of not since Trafalgar (however Rodney died in 1792). A primary expression had been reasonably thrilling in my view, again in 2015 (WF 75). This one is xx-bourbon cask for between 7 and 12 years, so a 7 years previous, distilled in a Coffey nonetheless. As for the title Royal Oak, I suppose they’re good associates with the home Audemars Piguet (footballers’ watches, actually). Color: amber. Nostril: feels spiced-up, with large whiffs of lilies and fragrant grape varietals comparable to viognier. Notes of caraway liqueur too, tropical flowers, absolutely jasmine, earl gray tea… It’s fairly nice, in actual fact, it is just a bit scary w.r.t. the palate… Mouth: I discover it good, truly drier than the Cihuatàn, feeling spicy and floral certainly however probably not sweetened-up. A big pack of liquorice allsorts, actually all types. End: medium, with some caramel this time, molasses, and certainly, candy viognier from the Rhône valley. Proper, sweeter than a Condrieu. Feedback: identical ballpark, good high quality, very straightforward to drink, and never, nicely, woreish in any respect. Or, one other phrase that you simply can not use anymore, not sluttish. No disgrace.
SGP:730 – 80 factors. |
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Let’s attempt to climb up the ladder…
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Foursquare 11 yo 2010/2022 (45%, Samaroli, for The Whisky Barrel fifteenth anniversary, Trinidad, cask #16, 330 bottles) 
Bottled in Bonnie Scotland, so in all probability ‘early landed’, as some would say. There’s what’s authorized and there is what is not, however I’ve heard some glorious cognac producers beginning to take into account that the hotter local weather that we’re having this 12 months may have a small detrimental affect on the maturing spirits, making them just a little ‘harsher’. So it is to be questioned if, with local weather change, some is not going to begin to attempt to discover means to mature their shares in cooler and moister environments. Will not Scotland turn into an enormous warehouse in the future? Or Greenland? However some (latest) rules must be bent earlier than that may occur… Color: pale gold. Nostril: it is a extra phenolic Foursquare, you’d even discover some form of peat, some nail polish remover too, maybe extra esters than traditional as nicely, some hay, fermenting grass, actually some cane juice, then some ‘simpler’ vanilla and, to make it much more Scottish, some shortbread. Mouth: no, it’s extremely Foursquare on the palate, with a stunning sourness that makes it deeper, in any other case varnish and glues, cane honey, overripe apples, fudge, bonbons and as soon as extra, liquorice allsorts. End: medium, with this humorous wee ‘peatiness’ again in your tongue. Feedback: these decrease strengths are just a little uncommon, however I say they go nicely with Foursquare. What’s extra, water is changing into costly (yeah proper).
SGP:552 – 87 factors. |
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Black Tot ‘Grasp Blender’s Reserve 2022’ (54.5%, Elixir Distillers) 
Tonnerre de Brest, the British Navy once more! Our English associates say ‘sacrebleu’ each time they need to swear in French (or pu**in !) however as soon as and for all, we by no means, ever use that phrase, you will solely discover it in previous books! Or in Tintin… Color: full gold. Nostril: very British, that’s to say with Jamaica and probably Trinidad taking part in first fiddles – or high dressers, with simpler ones behind them, in all probability Guyana.. Oh wait, they revealed the ‘nation invoice’, that may be ‘Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad, from totally different distilleries’. In any case, I discover it relatively superior, and it is humorous that we simply had a Foursquare since this isn’t too far, not much more petroly or estery, or extra olive-y. Some charcoal ashes, cigars for certain… With water: there, new electronics and rubbers, varnishes, engine oil… Mouth (neat): ‘higher’ on the palate when bare, which is all the time preferable than the opposite means ‘spherical, saltier, extra Jamaican, extra petroly, extra mezcaly, wilder… Some pretty oranges dipped into diesel oil or one thing. Gasoline. Excellent. With water: sure, the mixture works, it is estery however not tiring, salty, with touches of thyme and tar, plus our beloved olives. I’ve all the time questioned, do they develop olives within the Caribbean? End: relatively lengthy, extra on salted liquorice. Not an unusual end. Feedback: high class mix. To assume that within the French Marine, they had been having Champagne as a substitute. I am joking, solely officers.
SGP:463 – 88 factors. |
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Since we have talked about Jamaica, let’s take dangers…
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New Yarmouth 27 yo 1994/2022 (60.1%, Thompson Bros., Jamaica, 285 bottles)
I’ve all the time discovered these New Yarmouths relatively tough to sort out. However we’ll do each effort… Having stated that I discover this label beautiful, it reminds of one among my favorite painters, Cobra member Pierre Alechinsky. Color: deep gold. Nostril: phew, not precisely a New Yarmouth that may tear you aside after which drown you in wooden varnish. It is relatively a mild one, relatively cakey and on maple syrup, demerara sugar, bananas flambeed, cedarwood and previous cigar humidor, vanilla pods… In fact it is bought one thing agricole. In all probability a marque NYE/P. With water: there, varnish, a Saturday morning at Ikea (good so long as you handle to exit), new sneakers, corn syrup, molasses, chestnut honey… Mouth (neat): oh superb, sturdy and naturally just a little varnishy, with some bitter burnt fruits and caramel, some tobacco, some burnt herbs… and numerous ethanol. So, with water: water works. Gentler than anticipated, with a stunning bitterness, uncooked chocolate, stout, and certainly some mild cane juice. Fairly tender, truly. End: lengthy and really chocolaty. Mocha and orange liqueur within the aftertaste, plus a wee cologne-y aspect at the back of the again.. Feedback: so, a mild batch of New Yarmouth. Extra advanced than you’ll have thought. And glorious.
SGP:551 – 88 factors. |
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Maybe one other 1994, however from Guyana?
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Enmore 27 yo 1994/2022 (53.5%, The Rum Cask) 
The marque right here is ‘REV’, which ought to imply ‘Rum Enmore Versailles’, which might recommend that this was distilled in Versailles’ previous picket pot-still whereas it was nonetheless at Enmore, which bought closed that 12 months, in 1994, with nonetheless and casks subsequently moved to Uitvlugt, which was closed in 2000, with the nonetheless lastly moved to Diamond, whereas the cask could have remained in Uitvlugt’s warehouse, which Diamond saved utilizing. Phew! Not too certain when this cask was moved to Europe, having stated that. Color: mahogany, so very darkish so probably lengthy tropical ageing. Nostril: aberrantly splendidly deep and profound, with deep spices from the wooden, many rotting fruits, an surprising feeling of rye, rye bread, pumpernickel, brown ale, prunes, molasses… Very uncommon! With water: very previous rye whisky, actually! Cross my coronary heart… Mouth (neat): superb fruity and spicy and woody and intensely liquoricy combo. Love this to utter bits. With water: oh! We’ll have to speak about this cask with the Rum Cask of us subsequent 12 months in Limburg, let’s schedule an appointment! End: lengthy, salty, on salted anchovies and black olives. That is nearly rum alla puttanesca. And are available on raisins within the aftertaste? Feedback: magic. Magic that won’t please simply everybody, however magic. I additionally like it that it as bottled beneath a label that appears like… nicely, prefer it’s all about what’s inside, not outdoors.
SGP:463 – 91 factors. |
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Solely Jamaicans may climb over that one…
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Lengthy Pond 2007/2022 (68%, Swell & Co, Jamaica, 367 bottles)
Will this be a ‘TECA’ (1000), a ‘TECB’ (1300) or a ‘TECC’ (1500)? Anyway, thanks bottlers and distillers, you appear to consider that we humble tasters are immortal. I imply 68 f****g % vol.! For crying out loud, save us (S., you sissy!) Color: pink amber. Nostril: all types of varnishes and an entire focaccia stuffed with black olives. Not a nasty begin. With water: identical! Plus menthol cigarettes and candied citrons. Candied citrons are a part of my very own Pantheon, a disgrace that they’re so onerous to return by. Mouth (neat): tops salted glues and varnishes. Proper. With water: some dirtiness chiming in, all the time a very good signal, whereas then again, the core would get softer and rounder, I used to be about to write down ‘cakey’. End: lengthy, with the olives profitable it. The esters too, though I would not say it is ‘very excessive esters’ Lengthy Pond. So in all probability no ‘TEC’, I used to be in all probability fallacious as soon as extra. Feedback: joke apart, marvellous Lengthy Pond. Plus, your bottle shall be everlasting, at this energy.
SGP:463 – 90 factors. |
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Can we do the following one or will we name this a session? You guess?!
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Lengthy Pond 23 yo 1999/2022 ‘HJC’ (76%, Plantation for Salon du Rhum Belgique, 298 bottles)
Good, we have got our attorneys with us, we could proceed. I’ve to say I am not accustomed to the marque ‘HJC’, however I do know what 76% imply. In any case, identical to ethanol, the proportions of esters could change throughout ageing, as peat ranges do in whisky (these ppms peat). Yeah, simply figures anyway… Expensive attorneys, could we proceed?… Color: deep gold. Nostril: nearly nada, niente, rien, nothing, nichts… And that is the quantity of ethanol, I am certain. Your nostrils will simply change to survival mode at this energy, that is it. Effectively, for those who nostril remotely, you will discover these gentle esters, olives, and tobacco. However no dangers taken… With water: relatively muddy, with previous fruits, fermentations, additionally aniseed, lemongrass, cabbage and asparagus, some weird raisins, candy wine (what?) It is as if all molecules had been shaken and blended by water. Mouth (neat): take solely half a drop please. Appears to work. Oranges and quinces buried in liquorice, tar and tapenade. The attorneys say I have to add water straight away. With numerous water: traditional fairly estery Lengthy Pond with a sweeter coating. It is showcasing Lengthy Pond’s traditional roughness however some demerara sugar or one thing has been unfold throughout it. End: lengthy, glorious, only a tad undecided. Is it dry or is it candy? Echoes of dried pineapples within the aftertaste. Feedback: glorious==/=/* drop (nearly vapour, actually), however these utter monsters are extraordinarily onerous to observe, to deal with and to understand, that is all I will say.
SGP:662 – 85 factors. |
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Replace: I have never been paying consideration, that one was completed in cognac wooden for 4 years. All of it is sensible now…
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 Examine the index of all rums we have tasted to date
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