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| Hello, that is one in every of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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July 24, 2022
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Rums of the world this time once more
Varied rums at present, which is simpler and funnier to do than single-distillery and even single-country classes. Subsequent time we’ll have outdated cognacs, and the subsequent Sunday in all probability a big flight of Coronas. I imply, of Caronis. Within the meantime…
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The Flying Fijians, Fiji’s nationwide rugby crew. |
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Clairin Le Rocher 2020 (47.2%, OB, La Maison & Velier, Haiti, +/-2021) 
Some white rum from Haiti, effectively a clairin that was distilled from cane syrup somewhat than recent cane juice, in pot stills. It’s marketed as having been bottled at ‘nonetheless energy’, which might recommend, at 47.2%, that the second run has been very, very lengthy and that the make ought to shelter many heavier congeners. Let’s examine… Color: white. Nostril: first a variety of medicinal alcohol, artisanal vodka (I used to know a Russian dentist who tended to make these varieties out of his ‘skilled stuff’) with one thing burnt, some varnishes, then the anticipated olives and rotting bananas, plus a variety of fermenting cane juice, with a greasy facet. Very aguardiente-ish, we’re speaking under-the-counter Cuban aguardiente. Mouth: fairly bizarrely, it isn’t the wild sort of clairin I used to be anticipating due to that ‘nonetheless energy’ point out, it is somewhat one which’s stuffed with liquorice allsorts and agave syrup somewhat than cane. Very intriguing, going then in direction of a lemon + olive mixture, with even a sense of these dry martinis that some English gents appear to cherish. End: lengthy and saltier, with a wee smokiness and all the time these lemons and olives. I simply can’t not consider some mezcals. Feedback: I used to be a bit hesitant at first, however it unfolded somewhat superbly. This, many ice cubes and 40°C within the shade. There may be additionally a sense of ready-made Ti’punch, maybe.
SGP:661 – 86 factors. |
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That one referred to as for extra clairin…
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Clairin Sonson 2020 (51.1%, OB, La Maison & Velier, Haiti, +/-2021) 
This one two was batch-distilled from cane syrup. Color: white. Nostril: fruitier but and much more varnishy, with somewhat excessive esters and a really rotting-banana-y facet. Pattex! With water: will get extra acetic. Juniper, white vinegar, bits of tarragon… Mouth (neat): clearly gentler than the Rocher and somewhat harking back to caraway-led aquavits. Limoncello, caraway, varnish. With water: will get sweeter but, virtually liqueury. It jogs my memory of a drink… let me verify WF’s archive… There, kummel! End: same-ish, plus citronade. Feedback: actually good however I consider the Rocher was in the next league. Vaval, Sajous and Casimir too, I’d add.
SGP:661 – 82 factors. |
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Since we have been in Haiti… By the way in which, heard one thing of Barbancourt these days? Hope they’re doing okay…
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Haiti 2004/2018 (63.1%, LMDW, Transcontinental Rum Line for &Positive Spirits) 
Aged for lower than one 12 months within the tropics, and greater than 13 years in Europe. Questioning if the UK nonetheless counts as ‘Europe’ in that respect. Proper, that is stated to be some indie Barbancourt, however was it nonetheless pure pot nonetheless or ex-column? Or a mixture of each? Color: white wine. Nostril: extraordinarily pungent, would destroy your nostril when sniffed at above 15°C. Tyre patch glue. With water: much less glue and nail polish, extra syrup, butterscotch, nougat, oriental pastries, baklavas… Mouth (neat): varnish, fruit juices and bonbons. And a variety of ethanol. Moderately within the fashion of some unreduced Panamanians, Guatemalans or Nicaraguans, with that thinner physique. With water: I’d wager that is the most effective you possibly can do inside this lighter fashion. Drops of pastis, so mainly, liquorice and aniseed, fennel… End: medium, somewhat recent, a tad sugary and syrupy, nonetheless. Orange juice, aniseed and caraway within the aftertaste. Feedback: completely not my most popular fashion, however as I stated, probably the most effective you possibly can do inside that fashion (which isn’t my favorite, eh).
SGP:640 – 84 factors. |
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Let’s transfer to… proper, since we talked about it, Panama…
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Malecon 18 yo 1998 ‘Uncommon Proof’ (51.7%, OB, Panama, +/-2017) 
Proper, Malecon shouldn’t be fairly a buddy of the home WF, Angus and yours actually have all the time discovered them weak and void of any smidgen of curiosity. However our soul is pure and our quest unachieved, so… As for why 51.7% can be a ‘uncommon proof’, I don’t know. Color: full gold. Nostril: Fanta and marmalade, citron liqueur and, certainly, triple-sec and limoncello. We do spot a sample… With water: falls flat. Low cost milk chocolate maybe. Mouth (neat): no no no. Cane syrup, Frappuccino, cheaper orange liqueur, caramel and airport fudge. With water: maybe a notch higher, however sugary. Marshmallows and sugar eggs. End: brief, skinny, candy. Feedback: in all probability not the utter disaster that we have been fearing, however did they actually need eighteen years to provide this simplistic little candy rum? I’d say solely the Malecon 25 yo ‘Reserva Imperial’ was frankly extra to my liking (WF 78).
SGP:730 – 70 factors. |
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In reality it’s a fashion that they make ten occasions higher in Barbados…
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W.I.R.D. 2000/2022 (47.8%, Plantation, Excessive Collection, Barbados, 924 bottles) 
Ex-pot nonetheless and authorized with out ‘dosage’. Aged for five years within the tropics, then 16 years in continental Europe, together with 2 years in Ferrand’s cognac casks. Nonetheless questioning why they’d try this, however there. Color: gentle gold. Nostril: recent, with whiffs of aniseed, liquorice, absinth, seawater, damaged branches, clams, wakame, paraffin, outdated tin-box, oysters… (all that in no explicit order, as you’ll have observed). And no cognac. Mouth: it is acquired this quasi-phenolic, deeper and fatter fashion that is a bit unusual in Barbados (based on my very meagre expertise). Shoe polish, salmiak, salt (proper, it triggers a saltiness), and even a wee feeling of peat smoke. Additionally, it isn’t typically that I’d discover this many oysters in some rum. Wonderful. End: somewhat lengthy, salty, this time with a handful of olives and a contact of the blackest and most bitter chocolate. Feedback: we do no politics, we’re content material with tasting what reaches our tulip glasses. What’s not reaching them is of little or no curiosity to us. Moderately good W.I.R.D., this.
SGP:463 – 90 factors. |
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Not shocked, that is Plantation’s prime vary. Anyway, kudos and let’s now attempt to discover one thing that, in idea, might ‘climb over’ that little W.I.R.D… Maybe this?
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Enmore 29 yo 1991/2021 (51.2%, Nobilis Rum, Chosen by Rum Trade, cask #NR10, 191 bottles) 
From the only wood Versailles nonetheless when it was nonetheless at Enmore, earlier than being moved to Diamond, with a cask bearing the marque ‘KFM’ (which doesn’t imply Kentucky Fried Molasses, thoughts you – ooh that was sensible, S.) Color: brownish amber. Nostril: tons of recent putty, teak oil, Barbour grease, pine resins, tar liqueur, pine-cone smoke, burning incense and lemon marmalade. Kind of. With water: plentiful tobaccos, cigars, cigarettes and pipes. Additionally pu-her tea and walnut stain. Mouth (neat): pure pine and oak syrup, extraordinarily extractive, completely tannic, and but somewhat interesting when you’re not afraid of shedding your tongue to the enemy. Proper, I’ve to say the jury’s nonetheless out. With water: fairly often, water would kill tannic spirits and make them simply drying and flat. That is not what’s occurring right here, as we have additional moved in direction of skinny mints and thyme tea. End: lengthy, and maybe a notch too tannic and piney certainly. I like this, however I could not probably go as excessive as 90+. Feedback: massively extractive rum, maybe not fairly for the faint-hearted. Not precisely Bacardi Gentle at 37.5% vol.
SGP:472 – 88 factors. |
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Why not Fiji because the final nation we go to at present?
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South Pacific Distillery 16 yo 2001/2018 (57.4%, The Rum Cask, Fiji)
Molasses in pot stills. Many have been wonderful already. Plus, Fiji is a rugby nation, identical to Scotland. Oh, and France. Color: gold. Nostril: South Pacific has acquired this Worthy-Parkish facet that we have typically discovered somewhat thrilling. Petrol, acetone, olives, carbon, engine oil, chalk, acidic fruits (proper, lemons and star fruits), charcoal, roots… With water: salsify, eggplant and gentian, no? Mouth (neat): completely wonderful, if a bit sharp, very zesty, with carbon, espresso dregs, the greenest inexperienced apples, turmeric, liquorice, salted water, Maggi… With water: wham, case closed. Elegant salted fruits, chutneys, seafood, roots and tobaccos. End: lengthy, on precisely the identical flavours. Feedback: not many people know of this as a result of Fiji shouldn’t be within the Caribbean, however I say it’s time the world would take discover. Until the prices of transport preserve skyrocketing, and boozes get extra regional once more… Now if I ever spot any Alsatian rums, I get out three shotguns and a rifle.
SGP:462 – 90 factors. |
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 Verify the index of all rums we have tasted thus far
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