One other bag of rum releases. We begin with a close to 30 yr previous Hampden within the Whisky Blues sequence, an equally previous rum from Trinidad Distillers bottled by Thompson Bros and a youthful Foursquare from Swell de Spirits.
In a second half we have now three Caroni expressions from the bottler Jack Tar. This features a set of 1997s (the Moon and the Solar) and one 1999.
JMH 29 yo 1992 (57,7%, The Whisky Blues 2021, barrel #11, 253 btl.)
Nostril: a traditional estery Hampden profile in fact, however rounded by time. Meaning scorching tyres, fermenting fruits, olives and what not. Subdued acetone now, with a creamy banana sweetness that’s sweeter and thicker. Additionally a pleasant aromatic facet, with pure vanilla and candy flowers.
Mouth: barely richer once more, but in addition barely numbing. A extra briney and natural begin, with carbon notes, new plastics, industrial storage smells. Later additionally added oak spice, like pepper and ginger, in addition to resins and a refined saline be aware. Black olives once more.
End: lengthy and drying, on pepper and salt, olives and lingering fruits.
It’s humorous how 17 further years hardly have an effect on this profile. There’s extra wooden and a barely higher steadiness, nevertheless it’s simply as highly effective. Spectacular rum. For availability, verify Whisky Age.
TDL Distillery 29 yo 1991 (59,9%, Thompson Bros 2021, 15 years tropical ageing, 205 btl.)
Nostril: ripe berries blended with copper cash, vanilla and oak polish. A faint earthiness. A light-weight brown sugar sweetness however not the overdose of caramel you are inclined to get in official Angostura. Later hints of liquorice and orange come out. Quite vivid and ‘sherried’ in a manner.
Mouth: intense pepper all through, with some freshly sawn oak that reminds us of American bourbon. Meaning leathery hints, brown sugar sweetness and vanilla. Some darkish and jammy fruits beneath. Hints of shoe polish. Once more much less thick and fewer caramelly than anticipated.
End: lengthy, oaky, with leather-based, darkish fruits and hints of burnt sugar.
Trinidad Distillers is the corporate behind Angostura. This isn’t very typical for that model, there’s a syrupy edge nevertheless it stays lean. The oakiness brings it near trendy whisk(e)y in a manner. Offered out. Rating: 84/100
Foursquare 14 yo 2006 (60,6%, Swell de Spirits 2021, 50 cl, 360 btl.)
Nostril: a reasonably light mixture of coconut shavings, baked apples and hints of candied lemons. A number of drops of gasoline, however the funkiness is fairly low right here. Some dried grasses and orange cake. Mild hints of cinnamon pastry.
Mouth: a traditional mixture of coconut and bananas, later additionally caramelized notes. Extra cake and brown sugar. Hints of popcorn, with out getting overly candy or easy. Mild tobacco, herbs and esters develop stronger over time.
End: fairly lengthy, drying now, with warming oak spice, a touch of vanilla and citrus.
It is a relatively accessible rum, at the very least when it comes to funky flavours. The excessive power just isn’t for learners in fact. All good. Try Swell de Spirits. Rating: 86/100
Caroni 1997 ‘La Lune’ (61,3%, Jack Tar 2021, cask #84, 225 btl.)
Nostril: nice. It’s received the bitumen with previous fisherman’s rope, hessian fabric and liquorice. Some burnt rubber, however not a variety of the in any other case typical diesel scent. Additionally syrupy fruits beneath, forest fruit jams, raspberries and stewed bananas. Final however not least, lovely cigar tobacco and chocolate.
Mouth: vastly intense, on chilli, brown sugar and caramel, burnt rubber. Cedar wooden. Menthol working by way of, with liquorice and a touch of camphor. Ginger and herbs. Drops of bitters. Some bananas flambéed and Seville oranges however not a variety of different fruits.
End: very lengthy, just a little biting, filled with spice with a bitter edge and a few smoky wooden.
There’s one thing Karuizawa about this – it’s one of many extra excessive and strong Caroni. I really like the nostril with lovely tobacco notes and raspberry jam, nevertheless it’s too targeted on herbs within the mouth. Closely priced, however top quality. Rating: 91/100
Caroni 1997 ‘Le Soleil’ (63,8%, Jack Tar 2021, cask #60, 221 btl.)
Nostril: barely extra savoury, with a vegetal edge that I didn’t get within the Moon model. A whole lot of minty notes and dried herbs. Tobacco too, just a bit much less. Not the jammy fruits although, just a bit blood orange. Delicate notes of rubber and pencil shavings.
Mouth: now the tables have turned – this appears barely extra elegant and fruity than La Lune. I’m getting mango on prime of the bananas flambéed. Then again to oily notes, cough syrup, mint and cigar containers. Black peppercorns and cinnamon make it drying out in the direction of the top.
End: lengthy, dry, with extra pepper and herbs. Much less smoke than in La Lune.
Whereas I actually just like the added fruits on the palate, the nostril of La Lune makes it stand out for my part. Le Soleil just isn’t precisely a foul possibility both. Rating: 90/100
Caroni 1999 ‘Limbo’ (63,7%, Jack Tar 2021, cask #186, 217 btl.)
Nostril: much more industrial, with engine grease, rubber boots, iodine and just a little petrol. Additionally black olives and eucalyptus, with gentle meaty notes and caramelized onions. Extra herbaceous notes too.
Mouth: scorching and dry, with loads of liquorice, natural extracts, molasses and tarry notes. Tobacco and bitter chocolate. Cedar wooden. Some phenols and grassy notes as effectively. It is a powerhouse, actually vertical rum, and relatively difficult.
End: very lengthy, rubbery and tarry. Some Dutch liquorice and natural bitters.
I don’t assume I’ve had 1999 earlier than and it appears to be totally different from the opposite two certainly. Rather more savoury, with added bitterness and industrial notes. If you wish to have your socks blown off, select this one. I imagine you may pre-order this from Jack Tar. Rating: 89/100
