I felt like I wasn’t too good to SMWS rums in my final overview.
Despite my annoyance with how they identify a few of their rum, I really feel like I nonetheless scored these rums pretty. So, right here I’m reviewing one other trio of rums they bottled.
R1.5 is from the Monymusk Distillery in Jamaica. When you’re interested in them, I’ve already talked in regards to the distillery up to now. The pattern of this and the R10.2 are from The Lone Caner. Thanks once more, Lance.
R10.2 is from Trinidad’s Angostura Distillery. When you’re considering of the bitters, you’re appropriate. They’re the identical people who produce the well-known bitters that go into cocktails that we love. I don’t assume anybody on Malt has mentioned the distillery in a lot element but, so I’ll take this opportunity to cowl their fundamentals.
The Angostura Distillery is the one rum distillery left in Trinidad after Caroni closed down. Their distillery bottled rum doesn’t appear to be very fashionable due to some elements. One, they made more cash promoting bulk rum to blenders and brokers. That is except for their bitters in fact. Which suggests till just lately, they haven’t wanted to market their very own rum. However, with the rising recognition of rum, they’ve been advertising and distributing their rum extra. They’ve been extra seen and extra out there in Asia just lately.
This results in cause quantity two: an enormous portion of the rum neighborhood is aware of they sweeten their rum. Like most former Spanish colonies within the Caribbean, they use multi-column stills, so their rum will likely be very gentle. The majority of the flavors of their rum come from the cask affect and/or added sugar. There are even rumors that they purchased an enormous quantity of Caroni shares to mix with a few of their very own shares when it closed. They have been stated to have achieved this to offer their rum extra physique.
Thirdly, Angostura has been identified to sweeten their rum. They deny it, regardless that lab assessments present their bottled rum has components. A whole lot of rum drinkers don’t like sweetened rum, however some don’t thoughts it so long as the model is sincere. It’s the model dishonesty that turns off clients from manufacturers like these.
R13 is the code for Caroni. For many who are new to rum, it’s principally the Port Ellen of rum. I suppose I can’t say that anymore since Port Ellen is present process a revival, whereas the Caroni distillery has been demolished. However you get the gist. Being rum from a closed distillery makes it extra fashionable. This pattern got here from a distinct pal.
SMWS R10.2 Three Spice Crème Brûlée (Angostura) – Assessment
Distilled 1991. Aged 26 years in refill ex-bourbon barrels. 61.3% ABV. £181 from Rum Auctioneer.
Colour: Golden hay.
On the nostril: Highly regarded. True to the identify this rum has, there’s numerous baked aromas right here. I get gentle to medium lasting aromas of pie crust, leather-based, marzipan, vanilla, coconut sugar, muscovado sugar, nutmeg, cloves, honey, moist carton, and blue and black berries blended with syrup. There’s a little bit of Caroni petrol funk in-between and ultimately.
Within the mouth: Not as sizzling as on the nostril. It additionally tastes sweeter right here. I get gentle to medium lasting tastes of vanilla, honey, custard, the underside of a dessert pie, coconut sugar, muscovado sugar, pumpkin pie, berry syrup and cinnamon. The warmth rises up in a while. A little bit of Caroni petrol funk right here and there.
Conclusions:
I’ve bought no complaints about this rum. The age assertion doesn’t disappoint. Its flavors are plentiful, complicated and lengthy. From my expertise, Angostura rum appears to do higher when bottled by impartial bottlers versus being bottled by the distillery. I’ve solely had just a few Angostura bottled by IBs. Apart from this, I’ve had just a few Samaroli and one from the Transcontinental Rum Line. They find yourself being extra like good high quality Scotch than the unhealthy form of sizzling and candy mess that’s bottled by the distillery.
Rating: 8/10
SMWS R13.3 Havana, Madagascar and Tahiti (Caroni) – Assessment
Distilled 1998. Aged 22 years in 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrels. 62.5% ABV. £275 on the SMWS web site.
Colour: Amber.
On the nostril: Oh yeah. It is a Caroni, however on the lighter aspect. I get gentle to medium aromas of asphalt, petrol, cherries, berries, bananas, and apples. On the finish is a sudden shift to cane vinegar, lime peel, kombucha and an enormous slap of pepper. Vanilla and honey come out on the finish.
Within the mouth: I get gentle to medium tastes of cherries, grapes, asphalt, petrol, banana-flavored sweet, apples, ripe purple plums, toffee, caramel and honey.
Conclusions:
This isn’t probably the most thrilling Caroni I’ve had. The nostril on that is disappointing, primarily as a result of it isn’t as deep and as complicated as among the older ones I’ve tried. There’s a brief straight line up of typical Caroni aromas then it rapidly turns bitter.
At the very least it meets expectations within the mouth. It’s extra just like the few 20+ 12 months outdated Caronis I’ve tried. The petrol funk remains to be noticeable however there are extra long-lasting fruits. This half is the saving grace of the rum.
Additionally, is SMWS simply spouting completely different locations with tropical climates? What do Havana, Madagascar, and Tahiti must do with Caroni or the flavors of Caroni?
Rating: 7/10
SMWS R1.5 Jamaican Rum A Little Extravagant (Monymusk) – Assessment
Distilled 2007. Aged 12 years in new oak. 62.8% ABV. $130 from SMWS USA.
Colour: Honey.
On the nostril: I get sharp, medium and lasting aromas of Febreeze, bay leaf and peppermint. In between are gentle flashes of lemon peel, grapefruit peel and banana-flavored sweet. On the finish are cane vinegar, kombucha and toffee.
Within the mouth: It is a lot sweeter vs the nostril. The brand new oak affect shines right here extra. Apart from the sweetness of the brand new oak, there’s additionally an astringent and peppery texture that comes with it. I get sizzling and medium tastes of muscovado sugar, cinnamon syrup, honey, caramel, banana que, all spice, bitter gourd, cloves, burnt wooden and bay leaf.
Conclusions:
Upon discovering out this was a Monymusk, the very first thing I questioned was whether or not this might be pot or column distillate. This being distillate ahead simply confirms to me that it’s pot distillate. However, due to being aged in new oak and being unfamiliar with Monymusk rum, I wouldn’t know what to think about this if given blind.
Tasting yet another UK-aged pot distilled Monymusk rum is one other affirmation for me that it doesn’t appear to go well with my preferences. The flavors are simply in all places. If that is what SMWS meant by being just a little extravagant, then I agree. Nonetheless, it’s fascinating to have tried a Jamaican rum aged in new oak.
Rating: 5/10
Photos are courtesy of Rum Auctioneer.
