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| Hello, that is one in every of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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April 13, 2025
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A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are carried out from the viewpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an knowledgeable in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
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The rums are again on WF, from Colombia to Jamaica
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You have obtained the sample by now: cognac, armagnac, rum, rum, rum, cognac, armagnac, rum, rum, rum… However all of that may be interrupted at any second by mezcal, genever, or different roughly devilish spirits. In any case, in the present day, it’s rum.
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Chamarel (Chamarel) |
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Dictador ‘Aurum’ (40%, OB, Colombia, +/-2024) 
Aurum ? One more title seemingly nicked straight from Wikipedia or ChatGPT, though Wikipedia does really feel marginally extra credible, even when it’s a nest of lefties (simply kidding). Anyway, a Dictador that’s been little question premiumised in a rush, although the ABV says all of it: 40% = possible j*nk. Color: orange amber. Nostril: burnt caramel, Catalan cream, molasses honey and that café liqueur you decide up at €12 a bottle. Not a lot hope… Mouth: my phrase that is dreadful, sickly candy, over-caramelised, very a lot within the Starbucks camp. Deathly candy instantaneous espresso, lukewarm Coca-Cola at 25°C, burnt caramel… It’s nearly drinkable. End: quick, which is THE excellent news of the day. Feedback: ugh. I briefly thought of a horizontal tasting of Dictador Aurum, Platinum, Insolent and Perpetual however properly gave up. Typically, we’re happy with our selections. That mentioned, it’s little question much better over a heap of crushed ice or in a misuwari. Only a reminder that decrease temperatures are inclined to uninteresting sweetness. At any charge, €100 for this poor factor is pushing it. Worst of all, the bottle seems terribly ‘D.J.T’.
SGP:830 – 49 factors. |
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Good heavens, rapidly, some agricole…
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Trois Rivières ‘X.O’ (43%, OB, Martinique, agricole, +/-2024) 
This child’s mentioned to be six years outdated, which is a wonderful age. Color: gold. Nostril: ripe strawberries from twelve metres away, actually. Then as one will get nearer, it’s jasmine and lavender that come marching in, assertively and with out negotiation. A contact of cedarwood and thuja as nicely; all in all it’s ultra-aromatic. Mouth: quite extra unruly, with cedar, lavender, ginger and bitter oranges locked in a correct scrap, but it surely’s the form of brawl we fairly take pleasure in, with lavender in the end taking the crown. Reality be advised, there’s numerous wooden, as usually when the ABV is on the decrease facet. End: pretty lengthy, oaky, with pink pepper and a few orange stepping in to revive order. As we all the time say, in any spirit, the citrus guidelines. Feedback: actually miles higher than the Colombian Dictador, particularly at a 3rd of the worth, although we’re not fairly on the pinnacle of agricole right here, in my humble view.
SGP:562 – 79 factors. |
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Agricole will get one other shot…
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Depaz ‘Hors d’Âge XO’ (45%, OB, Martinique, agricole, +/-2024) 
feeling right here… Color: full gold. Nostril: however in fact, maple syrup, honey, Sichuan pepper, cigars and cedarwood (suppose Romeo & Julieta ‘Cedros’, roughly), damp earth, a number of floral touches of geranium, and ultra-ripe bananas… Mouth: how may one not take pleasure in this creamy, even delicately liqueur-like profile? Pink grapefruit liqueurs, rose, Brazil nuts, unique hardwoods, orange zest… End: pretty lengthy, nonetheless very a lot on these valuable woods, incense, jasmine, recent ginger and spiced honey. Feedback: undoubtedly best with dim sum, maybe these beloved ha-kao (sp?).
SGP:651 – 85 factors. |
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Chamarel 2014 (53.77%, Navigate World Whisky, Mauritius, Highveld Getting older Collection, South African market unique, ex-Islay cask, 247 bottles, +/-2024)
A mix of column and pot nonetheless rums from the distillery, additional aged in ex-Laphroaig wooden. One couldn’t make it extra ‘world’ than this, may one? Color: gold. Nostril: neglect any reference to Laphroaig, you barely get a whiff, save for a suggestion of yellow peaches and guavas. A couple of notes of flint and lighter stone do make a cameo, thoughts you… With water: carries on with peach pores and skin, nectarine, papaya, and nonetheless these bursts of flint (and certainly spent match). Mouth (neat): most unbelievable but it really works. Think about peach liqueur smoked over beechwood, then laced with cigar ash. With water: swims like a champion, no query, rising peatier the extra water you add. However wait, it’s nonetheless rum… End: we find yourself on Islay, this journey’s an actual hoot. Feedback: that mentioned, we reached Port Askaig greater than Port Ellen.
SGP:653 – 85 factors. |
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Foursquare 15 yo 2006/2022 (61%, The Colors of Rum, Barbados, ex-bourbon, No.16, 264 bottles)
Color: deep gold. Nostril: extremely fragrant, with notes of Swiss cheese, alpine flowers, varnish and hairspray, then toasted sesame oil. Altogether, it really works a deal with. With water: nonetheless very a lot ‘column’, however quite beautiful, light with out being weak, now leaning extra in the direction of vanilla and the coconutty facet of the wooden. Mouth (neat): glue and polish, traditional column nonetheless, then bananas in all guises, from liqueurs to marshmallows, with a splash of corn syrup thrown in. With water: the varnishy facet turns saltier, which is kind of the little miracle, even when the feel stays pretty gentle. End: not overly lengthy, however extra natural and leaning in the direction of… apples. Feedback: it’s the wooden that appears to be bringing the feel, one may even mistake it for pure column. In any case, it’s excellent.
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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Rum Mix Jamaica/Belize (65.4%, Zn09, Cyberpunk sequence, 200 bottles)
It’s reassuring to study, at over 65% vol., that the rums used right here weren’t decreased. We’re speaking Worthy Park 2012 for 60% and a Belize 2007—absolutely a Travellers—for the remaining 40%. We’re proper on the sting of an anti-taster assault right here, however let or not it’s mentioned, we’re standing tall, fearless and faultless. Color: deep gold. Nostril: this isn’t precisely affordable, however WP takes cost directly, with vanilla, shoe polish and nail varnish remover. Amen. With water: Belize strikes again with softer notes of banana cake, the entire thing ending in a quite cheerful fiesta. Mouth (neat): that is now correct Jamaican rum, loaded with acetone, barely rounded off by a splash of banana juice and a splash of pancake syrup. With water: the Jamaican retains management, particularly as a daring salinity begins to emerge. End: lengthy, salty, with a touch of olives, or even perhaps that well-known Tupperware olive cake that conquered the globe. Feedback: in fact it’s excellent, even when it’s a bit odd. Punk certainly (by the way in which, do you know the Stranglers are nonetheless touring?)
SGP:563 – 86 factors. |
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Hampden ‘1753’ (46%, OB, Jamaica, 2025) 
A really good-looking bottle with a crowded, quite over-the-top baroque label, fairly within the Italian style. Frankly, we’re not totally positive what that is, however one surrenders to it with delight and a happy purr or two. Color: gold. Nostril: ultra-ripe bananas, even riper pineapples, ammoniac touches, brine, olives, wooden glue, solvents and seawater. We bow our heads. Mouth: it’s exhausting how good that is. Olives, liquorice, barbecued sardines and polish. The 46% fits it completely, sparing us the trauma of a dodgy discount. Thanks! End: lengthy, all on essences and oils, although we’ll keep away from name-dropping manufacturers lest we incur unjust and unfounded tariffs from the planet’s head polluters. Proper, deep breath… Feedback: this new bottle is kind of the stunner. Thanks for bottling it at ‘ingesting energy’, and hats off for the discount approach employed, whichever it was.
SGP:563 – 90 factors. |
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Trelawny 9 yo ‘<>H’ (55.7%, Valinch & Mallet, Jamaica, 2024)
Proper then, one other Hampden, in different phrases the Ardbeg of rum—minus the pushes, the storytelling, and people wildly implausible finishings that might make a mortgaged brick weep. Color: gold. Nostril: good heavens! Puncture restore glue, wine vinegar, olives, acetone, carbon mud, tart apples and historical brine. One couldn’t probably resist such an olfactory assault. With water: come on, this is likely one of the biggest spirits on earth, the remaining is simply prose. Mouth (neat): astonishing how shut this will get to the official bottling we’ve simply tasted. Liquorice, barbecue, varnish, brine, the whole thing. With water: in come important oils, tar, and olive oil chocolate (you realize the stuff? Search for Espérantine de Marseille)… End: vinegar and the last word weapon—white nougat with bits of black olives inside; on the palate, it’s someplace between Caravaggio and Rembrandt. Feedback: shamelessly good, one other Achilles Final Stand of rum.
SGP:563 – 91 factors. |
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 Test the index of all rums we have tasted up to now
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