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| Hello, that is one among our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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March 9, 2025
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About ten spring rums with a lot nice ones
Only a bit extra rum of all types, as spring approaches within the Northern Hemisphere. And we’re beginning with apéritifs…
(Montebello)
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Guatemala Rum ‘Gran Reserva’ (40%, Rum Nation, +/-2023) 
Right here we’re in Zacapa territory, with a younger little rum that ought to be very candy on the palate… Color: gold, thick texture – it strikes like oil. Nostril: a really fairly nostril, primarily on blood oranges and lightweight acacia honey, with tangerines rising thereafter. Extremely seductive, little question about that, although with out the considerably heady fragrant aspect discovered elsewhere. Mouth: oily, very candy, on cane syrup blended with tangerine juice and honey. It’s a bit ‘an excessive amount of’ when sipped neat like this, however loads of ice ought to make it extra pleasing and fewer cloying. Not that we’ll strive, as that’s not how we function. Not less than it isn’t overloaded with espresso. End: brief, candy. Honey, dates, cane syrup, and maple syrup. Feedback: under no circumstances our most popular fashion, however inside this style, undoubtedly a superb success. With ice.
SGP:730 – 75 factors. |
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The Duppy Share ‘XO’ (40%, OB, Barbados, +/-2024)
Fairly beloved the opposite ones by Duppy Share, one was a Jamaican, the opposite one a mix of Bajan and Jamaican rums. Color: wealthy gold. Nostril: extraordinarily fragrant but elegant, let’s say a mixture of triple sec, juniper, Timut pepper, and recent cane juice. It’s an uncommon nostril, nearly giving the impression that pink pepper has been added. Mouth: hmm, this doesn’t really feel very pure—there’s much more pink pepper on the palate, together with pineapple liqueur and candy gin. Very shocking, although not disagreeable. End: reasonably lengthy as a consequence of all these peppery liqueurs, however as soon as once more, ice is an absolute should. However then, watch these consumption ranges… A contact of quinquina within the aftertaste. Feedback: a humorous rum, let’s assume. My favorite Duppy Share stays the Jamaican white, by far.
SGP:740 – 72 factors. |
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Beenleigh 7 yo ‘Platypus Version’ (43%, FRC, Australia, +/-2024) 
This child aged for five years in ex-bourbon on location and was then completed for two years in sherry wooden in Europe. As for the platypus, it crammed our childhood years—we beloved seeing photos of that weird creature from the Antipodes in Nationwide Geographic. I’d add that its face additionally reminds us of sure Hollywood actresses who’re not within the prime of their youth and who might have gone a bit overboard with cosmetic surgery. Proper. Color: gold. Nostril: very typical, on outdated leathers and recent tar, then modelling clay, cocoa powder, and cloves. Some steel polish. A really completely different profile, for positive. Mouth: brilliantly uncommon, with flavours that not often come collectively—thyme, tar, ashes, juniper berries, bitter oranges, the bitter nuts from sherry, loads of inexperienced pepper, and even a faint peaty contact. End: lengthy, tarry, and peppery, with Campari and oak bitterness within the aftertaste. Feedback: a wierd beast certainly. The selection of label design and title fits the reasonably uncommon fashion of this rum completely.
SGP:462 – 85 factors. |
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Since we had been in Australia…
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Cargo Cult ‘Navy Energy Batch No.1’ (54.5%, Small Batch Spirits Firm, blended rum, Australia, +/-2024)
An intriguing mix of three yo pot nonetheless rums from Fiji and Papua New Guinea, executed in Australia and shipped to us. We’re not going to take a look at the carbon footprint, are we? First time we’re attempting rum from Papua New Guinea, hurray! Color: mild gold. Nostril: the Fijian roars and hits you with its smoky and petroly profile. South Pacific Distillery for positive. Add inexperienced olives and a contact of custard laced with white chocolate, and also you’ve obtained a wonderful composition. With water: clearly in a Jamaican-Guyanese fashion. Love these wafts of recent pleather. Mouth (neat): clearly wonderful. The Fijian aspect is top-notch, main the entire with its normal profile (you realize, olives, seawater, tar, solvents), whereas some very good citrus provides a contact of softness (proper?). With water: honeyed and smoky touches. End: lengthy, maritime, and nonetheless tarry, whereas as soon as once more, the citrus brings every part again into steadiness within the aftertaste. Feedback: effectively performed, that’s for positive.
SGP:563 – 87 factors. |
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We’d like to style this Papua rum as a ‘single’ one among lately. Anyway, let’s keep on…
Montebello 8 yo ‘Batch Année 2022’ (42%, OB, Guadeloupe, agricole)
One other reasonably distinctive distillery from the French islands. Color: gold. Nostril: loads of fudge and salted butter caramel laced with orange, with a distinctly agricole character. Hints of bitter almonds and jasmine, then liquorice with violet and mint, the liquorice shortly managing to dominate the entire. Mouth: a reasonably shocking fashion, each chocolatey and floral, with a lightweight smokiness and resinous notes harking back to conifers, even veering in direction of thuja, then very ristretto-like espresso. End: lengthy, with the return of bitter orange and liquorice. Violet notes linger within the aftertaste. Feedback: I don’t know why, however this very pretty Montebello brings to thoughts a well-made younger Pomerol.
SGP:562 – 87 factors.
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Uitvlugt 26 yo 1998/2024 (51.6%, Silver Seal, Guyana, cask #V44-24, 210 bottles) 
They do have a factor for parrots at Silver Seal, as evidenced by the magnificent label on this outdated Demerara rum, distilled two years earlier than the distillery closed. Color: deep gold. Nostril: a delicate and reasonably mild fashion, leaning in direction of maple syrup and all types of citrus liqueurs. I reckon water will wake it up additional. With water: the faint petrolic notes now emerge, together with steel polish, outdated copper pennies, blond tobacco, then a contact of parsley, chervil, Corinth raisins, and dried figs… Mouth (neat): very pretty, extra refined than your normal Demerara, with orange cake and, as soon as once more, maple syrup—simply lacking the pancakes. With water: in come camphor, cough syrup, liquorice, and even a couple of wayward shellfish, including a saline contact. Love them. End: not the longest however extremely advanced, a bit of sweet-and-salty. Salty liquorice lingers within the aftertaste. Feedback: don’t be fooled by the comparatively civilised bottling energy, water transforms it fully and takes it to near-supersonic ranges.
SGP:562 – 91 factors. |
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Mhoba 2020 ‘WR1’ (55%, OB, South Africa, for Navigate World Whisky, South Africa, bourbon, 241 bottles, +/-2024)
100% pot nonetheless and a South African rum for a South African (very expert) distributor—how coherent is that? It was aged in ex-Woodford Reserve wooden, and it’s stated this rum has at all times appeared ‘smokey’. Let’s see… Color: gold. Nostril: effectively, sure, it’s smoky, petrolic, tarry, smelling of a brand-new iPhone (the factor nobody truly wants) and grilled bacon, together with olive oil. In actual fact, it’s very lovely. Borderline moringa, however let’s not overdo this. With water: no change, although none was wanted. Mouth (neat): bonkers. Smoky certainly, very salty, filled with pure rubber and citrus peels, plus the standard liquorice and an unusually massive dose of tarragon. With water: you’re virtually propelled to Jamaica, besides there’s additionally this recent rubbery aspect that’s simply pleasant. End: pretty, saline, liquorice-laden, earthy, and—until my mind is taking part in methods on me—hints of amarula. Feedback: no shock, we’ve recognized for a couple of years now that Mhoba makes good stuff. However this one is especially good.
SGP:462 – 90 factors. |
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SVN 2003/2025 (61.3%, Vagabond Spirits, Silva Assortment, Réunion, 240 bottles)
SVN, Réunion—it does bear a robust resemblance to Savanna. Let’s additionally take a second to think about that great island, which was struck simply final week by a very violent cyclone. To you, mates! Color: amber. Nostril: even on the nostril, it’s comforting, heat, with prunes, espresso, and black olives. I’m unsure if that is grand arôme, but it surely very effectively could possibly be. That stated, at this energy, one should defend each the olfactory bulb and receptor neurons… With water: earth and polish galore, with a faint gamey contact… Mouth (neat): explosive, filled with concentrated liquorice and acetone. No suicidal tendencies right here, thoughts you… With water: tons of orange blossom honey! Unimaginable… End: lengthy and splendid, on espresso, black nougat, and pure varnish, then darkish chocolate and, more and more, cloves. Feedback: as with the Mhoba, there are some, let’s say, ‘completely different’ components—not precisely orthodox—however that solely provides to the pleasure these rums present. Let’s not overlook that this uncommon Savanna (whether it is certainly Savanna) is over 20 years outdated.
SGP:462 – 90 factors. |
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Right here, let’s strive one thing…
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Savanna 14 yo 2008/2024 (65.1%, Swell de Spirits, Wild Card sequence, Réunion, cask #699, 240 bottles) 
This can be a ‘conventional’ Savanna, which means theoretically molasses-based. Color: glowing crimson amber. That’s proper. Nostril: a lot gentler, softer, extra restrained, regardless of the 65% ABV—which did lead us to contact our lawyer. Alas, as normal, he was out {golfing}, iPhone 16 Professional switched off. What a idiot. With water: ample cedar, spruce wooden, and chocolate. Not significantly advanced, however nonetheless extraordinarily pretty. Mouth (neat): chic varnish and outdated walnuts, however we gained’t dwell on that additional—a minimum of not with out H2O. With water: oh, pleasant—orange cordial, cumin, and even a faint Chartreuse-like be aware. You possibly can really feel the lighter texture of those ‘conventional’ kinds. End: pretty lengthy, on chocolate, mint, and orange. A touch of glue within the aftertaste. Feedback: unquestionably, about nearly as good because it will get on this class.
SGP:561 – 88 factors. |
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Good, one final one—a Jamaican, after all…
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Clarendon 13 yo 2010/2024 (56.6%, Valinch & Mallet, The Spirit of Artwork, Jamaica, cask #432920, 334 bottles)
8 years within the tropics, the remaining below a European local weather. Messrs Valinch & Mallet proceed to supply us superbly designed bottles, with the art work right here executed by Luca Coser. I don’t know him, however he appears gifted! Truthfully, there’s nothing sillier than a plain bottle of rum or whisky—you would possibly as effectively embellish it elegantly. Color: gold. Nostril: that barely ‘mid-esters’ aspect of Clarendon/Monymusk is again, which may generally be irritating, however under no circumstances right here—fairly the other. Fantastic notes of brined anchovies, stuffed olives (full of anchovies, to be exact), then paint, outdated varnishes, bitter almonds, and Calvados… With water: a stroll on the seashore at low tide, with tar within the air. Mouth (neat): unbelievable, nearly like being at Caroni, I swear! Good salinity, petroleum notes (solely fascinating on this context), and overripe unique fruits at their pinnacle. With water: good. This have to be a Clarendon at 500g (referring, after all, to the esters per hectolitre of pure alcohol). End: the olives come roaring again, supported by lemon. Feedback: critically ester-packed for a Clarendon. In brief, wonderful.
SGP:563 – 90 factors. |
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 Test the index of all rums we have tasted to date
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Excessive scores and stuff |
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I nonetheless must repeat one thing. We’re totally conscious that there are plenty of top-tier whiskies, rums, and brandies on WF, lots of which we consider deserve 90 factors or extra. I do know we generally get criticised for this, however you must perceive that distillers, bottlers, and retailers nearly by no means, or barely ever, ship us entry-level or average-quality spirits. They’re not silly!
That doesn’t cease us from publishing opinions of them as usually as potential, however to take action, now we have to supply these ‘common’ spirits ourselves as a result of, fairly merely, nobody will ship them to us voluntarily. And positively not the distillers, whose principal goal is to attempt to management (or, let’s be sincere, purchase) what ‘influencers’ and the press must say.
Between us, we will’t actually blame them—they’re simply doing their job, and plenty of of them do it very effectively.
Angus would additionally add the purpose that we’re at coronary heart and stay completely spirits lovers who love looking for and tasting the perfect and most delightful drinks. It’s enjoyable to style the typical or downright unhealthy occasionally because it provides very vital perspective, however we aren’t masochists and we’ll at all times err on the aspect of delight and enjoyable!
Proper, let’s keep on…
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