Black Tot Historic Solera rum is created in a three-tier solera system. They use casks that beforehand held Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry, through which the rum strikes to the following tier after one yr. Elixir Distillers claims it offers the product a depth and consistency that can’t be replicated utilizing seasoned casks or a vatting. The mix itself consists of rums from Guyana, Barbados & Jamaica.
Black Tot Historic Solera (46,2%, OB 2024)
Nostril: closely sherried and fairly candy, with caramel notes, juicy figs, espresso sweet, orange peels and hints of tobacco. Only a trace of flints and fireworks. Then a sourness seems, suppose cranberries blended with sourish wooden and preserved ginger. Cinnamon and cardamom. Seasalt caramel. There are some esters as nicely, however the sherry is greater.
Mouth: fairly bitter. You get some correct middle-aged Oloroso, in addition to loads of previous Brandy de Jerez. Toasted hazelnuts, hints of turrón, together with raisins, bitter cherries, orange peels and a few pink grapefruit. Extra heavy brew (chilly) espresso, mild hints of clove and pipe tobacco. Additionally darkish chocolate and a rubbery edge in direction of the tip.
End: medium size, drying now, with spicy notes, purple berries and a touch of nutmeg.
The mix of correct Oloroso, esters and previous oak offers this a decidely bitter and barely winey edge together with the darkish fruits. General it leans firmly in direction of the sherry, making a brandy-like type that might disappoint die-hard rum lovers, in my view. I believe it’s a fairly distinctive product, however the rum is pushed to the background. Obtainable from The Whisky Trade amongst different retailers.
On the identical time Elixir Distillers offered the 2024 version of the Black Tot Grasp Blender’s Reserve. We’ve tried this on a number of events earlier than, verify the 2023 version or the 2022 version as an example. This incorporates Jamaican, Barbadian and Guyanese rum, with a little bit of Caroni within the combine as nicely.
Black Tot Grasp Blender’s Reserve (54,5%, OB 2024)
Nostril: way more traditional and extra rummy. Fairly oily, with balanced esters and a touch of glue. Some cane juice and brown sugar, heat orange and a little bit of pineapple. Then mild menthol, liquorice and a whiff of wooden smoke, together with lemons and a faint coppery observe.
Mouth: the candy spot between Jamaican funk (esters, glue, just a little tar – louder than the nostril steered) with rounder notes (stewed bananas, pineapples on syrup, raisins, hints of cinnamon). Some aniseed and lemon, together with liquorice and a drop of natural essence.
End: good size, returning to bitter lemon and orange juice, with cane sugar and previous wooden.
The Grasp Blender’s Reserve is at all times a nice composition, with funky notes rounded by different parts. Maybe the complexity is just a little decrease this yr, leading to a really drinkable version. Rating: 86/100
