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| Hello, that is one in all our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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January 5, 2025
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A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are performed from the viewpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an skilled in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
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First rum session of the 12 months,
from 1876 to 2021
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Goodness, that’s 100 and forty-five years aside. I can’t consider every other non-artistic product that takes you on such a journey via time. In fact, one may argue that high quality spirits are a type of artwork as effectively, however whenever you go to the distilleries, you rapidly realise that they’re all factories—whether or not small or massive. So, in the long run, lengthy dwell factories!
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Early label for Outdated Medford Rum
(Medford Historic Society & Museum) |
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Romero ‘Amber Rum’ (40%, OB, Canada, sherry cask end, +/-2024) 
Oops! I assumed this was a kind of Romero & Sons from Ecuador, whose fairly charming expressions we’ve sampled earlier than. These Romero, hailing from Alberta, fairly conjure photos of glacial waters (effectively there’s snow on the best Ecuadorian mountains as effectively), ex-Woodford Reserve barrels, and oloroso casks shipped instantly from Jerez, though we discovered no particulars concerning the sourcing of the molasses or the forms of stills used. Nicely then, let’s style this child… Color: gentle gold. Nostril: very, very gentle, with a contact of orange, a touch of honey, and the faintest whiff of tar. I’d say it leans barely Cuban in type. Mouth: slightly boozy, not a lot character, although not disagreeable. I reckon it wants a little bit of ice to tone down the alcoholic edge. However, it doesn’t appear overly doctored. The sherry affect stays discreet. End: very quick, with a splash of cane juice adopted by a natural observe. Feedback: it’s pretty first rate. Nicely then, Canadian rum!
SGP:340 – 70 factors. |
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Nicaragua 19 yo 2004/2024 (60%, Rum Sponge, for LMDW Foundations, refill barrel, 230 bottles) 
Ex-pot nonetheless, most definitely from the makers of Flor de Cana. 3 years on location, then some ‘early touchdown’ within the UK (I suppose it was not the Netherlands). Color: wealthy gold. Nostril: it begins with notes of hairspray and pear, considerably amylaceous, adopted by buttercream, orgeat, and really recent white nougat. At 60%, it’s exceedingly smooth and thus fairly harmful. With water: praline, hazelnut cream, almond croissant, then a contact of previous cedarwood (Chinese language temple) and incense, with refined hints of dried fruits. Mouth (neat): related impression of varnish, then pears and pineapples, adopted by citrus fruits. It’s slightly sharper than on the nostril however stays a really easy rum, laden with almond milk. With water: orange liqueur and white peach purée (Bellini-ready). Critically, when you don’t have recent peaches at hand, you could possibly pour a splash of this Nicaraguan into your champagne as an alternative. Do observe, you’ll be elevating fairly than reducing the alcohol degree (de nada, comfortable to assist). End: medium in size, very smooth and stylish. A touch of avocado, coconut, and papaya juice. Feedback: the pot-still character isn’t notably evident, however all this delicacy is absolutely fairly charming. Undoubtedly one of many best Nicaraguans, with an infinitely light softness.
SGP:540 – 87 factors. |
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Nicely, it’s now or by no means to style this very previous, historic rum. We now have a small ‘semi-official’ bottle produced by Wealth Options two or three years in the past to mark their fifteenth anniversary. So let’s not wait, as a result of there is no method we’re tasting this historical glory after some funky, high-energy Jamaicans!
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Tremendous Outdated Medford Rum 1876 (M.E. Bellows’ & Son, USA, 15 Years of Wealth Options)
From the Daniel Lawrence Distillery in Medford, New England, closed in 1905. It seems, nonetheless, that the ‘Outdated Medford Rum’ model continued for use, although maybe solely from shares of the previous distillery, and it nonetheless is at this time, now produced in Boston, though the title is simply ‘ Medrum Rum’ nowadays. This model was offered by wine and spirits importers and retailers M.E. Bellows, 50 Broad St. in New York, however we couldn’t discover any on-line photographs of this bottle with its label. We had beforehand sampled an admirable ‘Scotch Whiskey’ from Bellows (see 1 February 2024). Color: espresso. Nostril: it’s pretty, delicate, and much better than I had feared, not weak in any respect, leaning as an alternative in the direction of plum juice with a touch of tar and molasses, together with refined notes of beef broth. Glorious presence and fragrant depth, with not the slightest hint of cardboard or mustiness on the nostril. On this respect, it’s fairly spectacular, virtually harking back to a high quality previous Navy mix from earlier than WWII. Mouth: it’s candy and extremely ‘organized’, seemingly with fairly a number of components, maybe molasses honey, which makes it very sugary but nonetheless provides some pleasant notes of brown sugar and cane sugar, far faraway from these closely doctored modern ‘rums’ that reek of vanillin and pineapple liqueur from fifty paces. You already know what I imply. It continues with hints of espresso liqueur earlier than fading gently. End: fairly quick however clear, with a faint woody bitterness and real honey lingering within the aftertaste, in very refined touches. Feedback: I think the sugar preserved this charming rum, considerably like a really previous port, Madeira, or candy sherry, to which it finally bears some resemblance. Simply suppose—1876! We would even have loved this alongside very previous cognacs, however alas, it’s too late. Mea culpa, we’re undoubtedly too rational.
SGP:720 – 85 factors (a partly symbolic rating). |
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Windfall 3 yo 2021/2024 (52%, OB, Haiti, 1,900 bottles)
Find it irresistible that they might add that it’s ‘handmade’ and ‘robotic free’. Ex-1,500l pot nonetheless fitted with a water bathtub (we use roughly the identical expertise after we distill at WF HQ, however ours is barely a 100l). Pure cane honey. Matured in ex-bourbon and rum casks. Color: full gold. Nostril: this, I take pleasure in, recent beets, celeriac and carrots, plus a double-magnum of cane juice and a handful of small wild strawberries. Very elegant nostril, smooth and complicated. With water: orange-flavoured marzipan, with flying colors, plus a small oliveness that will stem from some cask’s earlier contents. Tiny contact of paprika and nutmeg, fairly distinctive. Mouth (neat): very smooth at first, then liquorice and lime that simply continue to grow. The extremely distinctive rooty notes stay, together with a sure acidity, even a barely vinegary contact that I fairly like, including pep. With water: have been there ex-Caroni casks? It feels prefer it now. As with Hampden or Ardbeg, there’s an actual homeopathic impact in any mix that features any drops of them (in-cask mix or not), as even the tiniest molecule leaves its mark. End: medium in size, with orange marzipan mingling with hints of olives, brine, and tar. Feedback: a stunning 3-year-old. And moreover, we should assist Haiti, past its implausible clairins.
SGP:542 – 86 factors. |
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Monymusk 12 yo 2010/2023 ‘MMW’ (66.9%, The Whisky Blues, Jamaica, barrel, cask #433029, 250 bottles) 
Good heavens, I hadn’t observed the alcohol power! MMW is the mark for Wedderburn from Monymusk, that means it is a rum with a really excessive ester content material, 200-300 gr/hlpa, although Monymusk does produce even increased ranges. Color: gold. Nostril: typical, varnish, glue, acetone, and white vinegar, over extraordinarily ripe bananas. With water: notes of damp cement, caraway, tarragon, capers, and salmiak, together with a touch of toasted bread. Mouth (neat): oily, ultra-powerful, but very, very stunning citrus fruits emerge amidst all of the varnish. Rapidly now… With water: good, banana and mango liqueurs, plus loads of varnish and liquorice. The stability, in reality, is spot on. End: lengthy, fruity, but nonetheless unmistakably ‘high-ester’, with out veering into burnt tyre territory. Feedback: a slight Trinidadian contact on this very, very high quality Jamaican, maybe. Fruity esters turned as much as eleven.
SGP:652 – 88 factors. |
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Jamaica 5 yo 2017/2023 ‘Single Cask’ (58.32%, Rum Nation, New Vibrations, 642 bottles) 
Single-domaine pot nonetheless rum and 5 years in a PX cask on our continent. Color: golden amber. Nostril: a extra traditional Jamaican profile, rounder and softer, with seeded bread and, as soon as once more, loads of marzipan, together with cherry liqueur and maybe even a drop of maraschino. Additionally some curious but nice smoky notes, in addition to a handful of dried muscat grapes. With water: a lot the identical. Mouth (neat): really a smooth Jamaican, virtually candy, however the rum has sufficient physique to assist this sweetness. Briefly, a contact of ‘cooking’—or fairly patisserie right here however that’s high-quality patisserie. Tremendous banana liqueur (in contrast to the dreadful stuff usually present in supermarkets). With water: it’s candy, it’s good, and it stays simply inside the limits. End: lengthy, now drier. Hints of grape pips. Feedback: I actually do like this one, although I wouldn’t rule out having fun with it with two ice cubes. The much less candy common Jamaica 5 yo ‘Single Domaine Rum’ from 2023 was large in my guide (WF 89).
SGP:652 – 84 factors. |
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I’ve obtained an concept—how about we end with two from 1998?
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Lengthy Pond 23 yo 1998/2022 (52.7%, The Colors of Rum, Jamaica, refill cask, N°12, cask #1, 163 bottles)
Full continental getting older. A foolish query—does this description take into account the UK a part of the continent, or did the rum essentially age within the Netherlands? Anyway, you already know what I imply. Color: gold. Nostril: very a lot on recent tar, heat candle wax, then tinned sardines and pickled anchovies. Splendid notes of citrus liqueurs and late-harvest Riesling (virtually the identical factor—no, I exaggerate). With water: previous ship ropes and a slight Islay contact, adopted by loads of unique fruits, all completely ripe. Mouth (neat): as soon as once more, a fairly good stability of varnish and fruits, not far faraway from the Monymusk. Oysters, olives, bananas, peaches, paraffin, tar, and nail varnish (sure, nail varnish). With water: excellent rum, with hints of salinity rising. End: fairly lengthy and now rather more saline and liquorice-led. Curious touches of chervil, verbena, and honey proper on the finish. Feedback: merely glorious, as anticipated.
SGP:652 – 89 factors. |
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Caroni 25 yo 1998/2024 (59.6%, Bedford Park, North Coast Distillers, cask #2159, 208 bottles) 
Rum chosen by the distillers of the brand new North Level Distillery in Forss close to Thurso, West Caithness. They’ve simply begun producing Dalclagie malt however are already providing gin and even rum, together with a variety of impartial whisky and rum bottlings underneath the ‘Bedford Park’ label. Color: amber. Nostril: this seems like ‘heavy to semi-heavy’ Caroni, with loads of new tyres and engine oil, in addition to a stunning earthy facet, plus black truffles and inexperienced olives. We’re completely comfortable to date. With water: not a lot change, besides that it leans much more in the direction of coal tar. Mouth (neat): virtually like consuming a mixture of tar, lime juice, salted liquorice paste, and really peppery brine. Deliciously brutal. With water: seawater, extra tar, oysters, and black olives. End: very lengthy, following the identical profile. Peppery lemon within the aftertaste with a touch of chilli. Feedback: it’s mentioned to be ex-column Caroni, however I need to say it feels remarkably ‘pot nonetheless’. You’d wish to sip this on the terrace of a small bistro overlooking an industrial harbour, watching the ships come and go—with a number of olives on the desk, naturally. Nicely, you get the concept.
SGP:463 – 90 factors. |
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Between this Caroni and the Outdated Medford, it was fairly the distinction at this time! Wishing you a cheerful Sunday.
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 Verify the index of all rums we have tasted to date
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Concerning temperatures |
That is vital for sure rums—at completely different temperatures, we understand tastes in another way, comparable to sweetness. For instance, a candy rum will style even sweeter if consumed at room temperature, as we regularly do. Nevertheless, it’s vital to take into account that these candy rums are designed to be served over ice or in cocktails which can be served chilled—circumstances underneath which they are going to style much less candy, and even a lot much less candy. Distillers and blenders naturally take these components under consideration when creating their recipes.
On the whole, it’s mentioned that candy and salty flavours are most noticeable at room temperature, whereas bitter and bitter/acid flavours have a tendency to face out extra when served chilly or chilled. |
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