Round 12 months in the past….that was the final time that I felt compelled to place pen to paper (fingers to keyboard) in any severe manner. While I used to be by no means prolific, I used to be comparatively common….and while this received’t essentially see a full time return, the truth that that is occurring is for me, personally, a superb signal.
Anyhow, what are we in the present day. It’s a Mhoba! However this one is South Africa by way of Australia.
Mhoba are a producer that I’ve written about beforehand, specifically I wrote a protracted kind piece that I view as one of many first and most detailed on the historical past and manufacturing strategies of Robert and the distillery. You could find that by clicking right here…..and just a bit search on the web page will reveal another opinions of the vary generally.
This bottling nevertheless is from a “relative” newcomer to the unbiased bottling scene, Lifeless Reckoning. That is the brainchild and life power behind Justin Boseley….Sailor turned Impartial Rum bottler. There was an fascinating perception into Justin over at 88bamboo and also you’ll discover that right here.
Lifeless Reckoning Mhoba – South Africa – 56% abv – 0 g/l components
What we’ve here’s a younger Mhoba providing matured in South Africa for a few years in an ex South African Purple Wine barrel (Vrede En Lust). This was then shipped over to Adelaide in an IBC the place Justin put it into an first fill, degree three char ex Makers Mark barrel for a further 5 months of “dry ageing”. That 5 months within the sizzling and dry Australian solar the place in summer time the humidity is round 5% and the temperatures can rise to 47 levels Celsius noticed the abv enhance by roughly 4 to five%….that’s it might appear, dry ageing and it noticed an Angels share of 21%.
Now lets get into it
Tasting Notes
Nostril: An actual freshness to the liquid within the glass accompanied by a touch of that Mhoba plastic be aware. A phenomenal sharp and bitter be aware of tart crimson berries accompanies white chocolate shavings and dried cranberries. There’s a few of that acquainted Mhoba grassy sugarcane and ester pushed profile. Fruity acidity, hints of ripe tropical fruits. Improvement within the glass strikes from the brisker, cane and fruit pushed notes and grows in depth with the barrels coming to the fore. Delicate tannic notes and barrel spice. Musky moist wooden mixes with drier, extra pencil shaving pushed notes. It’s all so nicely built-in and the extent of depth and growth definitely belies its age. Creamy white chocolate and cranberry cookies. That sourness is definitely a welcome side to the expertise. It sits astride that line between a nicely aged agricole and a high quality excessive ester Jamaican.
Mouth: Wow. Preliminary sips positively don’t deliver the nostril to the palate right away. Somewhat tough to sift by means of to start out with. Steadiness isn’t there instantly. Tingling the tip of your tongue are these tart dried cranberries, crisp apple and acidic tropical fruits. This turns into nearly creamy with such an oily mouthfeel. Banoffee pie. Caramel. Chewy meringue. Candy grain whisky. Sure there are these tart crimson fruit notes in there, but it surely turns into splendidly drying on the mid palate. It’s way more barrel pushed than the nostril would have you ever imagine…..nearly outdated Enmore like. Musky, wooden and outdated library books. Pepper. Nonetheless permitting these tart notes to hit the facet of your tongue although. Sticks of celery and peanut butter. A comparatively quick end to this one however I’m not aggravated by that. Creeping dryness and hints of powdery cocoa.
In conclusion: The differing barrels have positively had their affect on the distillate while additionally permitting the Mhoba character to shine by means of, that stated…..I’d battle to assume on one thing that may have the ability to stunt that Mhoba character. All in all, actually beautiful stuff and an incredible bottling for Lifeless Reckoning to have of their arsenal.
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