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| Hello, that is considered one of our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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July 27, 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 perspective 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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Much more rums on WF, incuding a 1834, for our twenty third anniversary
(simply barely early)
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Tomorrow marks the twenty third anniversary of this pitiful little ultra-advanced web site, and we’re getting ever so barely forward of ourselves with a really particular rum we had put aside for the event. We’re even going to take pleasure in it as an ‘apéritif’, as a result of it merely wouldn’t do to have it after these sickly-sweet sugar bombs adopted by high-ester bazookas from Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana… or Fiji. Are all of us agreed on that?
Latest photograph of the previous Bellows headquarters simply south of the New York Inventory Change.
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Jamaica Rum 1834 (+/-40%, M.E. Bellows‘ Son of New York through The Colors of Rum, Guyana) 
In keeping with rum specialists—or on the very least these extra versed than yours really—this might doubtless be a rum of Guyanese origin, crafted within the Jamaican fashion (which reasonably brings to thoughts these American champagnes or Russian cognacs) and distributed by M.E. Bellows, wine and spirits importers and retailers primarily based at 50 Broad St., New York. We’ve already had the pleasure of tasting a splendid American Outdated Medford Rum from 1876 in addition to some whisky from these identical folks. This pattern was kindly shared by Wealth Options, a thousand due to them. I presume it got here from a venerable outdated bottle that was rigorously transferred into tiny vials, little question destined for refined noses and palates similar to our personal (modesty, S.?) So as soon as once more, many due to Wealth Options. Color: reddish amber. Nostril: nicely, rum it stays, with outstanding molasses, corn syrup, lashings of liquorice, hints of orange liqueur, and maybe an overarching ‘El Dorado’ profile if one needed to identify it. It doesn’t come throughout as drained within the least, nor does it really feel latest or cloyingly syrupy. After practically two centuries, one suspects the sugars have mellowed and ‘digested’ themselves, a lot as seen in very outdated Hungarian Tokaji. Mouth: I discover this reasonably good, nearly like a liquorice liqueur, the feel being oily and close to thick, with minute touches of salt, mint, and anise sneaking in. Fairly beautiful, and actually, reasonably transferring. End: pretty brief however gentle, nonetheless brimming with liquorice, veering gently into espresso grounds. Feedback: I do ponder whether these bottles may need been ‘topped up’ or ‘ullaged’ alongside the way in which. It’s recognized that when, for example, a case of twelve is unearthed, sure lovers would possibly sacrifice a bottle to convey the others as much as stage, not not like the practices of Bordeaux châteaux with their historical vintages. Anyway, this was most pleasant.
SGP:551 – 85 factors (however please, don’t take this rating too severely).
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Let’s transfer on to newer issues…
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Banqero ‘Copper’ (40%, OB, Switzerland, +/-2023) 
Sure certainly, girls and gents, Swiss rum has landed on WF for the very first time. Nicely, we’re not fully sure it’s genuinely Swiss—one web site claims it’s really of Cuban origin and the results of a ‘quadruple distillation in a column nonetheless’, which is reasonably amusing until we’re speaking about tiny pot stills linked to some form of tray system, although I reasonably doubt it. Color: golden straw. Nostril: a contact odd, someplace between genepy, vanilla yoghurt, and a faintly dusty cabinet, however it’s all reasonably entertaining. Mouth: not too certain what to make of this, with gentle molasses, inexperienced pepper, pear eau-de-vie, and caramel exhibiting up right here and there… there’s clearly a sugariness lurking beneath the entire affair. End: brief and earthier, this time bringing in notes of curry and plum spirit. Feedback: amusing and sincere, hoppla.
SGP:730 – 60 factors. |
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Rivière du Mât ‘Grande Réserve’ (40%, OB, La Réunion, +/-2024) 
We’d already tried this one a few years in the past and it was reasonably good. It is a conventional rum, so molasses-based reasonably than pure cane juice. Color: gold. Nostril: beautiful freshness, nearly maritime in nature, with liquorice and anise making an look, in addition to a floral contact (honeysuckle), and above all, gallons of freshly squeezed oranges with a drizzle of multifloral honey. From La Réunion, after all. Their pink peppercorn honey is splendid, by the way in which. Mouth: nonetheless candy, with spices that clearly evoke the area, nearly like a really, very delicate rougail. This then veers in direction of one thing drier, with a contact of chocolate and chilli, a splendid mixture. End: alas, it’s reasonably brief—I concern the 40% actually doesn’t do it justice, which is a pity. Feedback: very nice juice, however their barely stronger variations, such because the XO, have way more oomph.
SGP:640 – 78 factors. |
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Mhoba ‘Bourbon Cask’ (48%, OB, Navigate World Whisky, South Africa, 300 bottles, +/-2024) 
Let’s maintain this temporary as everyone knows Mhoba is great. Color: gold. Nostril: no surprises right here, it’s superb certainly, brimming with these hallmark wafts of waxed cardboard, contemporary tar, seawater, then hints of acetone and polish. A contact of caraway provides a beautiful idiosyncratic twist. Mouth: probably the most Jamaican of African rums, and fairly presumably the best. An ideal concord of liquorice and tar, mingling with citrus and wee petroly and basaltic touches. It then shifts in direction of saltiness, which is just pleasant. End: lengthy, with each black and inexperienced olives making a proud look. Feedback: finest loved whereas listening to Abdullah Ibrahim. We like this rum—and the nice Abdullah Ibrahim aka Greenback Model each bit as a lot.
SGP:452 – 89 factors. |
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Fiji 23 yo 2001/2024 (51%, Planteray for LMDW Foundations, Status Cellar, 258 bottles)
A juice from Rum & Co. of Fiji (aka South Pacific Distillery), completed for 4 years in Ferrand cognac casks. One hopes the affect was minimal, naturally. Color: amber. Nostril: image mango juice, peach liqueur, seawater, a drop of rose liqueur, and a splash of furnishings polish all shaken collectively—and someway, it doesn’t conflict in any respect. With water: oh, it shuts down. That’s uncommon, and we’re certainly utilizing our official Vittel water (Nestlé, the place’s that cheque?) Mouth (neat): that is charming, the cognac stays discreet and lets unique fruits preserved in liquorice, olive oil, and Nordic fir tar liqueur take centre stage. With water: a lot the identical, only a contact brinier. A stunning drop, and a cognac cask that knew how you can behave. End: lengthy, saltier, and extra on petrol. Feedback: actually superb, and it appears just a bit oilier than your common South Pacific.
SGP:553 – 87 factors. |
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A Panama Distillery 2004/2017 (61.6%, L’Esprit, cask #BB 71, 256 bottles) 
About time we gave this child a go, we’re all the time on the hunt for nice Panamanians. And we achieve this love when bottlers inform us, at 61.6% vol., that it’s cask energy. Don’t we simply. Color: gold. Nostril: textbook stuff, corn syrup, a bag of sweets, hay, contemporary grass, and cane syrup. With water: beautiful pure vanilla and a collection of natural teas, together with the compulsory chamomile. Mouth (neat): the sweetie side is much more pronounced on the palate. Honey lozenges and maple syrup galore. Plus a good bit of ethanol, let’s be sincere. With water: gentle, sugary, syrupy, with banana and pear liqueurs entrance and centre. End: a lot the identical. A bit pepper creeps in. Feedback: not precisely my most popular fashion, removed from it, however inside this considerably ‘hole’ profile, I’d say it’s top-tier.
SGP:640 – 82 factors. |
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Nicely now, let’s return to the Fiji Islands…
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South Pacific Distillery 21 yo 2001/2023 (47.3%, The Colors of Rum, Fiji, cask #17, 222 bottles)
No discount right here, so one would possibly presume both the ageing befell past the Arctic Circle—which we reasonably doubt—or the cask was a contact, let’s say, porous. Typically the supply of nice surprises, as we have seen with many a sublimely aged Scottish malt. Color: gold. Nostril: nicely now, olive oil with a contact of acetone and almond milk. Within the background, a curious mixture of ink, saltpetre, soot, and guava juice. And I’m afraid to say all of it comes collectively reasonably completely. Mouth: rather less exact on the palate, a contact rougher (like a Fijian rugby prop), but naturally nonetheless wonderful. The wooden feels extra current than common, which may be all the way down to the (comparatively) low energy. End: lengthy, salty, austere, pretty dry. Feedback: not the simplest of drams… however nonetheless high class, very like Fiji’s nationwide rugby workforce.
SGP:463 – 87 factors. |
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Clarendon 17 yo 2004/2022 (57.1%, Treasured Liquors, Jamaica, cask #433877)
Color: amber. Nostril: at first sniff, this can be a gentle and fruity Monymusk/Clarendon, low-ester, leaning in direction of hazelnut oil and hay. There’s one thing reasonably enigmatic about it. A pronounced be aware of mint as nicely. With water: resinous woods start to push ahead, significantly thuja, evoking the scent of a Moroccan vacationer souk—Marrakech, Agadir… Mouth (neat): extra assertive on the palate, however the cask was pretty aggressive, with loads of fir resin, inexperienced pepper, and albeit, a whole lot of inexperienced tannins. With water: we’ve managed to tame it considerably, guiding it in direction of citrus peel and budding shoots. However what a wild beast it’s. End: lengthy, inexperienced, astringent. Feedback: goodness, what a battle. We prefer it a terrific deal, however that is really a Clarendon for many who take pleasure in a correct scrap.
SGP:272 – 85 factors. |
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Enmore 1991/2024 ‘KFM Versailles’ (48.3%, The Colors of Rum for LMDW Foundations, Guyana) 
Lovely label, very MoMA, and we’ve little question the substance will match the fashion. As for the acronym KFM, I’m afraid we’ve forgotten what it stands for. Color: mahogany. Nostril: we’re stepping right into a fifth dimension right here, with rosewood and amourette, almond milk, toasted pine nuts, nectarines, Dior magnificence lotions (no matter, neglect), prickly pear liqueur… all of that is sublimely stunning and vintage, as if one had wandered into outdated Florence. A large shock for me, I had by no means tasted this unbelievable child earlier than. Mouth: cease every little thing, that is Coltrane. To assume America gave us each John Coltrane and Donald Trump. The oak could be very pronounced, however it’s a most elegant form of woodiness, veering into the realm of the noblest conifers. Douglas fir, maybe? End: lengthy and intensely fir-driven. Feedback: completely unbalanced and deeply religious on the identical time. Let’s be sincere, that is just about liquid wooden, however the aesthetic is faultless.
SGP:272 – 90 factors. |
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Let’s see if we will discover one other top-notch rum that’s not so closely wooded…
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Clarendon 15 yo 2007/2022 ‘Early Landed’ (57.1%, Rum Sponge, Jamaica, refill barrel, 262 bottles)
As soon as once more we’re very late to the social gathering. I confess, we’ve way more rum than we will presumably style at our common tempo. Color: full gold. Nostril: nicely blast, that is spot on—diesel, seawater, apricot and mango all enjoying collectively superbly. With water: in come the Ikea plywood and brand-new Adidas trainers. Mouth (neat): razor sharp—olives, capers, tar and pink grapefruit, with simply two drops of orange blossom water. With water: the salt and polish cost in and take over your palate. However warning—add an excessive amount of water and all of it falls aside. Three drops, no extra. End: at +/-45%, it’s pure, contemporary, saline, maritime, and prepared for oysters or caviar. No want to relax it, not like these vodkas. Feedback: magnificent Clarendon—I’d guess an ‘MLC’ marque, however I’m no skilled.
SGP:563 – 90 factors. |
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The final one — nicely, we needed to end someplace…
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TDL 22 yo 2002/2025 (56.1%, The Whisky Jury, The Many Faces of Rum, Trinidad, refill barrel, cask #16, 229 bottles)
As our buddies on the Jury remind us on the label, it’s not simply Trinidad—it’s Trinidad and Tobago. Color: deep gold. Nostril: good heavens, mirabelles, mangoes, and apricots, drenched in mild varnish and the softest, fruitiest pink olive oil. One merely bows earlier than such magnificence and purity. With water: sandalwood and cedar rise above all the remaining we’ve simply talked about. Mouth (neat): this could nearly be outlawed. Citrus juice and focus. Let’s press on… With water: who slipped within the toasted sesame oil? Fact be informed, water’s fully pointless; don’t hassle, this one’s terribly laborious to dilute correctly. Finest is to spritz the faintest droplets utilizing an atomiser. I imply it. End: very salty, citric, petroly, excellent. Liquorice reigns within the aftertaste. It has grown an increasing number of excessive, frankly. Feedback: if reminiscence serves, there was as soon as one other distillery doing reasonably positive issues in Trinidad (and Tobago!) Cirano? Carino? (hey, José Feliciano) … Ah sure, proper, Caroni.
SGP:573 – 90 factors. |
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(One thousand mercis to The Colors of Rum)
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 Test the index of all rums we have tasted up to now
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