| |
House
1000’s of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2024
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) day by day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
June 2, 2024
|
|
  |
|
|
|
A phrase of warning
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are carried out from the viewpoint of a malt whisky fanatic who, what’s extra, is aboslutely not an knowledgeable in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or every other spirits. Thanks – and peace! |
|
A couple of extra rums at random
Just some rums to get better from all of the Islay whiskies de la muerte we simply tasted. By the way in which, we’ll be attempting extra; we nonetheless have Bruichladdich, Jura, Kilchoman or Laphroaig to do… And a few variants, Port Charlotte, Moine, Staoisha, Lochindaal, and all that. Subsequent Sunday, we must always get again to tasting cognacs or armagnacs. Or each, we’ll see by then.
|
|
 |
|
|
Dzama ‘Ambré de Nosy Bé’ (52%, OB, Madagascar, Status, +/-2022) 
Madagascan rums have seemingly begun to shed their quaint, retro apparel. Color: white wine. Nostril: alcohol is undoubtedly the foremost actor right here, significantly at this sturdy proof. Past that, there’s scant fragrant power, but conversely, few flaws are detected save for this pronounced alcohol presence merely sprinkled with hints of vanillin and bell pepper. With water: it improves, blossoming barely with notes of geranium and grenadine, adopted by touches of liquorice wooden. Mouth (neat): there’s sugar, chilly espresso, pepper liqueur, and clove. It is considerably burnt; I am not totally satisfied that this 52% ABV fits it effectively. With water: the sweetness continues to dominate, making a somewhat disagreeable sensation, in my view. End: medium size. Cane liqueur with dashes of pepper and clove provides to a difficult stability. Feedback: oh, how I might like to adore this humble, countryside rum in its Sunday finest. Alas, it’s miles from my favoured fashion. There have been ‘classic’ variations just a few years in the past that had been significantly superior.
SGP:730 – 50 factors. |
|
|
Travellers 15 yo 2006/2021 (61.7%, The Duchess, Belize, cask #6) 
8 years of tropical ageing. It is fairly latest, this pattern of specifying the odds of ageing time in tropical climates, actually a motion impressed by Velier and its captain Luca, I imagine. And Bowmore earlier than that; we keep in mind the outdated releases that highlighted ageing on Islay. Okay, right here we’re in Belize… Color: darkish gold. Nostril: to be sincere, there are some similarities when it comes to vanilla, however the resemblances cease there. It is far more fragrant, with a touch of honey-flavoured rooibos, very gentle metallic touches, orange cake, pistachio financier, cane honey, and coconut… With water: a contact of varnish and better softness. It appears like being in Cuba. Mouth (neat): a chew linked to the alcohol, sugar cane, a really younger eau-de-vie character… One should admit the ethanol dominates as soon as once more. Water will assist us right here. With water: we stay very near the cane, vanilla, and coconut. End: medium size and texture, with loads of cane syrup. Feedback: maybe a cocktail juice, and in that case, it will make a superb cocktail. I fairly prefer it, really.
SGP:640 – 83 factors. |
|
|
|
Renegade ‘Etudes Hope EcoSPIRITS’ (46%, OB, Grenada, LMDW, 2023) 
You may fill your personal bottle, very like the folks from Vom Fass used to do in Germany. It is mentioned the sale of bulk spirits by means of ecoSPIRITS permits for each as much as 85% financial savings in carbon emissions and a 95% discount in waste from single-use packaging. The spirits are literally housed in 4.5L containers, considerably trying like wee petrol pumps. So, for those who’re keen on the spirit, I suppose you might simply purchase all the container and take it with you (could not you?). In spite of everything, it is solely a jeroboam. We sampled a model from the ‘Hope’ terroir for the USA final 12 months, and it was excellent at 55% vol. (WF 90). Color: gold. Nostril: the decrease ABV hasn’t eliminated that benzine and ultra-ripe bananas character that we love. I’d say it stays within the Franco (agricole) – British (Jamaican) stylistic universe. A couple of olives, some salmiak, carbon, nutmeg… With water: a contact extra varnish and a pleasant softness. This time once more it appears like a journey to Cuba – I have to be needing holidays. Mouth: it has withstood a deeper discount than the USA model we tasted, though I clearly choose an ABV of fifty/55% for this fashion. Pretty smoked fish, olives, salted liquorice, overripe (virtually rotten) fruits, moist earth, clove-studded oranges, resinous honey… End: medium to brief, with a touch of tar. Recent fruits within the aftertaste, virtually within the fashion of a raspberries and strawberries combine however once more, ultra-ripe. Feedback: I believe if all of us had 4.5L rum fountains of this sort in our residing rooms, we might all be lifeless inside three months. And but, hope springs everlasting (your wordplay is horrible, S.)
SGP:652 – 88 factors |
|
|
Diamond 28 yo 1996/2024 ‘White Cat’ (53.3%, Valuable Liquors, Guyana, cask #3) 
Valuable Liquors presents two aged Demerara rums themed round cats, one white cat and one black cat. I like their rationale behind this concept, ‘as a result of who does not love cats.’ For as soon as, a humble, completely sincere ‘story’ that is not as inflated as a Hollywood actress! Color: gentle gold. Nostril: this can be a decidedly gentle fashion of Demerara, very light, with herbs and tender infusions, a touch of tarte tatin and crème brûlée, and just some touches of burnt hay. With water: all in softness and lightness. A little bit of mint tea with pine nuts. Mouth (neat): actually the sunshine fashion of El Dorado, with notes of orange liqueur and cane syrup. Fruit pastes, particularly quince. Not a lot in the way in which of esters… With water: actually, all in lightness. Orange liqueur, Earl Gray, vanilla, extra cane syrup… End: medium size, on the identical notes. A bit extra esters within the aftertaste however we’re removed from gasoline boosted with black olives and concentrated miso paste. Feedback: not a simple Demerara to analyse, however little question an excellent base/filler for an outdated El Dorado.
SGP:652 – 86 factors |
|
|
Enmore ‘REV’ 29 yo 1994/2024 ‘Black Cat’ (49.2%, Valuable Liquors, Guyana, cask #365) 
From the outdated picket nonetheless initially from the Versailles distillery again when it was nonetheless at Enmore. Enmore was closed the identical 12 months and the nonetheless was moved to Uitvlugt, then Diamond. It is price noting that these particulars fluctuate vastly relying on the supply, and it appears AI is already creating false truths on this matter. What a multitude, higher examine the homeowners! Color: rosewood mahogany. Nostril: a marvel of resins and pine needles blended with liquorice, liquid tar, eucalyptus, camphor, and cedarwood. A chic nostril. Mouth: fairly unbelievable, supplied a little bit of wooden does not scare you. Liquorice, anise, fir bud liqueur, then prunes, coriander seeds, loads of juniper, and new rubber. It continues with hints of Jägermeister essence and inexperienced Chartreuse, Elixir model. You realize, the one which cleans out your insides with out fail. End: a really grand liqueur, leaning in direction of a really, very outdated brandy from Jerez, assume no less than early century; twentieth century, clearly. Feedback: effectively, as a cat lover, I have to point out that WF Towers shelters a black cat that could be a marvel of gentleness (P’tit Noir) and an virtually white cat that’s fairly a rascal (a sure Tigrou). However do not draw any conclusions from that…
SGP:573 – 91 factors. |
|
|
Diamond (Versailles) 20 yo 2003/2023 (56.3%, The Whisky Blues, barrel, cask #78, 204 bottles)
Color: pale gold. Nostril: asparagus and new rubber, then lemons and touches of motor oil. It is exact and concise. With water: contemporary mint leaves crushed between your fingers and peanut oil. I lament that peanut oil appears to have fallen out of style, beneath our latitudes, no less than. Mouth (neat): extra glue, varnish, coconut, and a somewhat shocking younger bourbon character. With water: petrol and fairly a little bit of bay leaves and orange zest emerge. What’s shocking is that the nostril was ultra-precise, whereas the palate is extra, as an instance, ‘a bit inventive’. End: pretty lengthy, extra natural. Lemon, mint… mojito. Feedback: very, superb, after all, only a contact on the candy aspect.
SGP:652 – 87 factors. |
|
|
Cambridge 18 yo 2005/2023 ‘ST-heart-CE’ (60%, Nationwide Rums of Jamaica, 2,717 bottles)
From Lengthy Pond. Color: orangey. Nostril: completely excellent, albeit a bit easy. Wooden glue, very ripe papayas, acetone, diesel gas, barely aged seashells (you already know what I imply), and pepper essence. With water: what we name ‘Saturday morning at IKEA’ once they’ve simply stocked the newest plywood and chipboard assortment. Or perhaps Jysk, they are saying they’re IKEA killers. Or a brand new parcel from Want, Temu, or Aliexpress, so phthalates and bisphenol galore. Mouth (neat): actually superb. Oranges and essence, plus patch glue and acetone once more. Maybe a bit for the masochists, although, because the glue is kind of excessive at 60% ABV. With water: sensible, orange liqueur and glue, plus some salt. End: loopy quantities of glue. Hampden is Bacardi compared (when it comes to glue solely). Feedback: none of this needs to be authorized, and that is precisely why we love these insane concoctions a lot. However beware, 90% to 95% of your company will hate this.
SGP:474 – 90 factors. |
|
|
Caroni 31 yo 1991/2023 (54.1%, The Duchess, Trinidad, cask #6, 136 bottles)
All casks are #6, which is kind of intriguing. Is it some type of infinite end? Color: gold. Nostril: it is a light one, harking back to scones, muffins, vanilla cake, nougat, and polenta. This does not scream ‘Caroni,’ I agree, however even this softer aspect of Caroni is interesting. I imply, was interesting. With water: actually pleasant, with notes of hay, a little bit of spent engine oil, lanoline, and teak oil… Mouth (neat): certainly, it is all very light, however that does not cease a little bit of nail varnish from making an look. In any other case, we discover lemon syrup and olive oil, which is simply excellent. By the way in which, 31 years is kind of an age for such a rum. With water: we have discovered a stunning stability. Think about truffle olive oil with a little bit of tar and rubber, then some gray pepper. That mentioned, our Italian associates say it is silly (stupido) to place truffles in olive oil, and that it is significantly better to make use of extra impartial oils. As typical, they’re proper, however that does not cease each dealer out there from promoting truffle olive oil. Okay, I digress… End: fairly lengthy, and amusingly, the Caroni markers assert themselves somewhat extra, particularly petrol and coal tar. Feedback: one of many easiest ‘lighter’ Caronis I’ve tasted in latest instances. See you for extra.
SGP:462 – 89 factors. |
|
 Test the index of all rums we have tasted to date
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
