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| Hello, that is one in all our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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August 18, 2024
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Malternatives: large rums, large weapons
Till yesterday, it was at all times a bit too heat to get pleasure from some previous cognacs or armagnacs, so we’ll stick to rum this Sunday. First, our ordinary little apéritif.
#freepaulwatson #seashepherd
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FRC 5 yo ‘Caribbean Rum from Barbados and Jamaica’ (40%, FRC, mix, +/-2023) 
They mentions a ‘dosage’ of 17g/l sugar, which quantities to about three sugar cubes, so nonetheless greater than 5 occasions lower than in Coca-Cola. I’m not solely satisfied that ‘dosage’ is essentially the most becoming time period right here, because it’s sometimes related to champagne (liqueur de dosage), and whereas ultra-brut champagnes, which include no dosage, are at present in vogue. Color: gold. Nostril: it’s candy, leaning in direction of almond cream, orgeat, orange liqueur, adopted by orange blossom brioche and hints of paraffin. I believe the smoky almond word comes from the Jamaican a part of the mix. It’s a really beautiful nostril. Mouth: the ‘dosage’ is sort of obvious, with cane sugar, triple sec, and almond liqueur… Personally, I wrestle with this fashion, however I can’t deny it’s effectively crafted. Now it’s virtually unattainable for me to drink this kind of spirit with out ice. That stated, I think about that was exactly the intention right here. End: medium size, candy, with a contact of bagasse on the end. Feedback: in reality, that is removed from the overly sweetened rums or mainstream spirituous drinks (Diplo, D. Papa, Zac, Bumbu, and different such bombs), so we’ll stay fairly smart with our modest rating.
SGP: 831 – 80 factors. |
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Ecuador 8 yo 2015/2024 (47.2%, FRC, supporting Sea Shepherd, 100% Pot Nonetheless, medium toast American oak) 
Effectively, since this rum helps Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd of their struggle in opposition to the horrific enterprise of fishing and buying and selling endangered species (whales, rorquals), let’s go forward and add an additional 20 factors on the finish! I do hope Mr. Watson is freed quickly. Color: gold. Nostril: I shouldn’t have written that, now you’ll suppose I’m inflating my feedback, which I completely am not. Beautiful whiffs of dried flowers, cherry stem tea, then curiously Provençal touches (pastis and tapenade) and notes of contemporary paint and polish. Liquorice and mint (we name {that a} perroquet, pastis with mint). I think about that is a kind of Romero rums. Mouth: very good, vegetal and sophisticated, with a Guadeloupean facet, lime, some petrol notes, extra liquorice, and even a touch of absinthe. It’s fairly shocking, removed from most South American rums, definitely tauter. Excellent. End: lengthy, on grapefruit, pepper, and a salty contact. The aftertaste is relatively ester-heavy, with a little bit of inexperienced wooden too. Feedback: for me, that is value 105 factors! Alright, we’ll need to take off the 20 further factors I discussed.
SGP: 562 – 85 factors. |
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Nicaragua Rum 24 yo 1998/2023 (50.8%, Whisky Concerto, Op. 9, refill American oak, cask #15, 160 bottles)
These infants are usually Flor de Caña with fairly a bit extra oomph. Color: gold. Nostril: this stays a relatively mild rum by way of texture, fairly delicate even, largely dominated by milk chocolate, coconut, cane honey, and maple syrup… However truly, it’s relatively charming; we don’t at all times want rums that odor primarily of crude oil from the North Sea, can we? Just a little Nutella facet as effectively. With water: cappuccino, cane juice, custard, and nougat. Mouth (neat): very beautiful oranges, chocolate, Jaffa truffles, honey, fudge, millionaire’s shortbread—in brief, all these dangerously scrumptious issues they promote you in Scottish airports. the drill. With water: a bit extra herbaceous, however I’m undecided water is required right here, this rum is best at its bottled power. End: medium size, this time with extra tropical fruits. Ripe banana and cane honey. Feedback: undeniably on the high of this fashion (which isn’t my favorite, however to every their very own).
SGP: 640 – 85 factors. |
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Foursquare 16 yo 2007/2023 (61.7%, Maltbarn, Barbados, bourbon cask, 257 bottles)
We’re at all times looking out for Foursquare’s ‘pure pot nonetheless,’ aren’t we… Might this be one in all them? Color: deep gold. Nostril: this one bursts with marzipan and contemporary varnish. At this power, that’s just about all there may be, however no complaints right here, we love marzipan and polish. With water: nonetheless loads of varnish, however pine needles and cones have changed the marzipan. Cigar field, thuja wooden, cedar wooden… Mouth (neat): orange blossom honey, cane syrup, triple sec, varnish. Full-on. This isn’t a pure pot nonetheless Foursquare. With water: it turns creamy, with cane sugar, oranges, and calmly spiced honey (Christmas honey). End: fairly lengthy, however with a light-weight texture, indicating the presence of an excellent quantity of ‘highish column’ rum. Cane syrup and mushy spices. Feedback: I don’t suppose I’ve tasted a Foursquare I didn’t get pleasure from this millennium.
SGP: 641 – 87 factors. |
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Fiji 14 yo 2009/2024 (65%, FRC, supporting Sea Shepherd, 100% Pot Nonetheless, rum cask matured, 206 bottles) 
Magnificent label by the Flensburg Rum Firm (FRC, bought it). It’s definitely excellent news that this rum spent its life in a rum cask, avoiding any unnatural alliances this time. Or, to place it very bluntly, none of these ‘foolish casks’. Color: white wine. Nostril: I immensely remorse the primary time I tasted one in all these rums from the South Pacific Distillery. Ah, if solely such surprises might occur once more! Unbelievable nostril, stuffed with turpentine, olive oil, seawater, diesel fumes, and carbon mud. Very ‘excessive ester’. With water: seawater, olive oil, anchovies in brine, lime, rubber boots. Mouth (neat): beware, at 65% ABV, this one splits you in two. Grapefruit, salmiak, seawater, varnish, glue, acetone. With water: extraordinary, I’m loving these Fijians an increasing number of. Chic salty liquorice. End: very lengthy. Tropical fruits begin peeking by way of. Feedback: I want the French had shared their Olympic rugby gold medal with the Fijians. They might have then experimented with Fijian rum + Armagnac blends—I doubt anybody would’ve complained. Effectively, anyway… I completely love these ‘clear line’ rums.
SGP: 653 – 91 factors. |
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Hmpdn 11 yo 2012/2024 (57.5%, Spiritori, Jamaica, bourbon, cask #8, 163 bottles)
It’s fairly attention-grabbing to have this little Hampden after the South Pacific, because it actually highlights the similarities and variations. Color: gold. Nostril: this Hampden is extra acetic, extra vinegary, extra vegetal, and fewer mineral, probably even saltier, extra maritime, and Ardbeggian. Tar, oysters, and seaweed. Effectively effectively effectively… With water: contemporary linoleum, bits from an Ikea store’s yard, contemporary tar, new fake leather-based… Mouth (neat): a lot nearer to the Fijian in fashion. In any case, the chook’s-eye distance between the 2 areas is barely about 12,000 kilometres. Magnificent Hampden, barely mustardy, in all probability not a really ‘excessive’ mark. Just a little trace of strawberry, common in some… Ardbegs. With water: really one of many world’s nice spirits. Salt, tar, black pepper, lime, black olives… and so forth and so forth. End: very lengthy, very peppery, not very simple, however that’s a part of the enjoyable. Cardamom. Feedback: it’s unattainable to present a special rating than that of the Fijian. I really like that barely ‘powerful boy’ facet, which is able to make a few of your company surrender, leaving extra for you ultimately. Intelligent bee.
SGP: 563 – 91 factors. |
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One final one, but it surely’s unattainable to depart Jamaica…
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Clarendon 2010/2022 (67.2%, Malt Grain & Cane, Jamaica, ‘Qin, Nian, Youth’, bourbon barrel, cask #433012, 249 bottles) 
I have to say, probably one other assassination try by way of DHL appears obvious. That stated, I completely adore the quote from the Polish poet Stanis?aw Jerzy Lec on the label: ‘Youth is the present of nature, however age is a murals.’ It resonates with me completely, modesty apart (that’s proper). Matured for 8 years within the tropics and three.5 years in Europe. Color: gold. Nostril: it’s fully balanced, regardless of the hefty 67% vol.! Pear, mango, ardour fruit, bananas, with the faintest trace of liquorice and caramel. It doesn’t seem to be a ‘high-ester’ rum at this level, however then once more, Clarendon/Monymusk doesn’t normally transcend 600-700 gr/HLPA, in comparison with Hampden, New Yarmouth, and Lengthy Pond, the place the utmost reaches 1,700, simply to present you an concept. Loads of liquorice right here. With water: it turns into fairly natural. Pine wooden, grass, soapwort, shampoo. Mouth (neat): magical. Olives, varnish, liquorice, tangerine, concentrated lime juice, pink peppercorns, and… 67% ethanol. Utter insanity. Including water: nailed it! It doesn’t disintegrate in any respect at round 45% vol. (give or take), however as a substitute turns into resinous, with pine, pine nuts, inexperienced chartreuse, lime zest… However this isn’t a tasting, it’s a battle. End: lengthy and, curiously, more and more simple. Effectively, in a approach. Lime, sage, tarragon, fino, ashes. Aftertaste: sharp and resinous. Feedback: I discover these rums more and more intrusive, however I’m not complaining, in any respect. Thoughts you, this isn’t a simple Clarendon, however I beloved it…
SGP:373 – 89 factors. |
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 Test the index of all rums we have tasted to this point
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