The Mad Monkey Distillery or the Adelaide Rum Distillery is South Australia’s pioneering rum distillery. So they tell us anyway!

The Mad Monkey Distillery opened in 2020. So is a relatively young operation. It was opened by Scott McCarthy and Alec McDowall. The pair originally met back in 2018 at a distillers conference in Adelaide.

The Mad Monkey Distillery uses a 500l Hybrid Still which they call Albert. Scott and Alec refer to themselves as the “Two Monkeys” namely “Crooked Finger” and “Red Beard”.

Due to the requirement for all Rum to be aged for 2 years in Australia (similar to the rules surrounding Scotch Whisky) they originally released “Cane Spirit”. Which they also began infusing with fruits from their own orchard. Housed within the distillery.

Step forward a few years and they are now producing their own rum. Which has won several awards in their native Australia. It has not seen the light internationally at this stage. I have, however been lucky enough to procure a bottle of one of their most recent releases via contacts within good old Oz

Today I am reviewing Mad Monkey Distillery Pure Single Rum Pinot Meunier Cask. My bottle is from Batch 3 and is number 292 of just 305 bottles. The rum has been bottled at a rather interesting 44% ABV. For some reasons most ABV tends to be 40,43 or 46 in this “range”. I’ve no idea why really, when I think about it.

The rum has been “Double” Pot Distilled and has been fermented using the distillery’s own strain of “Wild Muck and Ale Yeast”. It has been aged for 2 years and 5 months in South Adelaide. Using a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Pinot Meunier barrels. It has then been married together for the final blend. Thus enjoying what is being coined as “South Adelaide Dry Ageing”. Such is the humidity in that part of the world.

The ex-Pinot Meunier barrels were supplied by Uraidla Wines, also based in Adelaide. For those unfamiliar with Pinot Meunier (like me!) it is a variety of red/black wine grape. Most noted for being one of the three main varieties used in the production of champagne. It is one of the most planted wine grapes in France. It appears that Uraidla Wines use this variety to make Rose wine.

As mentioned the rum is currently only available in Australia. There it retails at around $135. Were it to make its way to Europe, I would expect a similar price in Euros/Sterling.

I think I have covered everything. So lets move onto seeing how Mad this rum really is…………hopefully it won’t taste like monkey’s ass.

On the nose Mad Monkey Distillery Pure Single Rum Pinot Meunier Cask is pretty boozy and quite heavy. It’s a little surprising in terms of the ABV, how punchy it is. At the same time it is still a relatively young distillate. So no surprise maybe, if its still a bit “fiery”.

Such a boozy profile may put some people off. Especially those who prefer the sweeter(ened) of the spectrum. Good is all I can say……All the more good rum for me.

A little time in  the glass does temper the fieriness down a little. I can be a little impatient at times. However, on the nose I am still getting lots of strong molasses and caramel notes alongside some warming and quite heated notes of black pepper and chilli powder.

Further nosing reveals some of the more “tannic” notes from the wine cask and it gives way to some quite sharp red wine notes – strong notes of plum and blackcurrants are coming through. I’m also getting some lighter notes of peach and a little cranberry.
There is a nice almost whiskey like note in there as well bourbon but with not much vanilla. Even maybe a touch of Scotch Whisky. Something a bit “malty” certainly.

Sipped Mad Monkey Distillery Pure Single Rum Pinot Meunier Cask, is definitely more mellow than the nose would suggest and drinks more within its ABV. Personally I am not someone who has an issue with 40-46% ABV rums. I find them usually plenty enough when sipped. At 44% this is still carrying plenty flavour. It is far from watery.

The initial entry is full of a kind of malty molasses mixture with a hint of drier bourbon notes. It’s very “rummy” and is very much a “hairs on the chest” type of rum. Which I do enjoy.

Further sips reveal more complexity. Notes of leather and smoke, some stewed prunes, very dark chocolate and nice hit of ginger and all-spice. The mid palate evolves nicely from the initial molasses hit.

The finish is a reasonable length and fades out nicely into a smoky and bourbon like end. There is a “malty” note about this rum – it’s quite dry like an aged Scotch. With a note throughout which continues to remind me of a Scotch Whisky.

It is perhaps (at this age) not the most elegant of sippers. Still a little rough around the edges in places. It is packed with flavour but it perhaps lacks a little finesse. Certainly it would be a little out of place amongst older “sipping” rums.

As a mixer it works exceptionally well and makes an excellent rum and cola and a Dark and Stormy. It’s flavourful profile shines through making a great mixed drink.

Mad Monkey Pure Single Rum Pinot Meunier Cask shows enormous potential for longer aged products from this operation….