1931 St Lucia Distillers - 6th Edition

1931 St Lucia Distillers – 6th Edition

Bythefatrumpirate April 24, 2018

1931 St Lucia Distillers 6th Edition. Hard to believe we are upto the 6th edition of this annual release, already. We had to wait a while for the 5th edition to arrive in the UK. This arrived about the same time, towards the end of 2017.

We’ve reviewed all of the previous St Lucia 1931 bottlings and I snapped a bottle (or two) of these up as soon as I could. As with all the 1931 bottlings, I have taken my time with the review as they are very complex at times challenging rums.

Going forward this will be the last of the “old style” annual 1931’s. St Lucia Distillers are having an overhaul of just about all their ranges and whilst they are keeping the 1931 in the portfolio it will no longer be a scheduled annual release.

In the UK a bottle of 1931 St Lucia Distillers – 6th Edition will set you back around £60. The ABV is now set at 46%. Presentation wise this is the same as previous efforts though this time the colour scheme is a slightly off white/cream colour. Everything else remains the same. I really like the bottles they are really classy and the cork stopper is huge and gives a very premium feel to the package. This rum celebrates the 85th Anniversay of the Distillery. I have bottle number 2951.

The 1931 blends are very complicated. This effort is no exception. Once again Michael Speakman from St Lucia Distillers has been very kind with us time and gave us the following information on the blend

6%: Column Still, Blend No. 101, Aged 11 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
16%: Column Still, Blend No. 101, Aged 7 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
35%: Column Still, Blend No. 104, Aged 10 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
10%: John Dore 2 Pot Still, Aged 11 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
10%: John Dore 1 Pot Still, Aged 9 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
10%: John Dore/Column Still blend, Aged 7 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
3%: Caroni (Trinidad), Aged 9 years, matured in Bourbon Oak.
10%: Sugar Cane Rum/John Dore Pot Still, Aged 8 years, matured in Bourbon Oak (Agricole)
Totals:
60%: Column Still
30%: Pot Still
10%: Pot/Column Blend

So as you can see their is a lot going on with this rum.

So lets move on and see how well this years (well last years) effort has done.

In the glass the 1931 6th Edition is a familiar colour. The 1931 rums are all roughly the same golden brown colour with red and orange flashes. Caramel Colouring for consistency? I think so though I could be wrong.

The nose is familiar – brine and sea salt and those notes of pine cone and conifers. It’s very “woody” but in terms of green trees in woods rather than oak. Further nosing reveals some lighter vanilla notes, a slightly perfumed almost pot pourri note. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and some lemon juice.

Further nosing reveals a hint of tobacco leaf, some dried fruits – hints of raisins and just a little bit of cocoa. It has a nicely balanced and very refreshing note the more you nose. As you progress with the nosing the initial salty and pine like notes become less obvious. Time in the glass reveals a lot with this rum. I recommend highly that you leave it to stand for 10-15 minutes.

It’s a really complex and very rewarding nose. You can spend a lot of time nosing this rum.

Sipped the 1931 6th Edition is equally complex. Most of the notes of the nose transfer beautifully across to the taste buds. It is sweeter than the nose would suggest with a good integration of the spices from the various oak barrels. The cane juice rum is very apparent giving it a feel very similar to Rhum JM XO. There is a lot of zesty and vibrant spicy notes coming through.

The Caroni element doesn’t really show itself all that much but there is much going on in this blend it is difficult to pin point what is coming from where.

I’m a big fan of well blended Pot and Column distilled rums – I often feel they produce the “best” rums. The Pot adds rich flavours and the column balances and calms things down. This rum is no exception and it has a really nice balance to it.

The initial sweetness and bursts of zest and spice go alongside some really nice tropical fruit notes -pineapple juice and a touch of red apple. The mid palate is refreshing with a good weight of oak and spice – ginger and some really nice bourbon like sourness.

The finish is really enjoyable as well and long-lasting. Again its rich and very vibrant – really nicely defined and very “clear”. It is a well-defined and very complex sipping rum. Hints of tobacco and more of the pine cones and a little bit of Christmas tree?

All the 1931 releases have been excellent (the 3rd edition was perhaps an exception). I think this one may well be my favourite so far. But its all very close. I wouldn’t turn down a glass of any of these excellent rums.

1931 St Lucia Distillers - 2nd Edition

1931 St Lucia Distillers – 2nd Edition
Bythefatrumpirate January 11, 2016April 13, 2016

This is the 81st anniversary edition of the 1931. Following up from 2011’s original edition. St Lucia Distillers are perhaps most famous for their Chairman’s Reserve and Admiral Rodney rums.

Domestically their Bounty rum is very popular, though strangely not widely available outside the Caribbean. It is available in the US under the Denros brand.

Despite me liking Chairman’s Reserve and Admiral Rodney I was a little slow in getting these 1931 rum’s. I wasn’t initially all that sure how different each bottling would be. By the time I got around to looking seriously at them their third edition was well on the way. As I write now the 4th edition (or 83) is available. Fortunately I know have all four in my possession and will be fast tracking the reviews!

My bottling is batch 02 number 09621 and was bottled on the 23 July 2012. In the UK, if you are still lucky enough to find a bottle of this, it will set you back around £60. Bottled at 43% ABV.

The presentation is identical in style to the original 1931 apart from the colour scheme. They opted for purple for this release. We get the fantastic decanter like bottle and the huge cork stopper along with the still slightly flimsy box and the slightly too large pourer which can make things a bit tricky at times and sadly leads to bigger pours than you intend (yeah, right).

As mentioned earlier I was unsure how different each 1931 expression was. I was reliably informed prior to buying that each rum is very much diferent. It isn’t a case of batch variation, the rums used in each blend are very different. Producing an entirely different rum each year.

The rums in this edition are from 2004,05 and 06 they include 100% Coffey (continuous) still distillates matured in Bourbon casks and Port Pipes alongside 100% Pot still and 50/50 blends. So there is quite a lot of blending involved in producing this rum.

Once blended the rums are given a further maturation of 3 months in order for them to “marry”.

I was slightly disappointed by the first 1931. I felt that whilst it had a lot of good points, it just felt a little bit overworked and not everything was working in the blend. I still rate Admiral Rodney despite it being all continuous still rum as the better overall rum.

From the notes on the blending you can see that this is also quite a busy rum with a lot going on. Let’s move on and see how it is.

In the glass the 1931 is a rich vibrant reddish brown colour. It looks nicely aged and the nose is quite striking. Like the first edition I’m getting quite a lot of the Bourbon cask ageing with this rum. There is a kind of “sour mash” note to the nose. It’s quite a full nose with initial hints of vanilla, cocoa and rich fruits – peaches and sweet green apples. There is also a nice hit of oak ageing in the mix adding an extra layer to the nose.

The full flavourful nose follows through onto the tasting. Sipped, initially the rum is very sweet. Bitter sweet/sour almost like a good Bourbon. At first I felt that it might be a bit top heavy with the Pot Still rum, like the first edition but I feel this rum has a slightly better balance. No one note dominates – initial upfront sweetness gives way to a slightly sour mouthfeel which leads to a nice and warming long lasting finish of oak and some gentle spices. It is smooth and sweet yet complex enough to challenge the palate. It is a classic sipping rum in that each mouthful gives you something else. An extra layer, a slight note of tobacco or dark chocolate suddenly appears. Maybe a liitle pepper in the finish or a sudden note of sweet cherries.

Surprisingly this reminds me in many ways of Appleton 12. Initially I wasn’t so sure about that rum. After a few sessions with it, it slowly revealed all its charms. Until I finally found that it was indeed a very good rum. I’m finding the same with this. It’s not a challenging sipper in a sense that it is intense like Smith & Cross or an aged Caroni but it is challenging in that you need to spend some time with it to fully appreciate it. It’s a grower and has a lot of depth.

I wouldn’t mix this rum, that would be madness. Especially as St Lucia Distillers produce Chairman’s Reserve which as any regular readers will know is one of my all time favourite mixers.

This is a shade better than the first 1931 – anyone looking for a complex sipper will not be disappointed with this rum.

If you can still find it I would recommend splashing the cash. Well worth £60.

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Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum

Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum
Bythefatrumpirate August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum. Outlier Distilling Company first came to my attention at the 2023 (I think) London Rum Festival. There was quite a bit of talk at that festival about their bottlings. In particular this Overproof Rum.

I tend to take any kind of hype at London Rum Festival, or indeed any other rum festival with a pinch of salt. There are still a lot of people at these events who are very much in the Spiced/Flavoured crowd and also a lot of people still find the idea of anything over 40% ABV as something “strong” and almost unheard of. A novelty which they see as exciting and dangerous. So they talk about it quite a bit – partly out of excitement and partly because they aren’t used to it……..

At this stage I would usually give a bit of background on the rum but here instead I have a quote direct from the Outlier website

“Hurricane is Outlier’s step up from Hoolie. Fermented from molasses in our old milking shed distillery and double distilled in our wood-fired still, Hurricane blends overproof Hoolie rum with cask aged rum (also made by Outlier) to create a surprisingly smooth overproof that carries new American oak and Islay whiskey notes. Amazing in bold cocktails (think Zombie) or drunk Neat as a sipping rum – squeezed wedge of lime optional.”

Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum comes in at a hefty 64% ABV. So we are in J Wray and Nephew and Rum-Bar Overproof territory. A 70cl bottle will set you back £44 direct from Outlier. As mentioned previously those on the UK Mainland may find a UK supplier cheaper as the P&P isn’t as high, even if the bottle cost is a little more. Swings and Roundabouts as we say round these parts.

I’ll be reviewing the orginal Hoolie rum in due course for those interested. Last time I reviewed an Outlier Rum – Millions of Peaches I got the 90’s Indie “Classic” (cough cough) “Peaches” by the Presidents of the United States of America into my head. Which was intentional by Outlier in the naming of that rum.

In this instance I am immediately thinking of a lesser known late 90’s tune by Warm Jets (named after the Brian Eno Album Here Come The Warm Jets) “Hurricane”. The song is pretty difficult, to find as the groups orginal record label is now defunct and Island Recotds haven’t kept the discography in print. You won’t find it on Spotify. Hurricane reached the Top Forty but the group is more famous for its lead singer Louis Jones having a brief relationship with DJ Zoe Ball.

I wonder if I can tie every Outlier rum review to some obscure 90’s Indie Track. I fancy I probably can………….

Anyway I digress to lets get on with the review. In the glass Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum is crystal clear as expected.

On the nose I am getting a lot of booze and very “chewy” heavt treacely molasses notes. Give it a bit time in the glass……

Which allows more aromas to come through and the “boozy-ness” to calm down. Some lighter toffee notes, a touch of black banana. Maybe a little fermenting pineapple. It’s still very fiery though. There is some smokiness as well and a touch of vanilla.

There is a strong mineral/stony note which gives it an almost metallic tang. Something which I am not overly fond of I must admit.

It unbalances this a little and makes it smell a little industrial. A little bit like bleach if I am being entirely honest. Maybe 64% is a touch high for this and the booze/ethanol has unbalanced it a little?

Not to worry the nose on a Overproof rum is rarely the showstopper. Certainly being able to smell Wray and Nephew’s pungent potency from 3 blocks away is not why I enjoy it in a TingWray so much……

Sipped at full strength? By all means give it a go but be careful. Don’t drink a lot like this and have water to hand.

In all honesty sipped this is a very hot, very alcohol heavy drink and the metallic mineraly notes are coming through making it difficult for me to drink like this. Some drops of water to dilute do make it more manageable and lessen the harsher elements of this rum. I was expecting it to be a little more refined due to the information Outlier provide but in all honesty I didn’t find that.

Overproof Rums should really only be used or “rated” as mixers or sparingly added in tropical cocktails. Often set alight for affect. Cask Strength and Overproof are too entirely different things.

So how well does Outlier Hurricane Overproof Manx rum mix? The answer is, thankfully a lot better than it sips!

It has a more molasses heavy profile than traditional Jamaican Overproof rums. Much more in keeping with some of the stronger white rum we have seen come from British producers over the past few years.

This works particularly well with fruit juices in more tropical cocktails. The molasses profile works well and the fruit juice means it doesn’t need the “funkier” profile of the Jamaican Overproofs. There is a Peaty and Smoky note which may also be contributing to the metallic note that I don’t fancy.

It works nicely mixed with Cola or Lemonade. There is still that slight metallic edge to it but its less of an issue now. I like how “boozy” this is without needing to add much to the drink.

A Daiquiri is really good with this rum I must admit and its a very “Daiquiri” rum. The Peat and Smoke is still there but it fits in a lot better.

All in all it does what it is designed to do – if the metallic edge could be negated a bit more I would certainly rate it a little higher. It is perhaps a little Scotch Whisky like once you get pasrt the molasses. I’m not a huge Scotch Whisky fan at all. Certainly not Islay anyway. That said it istill clean and crisp and gives a very nice molasses hit where it is needed. It’s not Jamaican funk heavy but if you want a slightly “cleaner” Overproof profile – ideal for Daiquiri’s this might be a good choice.

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Watt Rum Jamaican Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 16 Years

Watt Rum Jamaican Rum Distilled at Clarendon Estate Aged 16 Years
Bythefatrumpirate July 23, 2021August 6, 2025

Watt Rum Jamaican Rum Distilled at Clarendon Estate Aged 16 Years. A new independent bottler of rum is on the scene.

They seem to hail in the main either from Scotland or Italy (in most instances the rum bottled by Italians is aged in Scotland/England). This time we have a new bottler but not an entirely new face.

Or rather two faces as Watt Whisky/Rum is husband and wife team Mark and Kate Watt. Both have years of experience in the Whisky and Independent bottling scene.

Mark Watt has worked at both Duncan Taylor and Cadenheads. Whilst Kate is well known for her marketing work at Speyside distilleries such as Glenfarcas and Springbank.

Watt Whisky/Rum is the Independent bottling arm of the Campbeltown Whisky Company Ltd of whom Kate and Mark are the directors. Their ethos is as follows ” good, honest whisky, priced for drinking rather than collecting”.

To be honest they’ve pretty much got me at that. It’s nice to here something like that in the current market of “investments” and “ballots”. As the two are both well known in Whisky circles there has been quite a buzz around the Watt Whisky brand.

Maybe not so much in the Rum world however. They have released three rums so far. Of the three – Jamaica, Barbados and Belize, only one has sold out. If I said the Barbados offering was from Foursquare I am sure you can guess which one! That said its has been on sale the longest.

Now I do have some further information on Watt Whisky/Rum from the various Whisky sites, which have covered the brand already. It’s interesting that a number of whisky commentators have sampled the first bottlings of Watt Rum upon release last year. It’s something I might ask about in the Whisky world.

It seems the Rum world takes a lot more interest in the Whisky world than Whisky does in Rum. I’m sure most of you can name a few notable Whisky bloggers. I’m not so sure many in the Whisky world could do the same for Rum.

In saying this I accept that it can be dangerous to be relying on reviews written on the basis of free industry samples. Which is something the Whisky world does very regularly. It’s a much bigger scene than the rum scene. There are literally hundreds of Whisky Blogs, websites etc for every one which is focused on rum. Hey I’m not complaining no one would probably read this shit, if there was a decent alternative.

So lets see what exactly we have up for review this fine Summer’s Day………

We already know we have a 16 Year Old Jamaican Rum which was distilled at Clarendon Estate. Which is home of the Monymusk Estate. For their sins they are responsible for a lot of the output which is used by Diageo in their Captain Morgan range. They also produce the rum used in Myers’s.

It’s a big operation with the largest Pot Still (possibly) in the Caribbean and a “new” Column Still, which was introduced in 2010, which accounts for 75% of its total output. Oh yes the Captain doesn’t have much Pot Still in his Spiced Gold………..

This rum however I am assured is 100% Pot Still Rum aged for 15 years in the Tropics before being aged for a further year in Scotland. It was bottled at over 16 Years Old at 57.1% ABV. It was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2021. The rum has been aged in an ex-bourbon cask. It is currently available over at The Whisky Exchange for £115. Bottle size your standard 70cl.

Presentation wise – it’s a massive step up from Cadenhead’s I can tell you that. Gone is the seventies colour scheme replaced by a much clearer more modern style. The bottle design is simple and uncluttered and the black cardboard sleeve, for storage purposes is equally stylish. It is simple but not as “DIY” looking as some Independents. It looks like something a marketing team have

had their mitts on. In this instance I’d say a good Marketing team!

The bottle is a standard 3/4 style bar bottle with a bulbous neck and a cork stopper keeps the rum nicely sealed. All in all its a good package and befitting the outlay.

But presentation isn’t what we are here for – its the liquid in the bottle that’s in important. So lets get on to the fun part. I’m 700 words in and I haven’t so much as had a sniff. What a bloody waffler.

In the glass Watt Rum Jamaican Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 16 Years is a medium/dark brown colour with a yellow/orange hue.

The nose is instantly Jamaican. Sweet, funky and familiar. It’s bursting with Tropical Fruits, sweet Pineapple, Cola Cubes, Black over-ripe Banana and Passion Fruit. At full strength it gives the nostrils a bit of a tickle as the more solvent like aromas come through as well. Paper Glue, Wallpaper Paste and some Nail Varnish.

Further nosing reveals some lighter baking spices and some sweet buttery pastry notes. Something slightly herbal and a touch of oak and tobacco.

Despite everything going on it has a lovely balance and is a very “more-ish” noser! I’ve found a few Monymusk/Clarendon Estate rums to be a little “musty” and just have something taking away the vibrancy from the initial fruity and “gluey” notes.

Sipped at full strength it is more woody and oaked than the nose suggests. The initial sip is more savoury and less fruity. The time in the barrel shows a lot more than I was expecting. That said it is not a criticism as the rum is warming with a lot of spicy oak and some bitter almost tannic like notes.

It’s a drier less funky profile than the nose led me to believe. A drop or two of water gives some the fruitier flavours a chance to show themselves however. The sweetness is carried by a note of Strawberries and some slightly bitter orange zest.

You get more of the fruitiness and some of the funk back on the mid palate. Notes of Banana Bread and some almost savoury pastry and buttery-ness. The pineapple notes are dialled back a bit but they do return as you move into the finish.

The finish is long and has notes of tobacco and liquorice. The wood ageing runs through to the finish with quite a bit of a dry oak and woodiness but it never feels old or stale.

If I am being honest, the nose is a little deceiving with this rum. I really thought I was in for a very funky, sweet, solventy rum. Regular readers probably know how much I like those type of Jamaican Rums.

High hopes were dashed a little for me, but its still a more than respectable bottle of rum. I certainly wouldn’t refuse another glass (or eight)

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Cachaca D'Lourdes Carvalho

Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho
Bythefatrumpirate April 4, 2020

Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho. This cachaca hails from perhaps the most famous cachaca producing state in Brasil – Minas Gerais. However, this cachaca does not hail from the more common city Salinas but even further inland, in the city of Congonhas do Norte.

Production of cachaca in this area is second only to raising cattle in terms of employment. Around 5,000 people live in the city and its surrounding farms.

The distillery is situated in the 7ª Reserva Natural da Biosfera dentro da Serra do Cipo, (7th Biosphere Nature Reserve within Serra do Cipo)

This cachaca is produced from sugar cane grown on the estate. It is harvested and the sugar cane juice is extracted within 24 hours of harvesting. The sugar cane juice is fermented with wild yeasts prepared with local microbiotics.

Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho is distilled on 2,000 litre capacity Copper Pot Stills. The oak barrels are from Europe (likely French Oak then). Some of the barrels used in the ageng of this cachaca are virgin oak. Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho is aged for around 18 months it is a blend of various cachaca’s produced at the distillery. It is bottled at a very respectable 42% ABV.

This is available in a 670ml bottle and should cost around R$50 as per this webstore. It comes in a tall, short necked clear bottle. Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho has a metallic screw cap enclosure. The presentation isn’t particularly enticing or up to European expectations but this isn’t a hugely expensive cachaca. As well as producing this gold/ouro cacahca D’Lourdes also have a Prata expression, which comes in a very similar bottle.

In the glass we have a very light coloured spirit – white wine. The nose is full of double cream and icing sugar. It’s light but nicely defined and the extra ABV definitely adds some body to the cachaca.

The nose has some of the wood influence – their is a touch of ginger and a hint of spice but it’s pretty deep in the mix.

Sipped – this is a very flavourful cachaca.The initial entry is much spicier than the nose with stronger notes of ginger and white pepper. A touch of cumin and maybe some turmeric. The mid palate has a slightly mineral like note which adds an extra layer of complexity.

The creamier notes that were present on the nose stay with you throughout the sipping experience. They meld nicely with the spicier notes in the cachaca giving a sweetness and a balance which makes this a very easy cachaca to sip.

Finish wise you get a lot of the mineral notes and the spicier elements. It’s a reasonable length and makes a nice finish to the experience. Overall this works nicely as a sipper but it isn’t as complex as you might want from a sipping experience.

In mixed drinks this cachaca works much better – the woodier and spicier notes really stand out in things like a Ti Punch or a Caiprinha. The extra ABV is a bonus and gives it just an extra little bite.

This is a very decent sipper/deluxe mixer style of cachaca. Another hit from Minas Gerais.

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Uncategorised

Foursquare Mandamus
Bythefatrumpirate February 11, 2026February 11, 2026

Foursquare Mandamus. Here we have another word that I never heard or come across before………Mandamus is Latin for “we command”, a legal term referring to a court order compelling action.

It’s a suitably assertive name, and one that feels very much in keeping with the Foursquare ECS range. These releases no longer arrive as curiosities or experiments, they arrive with a certain expectation attached. Foursquare Mandamus is not here to introduce anyone to the Foursquare Rum Distillery, nor is it designed to broaden its appeal. It assumes a certain level of familiarity and interest from the outset. It knows its target audience.

The ECS formula is well established: a pot and column still blend from Barbados, with long tropical ageing often given a secondary maturation (but not always) in casks other than ex-bourbon which is then bottled at cask strength. In this case the talking point is a finishing period in Port caks. Which was one of the earliest ECS releases Port Cask Finish. Wine finishes will always be contentious in rum circles especially Fortified sweeter “wines”, often for good reason. When handled poorly, they can overwhelm the spirit, pushing everything toward sweetness. When handled well, they can add structure, depth, and contrast. Foursquare’s track record suggests the latter will occur.

Foursquare Mandamus was bottled at 64% ABV, released in the usual stubby 70cl bottle and landed in the UK at around £100 in late 2025. That price point will inevitably cause debate, particularly given how ECS pricing has steadily crept upward over the years. At the same time, consistency and transparency remain central to the brand’s appeal. Whatever else you think about the cost, you know exactly what you’re getting and what you’re not.

There’s also an increasing sense that these releases are now aimed squarely at an established audience. They’re not designed to convert newcomers or soften the category’s edges. Foursquare Mandamus feels like a rum that expects its drinker to meet it halfway, rather than one that attempts to charm its way into favour.

So lets get on with the good bit…….

Nosing the first impression of Foursquare Mandamus is unmistakably dry and oak-led. Dark cherries, red grapes and raisins sit at the forefront,. This is followed by toasted wood, vanilla and cocoa powder.

The Port influence is clearly present, but it manifests as firmness and tannin rather than sweetness or overly sweet jammy fruit. At 64% ABV the alcohol is evident, but it remains controlled and clean.

On the sip. The Dark fruits lead to begin with cherry, raisin and plum — We then get oak, dark chocolate and a touch of black coffee and warming spice. The Port finish adds definition rather than softening it. This is not a rich or glossy ECS release; it’s one that prioritises balance. The high strength carries flavour confidently across the palate without becoming aggressive. Foursquare Mandamus rewards slow, deliberate drinking.

Finish wise its long, persistent, and drying. Oak, cocoa, spice, and red fruit skins linger well after the sip, gradually fading rather than dropping away. The tannic edge remains present to the end.

This is a confident and assertive entry in the ECS range and one that leans hard into dryness and structure rather than easy appeal. It won’t be universally loved or as crowd pleasing as some of the slightly softer previous releases. Those who favour richer, sweeter, or softer profiles may find it challenging.

The Zinfandel finish has been applied with a steady hand, adding complexity without over shadowing the underlying distillate.

The question of value remains more complicated. At £100, expectations are understandably high, and comparisons with earlier, cheaper ECS releases are inevitable. That said, judged purely on quality, balance, and intent, Foursquare Mandamus stands comfortably among the stronger modern releases. It’s a rum that knows exactly what it’s trying to achieve — and achieves it without compromise.

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Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection

Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection
Bythefatrumpirate November 27, 2020

Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection. Earlier this month I was extremely fortunate (and humbled) to be one of 300 people, worldwide to be invited to a tasting of the Appleton Estate Hearts Collection.

The Hearts Collection is co-bottling between Luca Gargano of Velier and Joy Spence of Appleton Estate. They consist of three vintage rums from 1999, 1995 and 1994. These rums were hand picked and selected by Joy and Luca. Despite having a variety of vintages and barrels to choose from, they did both pick the same barrels as their favourites.

Today I am reviewing the Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection. The youngest of the 3 rums in the collection. This rum is a blend of 12 casks. All the casks are the same rum marque, what marque it is is unclear as Joy would not disclose! Two of the rums in this collection are the same marque. So it was Joy’s little test for us to decide which was the odd one out.

The casks used in this release are numbered 407819 to 407830. For the tasting I was sent 3 20cl bottle of the rum. It is noted only 300 of these bottles were produced. For the full 70cl bottle release 3000 of each rum in the collection were available.

The recommended retail price of the rums was €220. However, due to the demand and excitement around this release bottles did sell for more at some retailers. I would expect to see a few bottlings appear on the secondary market shortly, if they haven’t already. I’m sure Italian Ebay will have a few bottles before long. Oh look they have!

Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection is a single marque 100% Pot Still Rum. The rum was distilled in 1999 on a Forsyth Pot Still. It has been aged for 21 years in ex-bourbon barrels at Appleton Estate. It is entirely tropically aged. The rum has been bottled at 63% ABV and there are 855 g/100 LAA Total Congeners.

In terms of presentation the box initially leads you to believe it is a Appleton Estate release, as unlike the Foursquare co-bottlings Appleton use their own branding and font style. It is when opening the box that you see the hallmark of a Velier bottling. The distinctive opaque Velier bottle. On the front label it is noted that the rum has been “Crafted and aged in the HEART of Jamaica” which explains why the rums have been called the Hearts Collection.

So there you go I think I have given as much information as I have regarding the rum so lets move on to the fun part.

In the glass Appleton Estate 1999 Hearts Collection is a dark brown/mahogany spirit with a reddish/orange hue. It is every bit the colour you would expect a 21 year old tropically aged spirit to be. From the tasting I am not sure if something was mentioned about some of the barrels being a bit older than 1999 – but I might be getting confused.

On the nose you immediately get that rich, elegant chocolate and coconut note that will be familiar to anyone who has had Appleton 12 Year or even the new 8 Year Release. Likewise the “regular” 21 Year Old Appleton Estate.

Further nosing reveals a slightly vinegary note alongside side some tropical fruit and banana bread. For all this is a 21 Year Old rum it is doesn’t smell particularly oaky. It is certainly not overly woody as some spirits often can be at this age. It has a really nice balance between aged spirit and more younger sweeter/vibrant notes.

As I sometimes note with Appleton Estate 12 Year Old there is a slightly herbal note in there is well which adds a bit more complexity and interest to the nose. Notes of toffee and light caramel add a little sweetness alongside the chocolate and the gentle warming oak notes. The nose has a really good balance and harmony suggesting the rum will be equally enjoyable……….

The initial entry is quite spicy and there is a touch of tartness about it. It’s dry and slightly acidic but not unpleasant. The vinegar note on the nose comes out a little more initially on the tongue.

Further sips see this die down considerably. As is often the case when sipping Cask Strength rum of the bat. Your palate needs time to adjust to the full on flavours. I’m not getting a much more rounded and more balanced rum. It’s not particularly heavy or woody but it does have a medicinal note.

On the mid palate I’m getting more of the chocolate and toffee notes alongside some coconut, banana and a touch of tobacco. Some white grapes as well are coming into the mix. There is an acidity to the rum – a slight lemon/lime touch which adds a little sweetness to the mix alongside the richer chocolate and toffee notes.

As we move into the finish it is long and luxurious. To be honest, this rum is dangerously drinkable at this ABV and very moreish. The finish has a touch of tobacco and smoke but the rich, vibrant notes of chocolate, banana and toffee continue alongside the fruitier elements – maybe a touch of lychee in there?

This is isn’t funky hi-hogo Jamaican Rum. It’s a more sophisticated elegant spirit. This is really beyond the Signature Blend what Appleton Estate does. They don’t produce a rum like Hampden for example. No that Hampden don’t produce great rum – far from it.

This is a lovely rum. It’s typical in some ways of Appleton Estate’s older vintages but at the same time with it being a single marque it has little nuances that keep it interesting.

Easy to see why they picked these barrels! Great Stuff.

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