ABOUT Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold

Bythefatrumpirate

About Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirateABOUT Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold. The Engenho Buriti Distillery in Papagaios, Minas Gerais began production in 2010. They produce cachaca under the brand names such as of Famosinha de Minas, Santuario de Minas, Dona Branca, and Buriti.

They also produce cachaca for Independent bottlers such as Jean Salvador of ABOUT Brazil.

Despite Jean being Brasillian they currently operate out of Switzerland. Their Cachaca’s (I have also featured the Silver Organic Cachaca) are currently only available there but they are currently seeking out distribution in other parts of Western Europe.

The process to create ABOUT Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold starts with the natural fermentation of freshly squeezed sugar cane with native yeasts. The resulting liquid is distilled in small batches, in copper stills. It is aged in Amburana, a native Brazilian wood. ABOUT Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold is  aged for 2 years and bottled at 40%.

As mentioned already they are seeking to get further distribution in Europe. As a result they have a very good website which provides information on the brand and Cachaca in general.

Presentation wise About Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold comes in a 70cl bottle – the bottle is fairly standard “bar” bottle with a slightly bulbous neck. A good quality metal screw cap completes the look. It is presented in a more modern, contempory style than many domestic Cachaca brands. It has been designed by artist Carlos MaAbout Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold Rum review by the fat rum piratetuck and the watercolour depicts the historical city of Ouro Preto.

It’s sharp and well branded. The information on the bottle is clear and concise. It is not cluttered and old-fashioned like so many Cachacas. It will suit the European market presented like this.

A very light coloured spirit presents itself in the glass – almost straw to white wine in colour, rather than gold.

Nosed this is a very creamy Cachaca. Floral and with a really nice sweetness to it. The vegetal and grassy nature of the sugar cane are present but they are balanced by the subtle spiciness and creaminess of this cachaca.

It’s slightly soapy with a hint of lavender and balsam wood – maybe a touch of light Pot Pourri. Notes of Double Cream, honey and vanilla. Lightly spiced and just enough woody-ness to give it a little bit extra body.

Sipped it is nicely balanced – the entry is both creamy and soapy at the same time with a really nice burst of sweet sugar cane and vanilla. All manner of delicate spices flit in and out of the mix giving it a really nice clean and concise profile.

It has relatively little burn and the finish is not particularly long. Or it is not particularly strong. You don’t get much alcohol burn when this spirit goes down. It is very light and delicate in aAbout Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold Rum review by the fat rum piratell aspects of its delivery.

ABOUT Brazil Artisanal Cachaca Gold is slightly herbal on the mid palate with a slight hint of bitter licorice alongside the honey, vanilla and the spices from the native woods used in the production of this Cachaca.

It mixes well but I found that the subtle nuances of this Cachaca were lost by doing so. This is a really enjoyable palate cleanser and easy sipper, should you be wishing for something flavourful but light at the same time.

Really well-balanced, not as full flavoured or as intense as some Cachaca but nevertheless a well put together and balanced spirit. I found it highly enjoyable.

Keep an eye out for this one.

 

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  • Spice Hunter Boldest Spiced Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Spice Hunter Boldest Spiced Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSpice Hunter Boldest Spiced Rum. I’ve seen spiced rum described in many different ways but I’ve never heard anyone claim their spiced rum is the boldest before.

    Not many spiced rums claim to add 13 different spices to the rum. Which is why as their website informs us – they have decided to call it “Boldest Spiced Rum”. They think it is a very bold move to infuse so many spiced into their rum.

    Presentation is also quite bold with a very vivid orange, white and black colour scheme. The man in the boat on the front label is an 18th century “Spice Hunter” called Pierre Poivre.

    The rum comes housed in a rounded 3/4 stubby style bottle with a chunky wooden topped synthetic cork stopper.

    The actual rum is a column distilled rum from the Medine Distillery in Mauritius. Readers of this blog may find the name of that distillery familiar. It also gives us a bit more idea about the company behind this spiced rum. Spice Hunter is bottled at 38% ABV and a 70cl bottle currently retails at £28. You can currently find it on Amazon and in select Revolucion de Cuba bars around the country.

    Spice Hunter is infused with 13 different spices – All Spice, Caraway, Cardamon, Chilli, Cinnamon, Clove, Cubeb, Elemi, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper, Pimento and that spiced rum staple Vanilla.

    The rum has been released at 19 Revolucion de Cuba venues throughout the UK – so if you don’t want to take the plunge and buy a bottle you can try it there.

    Now I wouldn’t normally get too excited or enthusiastic about a spiced rum. I don’t mind a good spiced rum but sadly there aren’t many of those about. Too many rely on synthetic tasting vanilla and sugar and little else. To many copycat brands all doing the same thing. I wasn’t even that fussed on Pink Pigeon which is a spiced/flavoured rum produced by the Medine Distillery using Vanilla.

    However, the base rum for this is produced in Mauritius but the spices are blended here in the UK by Berry’s Bros & Rudd. So this is for me a bit of a “posh” rum. I’m assured all the spices used are authentic and they have taken a great deal of time and care making sure the blend is bold but very tasty.Spice Hunter Boldest Spiced Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    So I have higher hopes for this spiced rum than I perhaps usually do.

    In the glass the rum is a rich golden brown – if the spices have had only a minimal impact on the colour of this rum then the distillate appears to be at least 2-3 years old. That said, it could have been coloured at any stage.

    The initial nosing reveals Cloves, Ginger and some peppery spices. It’s quite sweet but has a lot of punch to it as well. I certainly couldn’t pick out all 13 spices in the mix (I’ve not even heard of Cubeb before) but there is certainly a lot more there in terms of actual spiced than you get in most spiced rums.

    This has more an infused vibe to it than a standard supermarket spiced rum. The sweetness of the cloves is quite dominant on the nose but you can still detect the spicier elements such as Pimento, Ginger and Pepper.

    Sipped neat the sweetness of the cloves takes a back seat. This is quite “fiery” spiced rum – similar in many respects to Dark Matter. For me though the base spirit is a lot better and so the drink has a much better balance. No bitter or metallic elements with this.

    Ginger, Pepper and the Pimento give this a really spicy kick – there is just enough sweetness from the Cinnamon and Vanilla to balance this out.

    In terms of a spiced rum this really delivers and the flavours of the actual spiced really shine through the rum. Sipped it’s very pleasant – I wouldn’t normally recommend it but a cube of ice works nicely.

    It’s punchy throughout but the finish is really spicy with lots of Chilli and Pimento heat. It’s a real winter warmer of a rum.

    In mixed drinks it works really well with cola giving a really nice spicy rum and cola. If you are a fan of spicy Mexican food I think you will really enjoy this. Their website Spice Hunter Boldest Spiced Rum Review by the fat rum pirateadvises mixing with Ginger Beer/Ale that works well also.

    However, like Dark Matter I find that this hot and spicy Spiced Rum works best in a Bloody Mary. If you think the idea of a Bloody Mary is awful – try one with Pusser’s Gunpowder.

    This is a sophisticated “grown up” kind of spiced rum. I’d rank this up there with Bristol Black in terms of its standing in the Spiced Rum world. It might not be “sweet” enough for some but there is no doubting how “bold” this effort is.

    Really excellent stuff.

     

  • The Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    The Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old Rum review by the fat rum pirateThe Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old Rum. We have another bottling in the The Duchess “Hummingbird” series for review today. This bottling is noted as being “Distilled at Barbados Oldest” on the front label. Which as many a rum enthusiast means Mount Gay Rum Distillery, Bridgetown, Barbados.

    In recent years certain distilleries have requested that Independent Bottlers do not use the name of the distillery or at least do not display it as a “headline” on the their labelling. Confusion between official, co-bottlings and Independent bottlings.

    Increasingly Caribbean distilleries have been expanding their portfolios into more aged rums, single casks and limited editions. Which were previously very much the domain of the Independent bottler. Some very historic distilleries such as Hampden Estate had never released an aged rum under their own “brand” until a few years ago. Increasingly the distilleries are seeing the distillery name as the “brand”. Without doubt in some instances Independent bottlers have enhanced the reputation of the distilleries products.

    So as a result you will not see an Independent bottling with “Mount Gay” written on it going forward. To be honest I can’t think of all that many times I have seen any Independently bottled Mount Gay rum. They have historically sold a lot less bulk rum than other Barbados distilleries. Such is the success globally of rums such as Eclipse and Mount Gay XO.

    I’d also like to qualify also that whilst Mount Gay Distillery is the oldest official distillery on the island – with records dating back to 1703, there were plenty of unofficial distilleries on the island prior to this……..

    The Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old Rum – Distilled at Barbados Oldest or “Barbados Oldest” is part of the Hummingbird series of rums designed by Dutch artist Hans Dillesse. Todays Hummingbird would appear to be the Antillean Crested hummingbird as I cannot see any green on its plumage unlike the Green Throated Carib. (PS Barbados has only 2 native Hummingbirds – I am not some kind of Twitcher).

    The rum was distilled at Mount Gay Distillery way back in 2000 and bottled in 2019. It spent 6 years ageing in Barbados before being transferred to Europe. It has been matured in ex-bourbon casks. The rum is from cask number 49 and was bottled at Cask Strength 54.3% ABV. Although not stated I am assuming that this is a Pot/Column blend.The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    There were 252 bottles at the time of bottling.The Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old rum is available from Best Of Wines and Zeewijck (amongst others) to those on the continent. For those closer to (my) home Edencroft Wines also have stock. It retails at around the £/€100 mark.

    From memory this may be the oldest Mount Gay rum I have tasted, but don’t quote me on that!

    So let’s see how this latest The Duchess bottling is.

    First up in the glass we have a classic golden to dark brown rum with red and orange flashes. It is a little cloudy but that is something we should not be disappointed with!

    The nose is very fruity with lots of pear, pineapple and some mango. The usual Mount Gay coconut note is there but not as prominent as usual. Further nosing reveals some cashew nuts, milk chocolate and some fruity raisins.

    It’s quite light and slightly floral with a slightly acidic note to it. It’s nicely balanced and quite different for a Bajan style of rum. There isn’t as much vanilla and coconut or charred oak you often get with Mount Gay. This is certainly quite different.

    It does have a nice balance and a bit more time in the glass does see more vanila and oak influence but its playing second fiddle to the fruity and floral notes.

    Sipped this is again very fruity. Green Apple, some bitter Gooseberries and some rose water. There is a bit more oak and spice on the entry and mid palate than the nose suggested. It’s welcome as it adds an extra layer on the top of the sweeter fruitier and floral notes. I’m still getting very little of the more familiar Mount Gay profile. Not much vanilla or coconut.

    In some ways this is fruity in the sense of a sugar can juice/Agricole Rhum. It’s certainly not your typical Barbados rum. Quite different – more like something from Mauritius perhaps. It’s light and nicely balanced.The Duchess Barbados 19 Year Old Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The mid palate has a bit more oak and more spice which is a little more familiar. There is a slightly “damp” note to this rum – an almost damp hay like note which is interesting.

    As we move into the finish the rum delivers quite a long yet gentle finish. Even by Barbados standards and considering this is Cask Strength this is a very easy sipper.

    The finish is a good length with a nice hit of oak and some bitter bark coming through. The fruitiness fades out nicely to give this a really nice rounded finish. It’s long and very enjoyable.

    All in all this is another really interesting barrel pick from The Duchess. Certainly not a barrel you would pick if you were searching for something similar to Mount Gay’s regular releases that is for sure. Quite how the rum has ended up quite so different – I do not know. Maybe 13 years Continental ageing? Or maybe this was some kind of experimental blend.

    Had I been given this blind I doubt I would ever have guessed it at being from Mount Gay as it tastes so different to what I have experienced before. That said it’s a really interesting and very good rum in its own right.

     

  • Kill Devil Jamaica 24 Year Old

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Kill Devil Hampden Jamaica 24 year old cask strength rum review by the fat rum pirateScotch Whisky bottler Hunter Laing and Co Ltd, released their range of Kill Devil rums early in 2016.  Not so hidden amongst the interest were a number of comments on the strength of the rums.

    All the rums released initially were bottled at 46% ABV.  This disappointed quite a few rum connoisseur’s who had hoped to see Cask Strength releases.

    Quick to recognise this and following the success of their first releases (both critically and commercially) the team at Hunter Laing have returned with some Cask Strength offerings.

    The presentation of the rums remains the same aside from a slight change in colour scheme.  The lozenge labels are now a deep reddish/purple colour instead of grey.

    As well as releasing rum at Cask Strength Kill Devil have also used one of their older stocks from an iconic Jamaican distillery.  Famed for its Pot Still rums this Cask Strength release will be for many rum lovers an essential purchase.

    Which is probably just as well for Hunter Laing because this rum retails at around the £200 mark in the UK.  For this you get a 62.4% ABV rum which was distilled back in April 1992 and bottled in 2016.  So you are getting a Single Cask Jamaican Pot Still Rum.  Only 234 bottles of this are available worldwide so despite the price tag some people may still be left disappointed.

    From the information available I am unable to determine if this is all pot still rum or a blend.  From what I can gather Hampden Estate have only 4 Muller Pot Stills at the distillery.  I’m fairly certain this is Pot Still only.

    Hampden Estate rums are best known for being high ester.  If you aren’t sure what is meant by the term ester I’ll direct you here.  They explain it way better than me.  Tastewise it means the rums are very “funky”.  There are a number of articles about Hampden Estate and their processes.  Again as it has already been explained better elsewhere I’ll direct you to Rum Connection who have visited the distillery.

    This is very much a rum for someone who knows specifically what they are looking for.  If you want to try high ester Pot Still Jamaican rum then I wouldn’t advise beginning with a bottle as expensive as this.  You might get quite a shock.

    Kill Devil Hunter Laing Jamaica Hampden Estate Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass the rum is a light gold/straw colour.  I might have perhaps expected a darker rum considering how long it has been aged.  As far as I am aware this rum has not been treated to any finishes – its spent its 24 years maturing in an ex bourbon cask.  It’s difficult really to determine what colour rum really should be – so many commercial bottlers colour theirs with caramel.

    The nose on this Hampden is huge.  You can smell it from across the room.  Unlike unaged Jamaican overproofs however it doesn’t smell quite as “boozy”.  It’s not as alcohol forward as you might expect as such a proof.

    Big wafts of black banana and mango combine with rich unsweetened slightly bitter toffee and caramel notes.  Despite all the big high ester Jamaican funk it also displays evidence of its time in the oak.

    There is a nice spice to the nose – hints of sweeter bourbon and some nice oak notes.  The oak notes are quite light and fragrant.  It is better and more rounded than the younger Hampden rums such as Hampden Gold or for instance Smith & Cross.

    So onto the sipping.  Like many whisky commentators I will always advocate adding water to any spirit which is more than 50% ABV.  I am more than happy drinking a spirit at between 46-50%.  I personally feel that any higher any my palate simply does not pick everything up from the rum it should.  I try rums such as this at Cask Strength for review purposes but I don’t routinely drink them at that strength.

    At Cask Strength you get a very big complex rum.  However, I add a couple of drops of water and I feel I get more from this rum.

    Everything that was found on the nose translates through with this on the sip.  It’s a big pot still rum but the ageing really has developed it beyond just that.

    It has a lovely spiceiness to it, full of flavour and sweet/sour notes which compare to the Foursquare 2004.  Slightly savoury and at times slightly bitter.  There’s a lot of fruit and the finish is long, balanced and warming.  Some notes which might not sound quite as appealing (but work surprisingly well to give this rum its complexity) would be varnish, shoe polish and even a little astringency.

    The sweet fruit flavours make this rum very moreish yet the finish is so good you feel like you mustn’t rush it too much.   You get that nice funky Jamaican black banana and tropical fruit hit, good notes of toffee and unsweetened caramel.

    As so few bottles of this are available I sincerely hope that the 200 or so people lucky (and rich) enough to get their hands on this fully appreciate what they are getting.  I hope it doesn’t fall into the hands of someone looking for another Ron Milonario XO or a replacement for his Zacapa XO.

    Expensive but rums this age from Hampden Estate do not come up very often.

    4.5 stars

     

     

     

     

     

  • That Boutique-y Rum Company O Reizinho Distillery Aged 3 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    That Boutique-y Rum Company O Reizinho Distillery Aged 3 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateThat Boutique-y Rum Company O Reizinho Distillery Aged 3 Years. This is the second bottling from That Boutique-y Rum Company to hail from the O Reizinho Distillery on the Portuguese Island of Madeira. Which is of course the birthplace of the world famous sporting star Moises Henriques.

    Maybe there is someone else a little more famous than him, some footballer or something.

    O Reizinho Distillery is little known outside of Madeira. Even in the capital of Funchal I cannot recall seeing any of the O Reizinho branded rums, that I have noticed appear online recently.

    Portuguese Rhum Agricole or Agricola da Madeira is certainly on the rise. It first came to my attention a couple of years ago at London Rumfest when the William Hinton brand were exhibiting.

    That Boutique-y Rum Company O Reizinho Distillery Aged 3 Years is a batch of 1,936 50cl bottles. The rhum has been bottled at 52.6% ABV. The eagle eyed among you may notice that “The Olive King” on the front of the striking label is a bit older than on the Unaged bottle. This has after all been aged for 3 years. It has been aged in ex-Madeira wine casks. It is casked at 50% ABV but due to Madeira’s climate they lose more water than alcohol from the distillate so the ABV increases rather than decreases. The rum is very lightly filtered and no additives or colourings have been used post production.

    You can pick up a bottle of this at Master of Malt for what I think is a more than reasonable £42.95.

    In the glass we have a dark brown spirit with yellow tinges around the edges. The nose is much more developed and “mature” compared to the Unaged White O Reizinho also released by That Boutique-y Rum Company.

    The funky notes of the Unaged Batch 1 have been replaced with rich warming notes of fortified wine. Sherry, especially and a splash of Port. Blackcurrants, plump raisins and prunes mingle alongside smoky tobacco notes and dark treacle.

    Further nosing reveals a slightly funky edge with notes of burnt banana and green olives. Salty and rich but not as pronounced as they were in the Unaged rhum.

    Sipped it is initially a very fiery spirit with lots of chilli powder and salty seaweed like notes. Dark chocolate and some tart gooseberries. Further sips reveal an almost savoury note of leeks and crispy seaweed from the Chinese Takeaway (Dried cabbage as far as I am aware).

    As an Agricole style rhum this is quite sweet, with some nice vegetal notes. It has a good balance similar in many respects to something like Rhum JM XO. It’s very definitely an agricole but it lends itself in many ways to a molasses style rum.

    Further sips reveal more of the fruity notes of Port and Sherry. There is a very definite smokiness to this rum, which adds an extra layer of complexity.That Boutique-y Rum Company O Reizinho Distillery Aged 3 Years rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Finish wise the rum is pretty short in that respect. It is quite intense on the palate and the mid palate is fairly substantial but the finish does fade pretty quickly. You aren’t left with a lot of flavour.

    That said for a 3 year old rhum this is a very interesting sip. From memory it has more balance than some of the Madeira Agricole, I have tried in the past. It has a Madeira influence but it doesn’t dominate the spirit.

    It is easy to forget that is just a 3 year old rhum.

    Much better for me than the Unaged Batch 1

  • Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum Aged 21 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum Aged 21 Years Rum Review by the fat rum pirateVelier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum Aged 21 Years. Velier have in recent years become synonymous with Caroni Trinidad Rum.

    They have the largest stock of Tropically aged Caroni and have released a staggering series of rums. Which seem to have no sign of ending soon. This is the fourth bottling in their series of “blended” Caroni’s from particular years. They are more common and easier to find than the single cask releases, but they are still much sought after and may seem to some to be quite pricy.

    Rightly so as well. This blend of rums distilled way back in 1996, has a reported Angels Share of 86%. So of all the rum they distilled back in 1996 they were left with only 14% of it when they came to bottle it up in 2017. It was aged in ex-borubon barrels entirely on the island of Trinidad. This is the oldest in the series of these rums to date. All the rums have the old style 1940’s era Caroni bottle and artwork. I’ve tried the 12, 15 and now this the 21. All the rums were made using Trinidad molasses and distilled on a column still.

    In the UK a botle of this rum will set you back around £200. It is bottled at a very exact 57.18% ABV. The presentation is great and antique looking (as it is intended) you get a good quality cork stopper and a very sturdy presentation/storage card sleeve. On the label this rum is noted as being Extra Strong 100 Imperial Proof.

    I’ve reviewed quite a few Caroni’s and I quite enjoy the heavy style of the rum but I’ve also appreciated some of the European aged Caroni’s. They have had a more fruity note to them at times and been lighter overall. It will be interesting to see how this Caroni has aged in the Tropical heat. 21 Years is quite a lot in the Tropics.

    Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum Aged 21 Years Rum Review by the fat rum pirate Poured in the glass (the opaque bottle doesn’t allow you to see the colour of the rum) the Caroni 21 presents itself as a very dark brown.with an orange hue.

    The nose is re-assuringly familiar. Petrol and tobacco are the first things that greet you. Then a mustiness that I have noticed before with older Caroni. Especially those Tropically Aged.

    A deeper nosing reveals a little mint and menthol, some sweet mushy banana and some prunes and dates. It’s sweet yet heavy at the same time. The mint develops into a sweeter spearmint like toothpaste.

    It smells “old” in a smoky, musty kind of way. The oak and barrel ageing are there but it isn’t young and spicy. You get a little vanilla from the cask but you really have to dig deep to find it.

    The nose is very approachable even at the 57.18% ABV. It doesn’t nose as a particularly strong spirit. It’s actually very nicely balanced and not quite as aggressive as I was expecting.

    A small sip reveals a very rich, intense and oaky spirit. It’s really heavy (as the label denotes). Despite this it still doesn’t have anywhere near as much burn as I thought. It’s It’s very gentle in that respect.

    Where the real action takes place is not in the throat but on the tongue. It’s a very intense spirit. It’s initially quite bitter and very oaky. At full ABV it is perhaps a little overwhelming. I feel like I’m losing some of the taste as my taste buds have to much to deal with. It’s not the alcohol burn or ABV but the intensity of flavour.

    A few drops of water are definitely recommended to enjoy this rum. It really is very striking how much easier it is to actually taste the spirit once you’ve added just a couple of drops of water.

    If Caroni is your thing then you will be very much in your element with this rum. It’s rich, dark and a little bit dirty. Tar, menthol, tobacco, oak, touch of petrol and just enough sweetness not to make it to bitter and dry.Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum Aged 21 Years Rum Review by the fat rum pirat

    On nosing this I thought it would be really interesting – on the first couple of sips at full ABV I was a little underwhelmed. I couldn’t get any of the sweeter notes. A touch of water and they return giving you a much more balanced and enjoyable sip.

    If you prefer a sweeter profile then a younger Caroni might suit you. However if you really like a barrel driven spirit then the older oakier, smokier and heavier profile might suit you more. I might have slightly preferred the 15 but we are talking very small margins.

    As the stocks of Caroni the prices are going to increase. Tropically Aged Caroni such as this is going to get more expensive. If you can get samples from people to try then do so – Caroni is not very everyone.

    However I doubt anyone who knows their Caroni will be disappointed with this one.

     

  • Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007 Rum review by the fat rum pirateHabitation Velier Last Ward 2007 is an intriguingly named rum in the popular series of Pure rums from Luca Gargano and co.  Last Ward 2007 represents the Ward family.  Who for over 100 years owned and ran the Mount Gay rum distillery in St Lucy, Barbados.

    As with all Habitation Velier releases you get a lot of information on the bottle and the study card sleeve which houses the rum.  Presented in the now distinctive flask style opaque bottles this rum from the Mount Gay Rum Refinery is given a baby blue colour scheme.  Velier usually give individual distilleries/stills a colour scheme which they carry through for all releases.  This was most commonly used in their old Demerara offerings.

    Last Ward 2007 is a triple distilled 100% Pot Still rum.  Distilled on a Double Retort Pot Still back in 2007.  For those with long memories you may re-call that 2007 represents the year that Frank Ward began producing Mount Gilboa rum.  Triple distilled in McMillan Pot Stills and aged in ex-bourbon Mount Gilboa represented a rare 100% Pot Still Bajan rum.

    Much has went on since 2007 with Mount Gay Rum Refinery now under new ownership.  Last Ward 2007 represents the oldest rums available as part of the distillation of Mount Gilboa.  Velier bought these casks in 2014.  The rum has been tropically aged – Angels Share of 65%.  It is bottled at 59% ABV barrel proof.  A bottle (if you can find one) will set you back around £80.

    This rum is a marrying of 19 of the oldest barrels available.  I was quite surprised how popular this edition proved to be – I was fortunate to get the last bottle from the retailer I used – on the day of release.  Mount Gilboa earned something of a cult following for its heavier, more full flavoured take on Bajan rum.  You can still pick up a bottle online here and there even though it hasn’t been produced for a number of years.

    Mount Gilboa was much younger than 10 years old so it will be interesting to see how a 100% Bajan Pot Still rum develops over time.

    Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007 Rum review by the fat rum pirateIn the glass the rum is a very attractive golden brown.  It certainly looks the part. Nosing is quite a sedate experience.  Mount Gilboa was quite an “in your face” kind of rum.  In some ways it bordered on Jamaican in terms of delivery – though admittedly maybe with the funk dialled down a touch.  This rum has quite a strong, spicy alcohol note on the nose.  I’m getting a lot of oak and spice from the bourbon barrel.  A touch of shoe polish.  Deeper nosing makes your nose twitch a little – it’s quite boozy.  Sweet alcohol notes can hit the nostrils quite hard.

    It has a nuttiness which balances nicely with the notes of shortcut pastry.  A little saltiness.  Initially the nose doesn’t seem all that complex but the more you nose the more you notice.

    From the nose I certainly wouldn’t pick it out as a Pot Still rum.  At a push I might identify it as a Bajan.  It’s kind of in the middle ground.  Similar to a St Lucian rum only without the extra saltiness and vegetal notes.

    It’s certainly an intriguing and interesting nose.

    Sipped it’s a very spicy affair.  I”m getting more of the Pot Still now.  It’s not as full on as a Hampden or even a Fijian pot still but its certainly more menacing than a Doorly’s 5 for example or Rum Sixty Six.  One of the things I liked about Mount Gilboa was the “funkiness” it displayed.  It was a very bold rum – which mixed really well and whilst not bad as a sipper just didn’t have the refinement to make for a serious sipping experience.

    Unfortunately Last Ward 2007 has lost some of the youthful “funkiness” and aggression.  These seems to have been replaced with a lot of oak spice.  This is a very “hot” peppery rum.  There is a lot of oak which is very drying.

    It’s quite difficult to get past this.  A few drops of water certainly help.  Opening the rum up more making it easier to sip and appreciate the more complex notes lurking beneath the oak and spice.

    Water is very much recommended with this rum.  With the ABV reduced you can taste more of the more familiar Bajan style notes.  Last Ward 2007 has a sweeter more approachable profile now.  It’s nicely balanced and much frutier.  There is a little tartness – gooseberries, a touch of lychee but it plays along nicely with the notes of vanilla and banana.  There is a little of the trademark Mount Gay coconut as well just lurking in the background.

    Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007 Rum review by the fat rum pirateThis is a very different rum to the one I was expecting.  I was expecting something akin to the Pot Still of the South Pacific Rum Distillery in Fiji or even something almost Jamaican.

    Ageing has taken off some of the rough edges (which I quite enjoyed in the Mount Gilboa) and replaced them with much more interaction with the Bourbon barrels.  At full strength the rum is too spicy and dry for my palate.  Reduced down to around 50% and a completely different rum is revealed.

    It’s not a rum I find easy to compare to other rums.  In time it is a rum which grows on you.  Initially it doesn’t seem all that exciting.  I thought for my first couple of glasses it was just over oaked.

    But it grows on you.  Sneaks up on you and you soon begin to appreciate it.  Yes its a little dry and oaky but water really is your friend with this rum. Honest