Arnisser No7 Jamaica Rum Worthy Park 2010

Bythefatrumpirate

Arnisser No7 Jamaica Rum Worthy Park Review by the Fat Rum PirateArnisser No7 Jamaica Rum is an independently bottled rum from Worthy Park Distillery.  Arnisser hails from Germany (I think) and they have their own website.

They have bottled a number of rums as well as their own Gin and Brandy.  They bottle their rum in 200ml and 500ml bottles.  This 6 Year Old rum from Worthy Park was distilled in 2010.  Retail price for a 500ml bottle is 26 euros.  Which is very competitive.  I like the idea of the 200ml bottles as well.  That is a good amount of rum to try and the price is also very keen.

Arnisser’s rums come housed in a stubby bottle with a synthetic cork closure.  Information on this rum is fairly limited.  It is a Pot Still distillate from the Worthy Park Estate.  It has been bottled at what I assumed to be Cask Strength of 65.4% ABV.

I don’t know much else about Arnisser nor is any information forthcoming on the internet.  So this review may well be pretty short as I am already at the stage where I begin my tasting notes!

In the glass the rum is a gold colour with flashes of orange and red.  It is a touch on the “murky” side so it may not have been chill filtered or only lightly filtered.

The nose is familiar and reassuring.  The quality of the rum coming from Worthy Park since its re-release is up there with the best currently out there.  There is quite a lot of alcohol on the nose with this one – its the highest proof Worthy Park I have had to date.

Beneath the alcohol are some lovely toffee notes, some banana and a touch of hazlenuts.  It’s a rich and full nose.  Some nice mocha notes and some nice warming oak.

The strong alcohol on the nose shows its youth but it seems to have developed a lot of complexity in its 6 years of ageing.  As you can see from the photo Arnisser have their own ageing facility which seems to double up as a shop.

When sipped the rum is very intense.  Its really quite heavy and rich in terms of flavour.  It reminds me a little of Foursquare 2013 in terms of intensity.

It is intense in both flavour and alcohol.  It’s a very boozy rum.

Which is not a problem because at 65.4% ABV you have a lot of room to maneuver should you wish to add some water.  And I suspect you will.

The rum is not quite as sweet as the nose suggested.  Some of the more chocolatey notes are lost a little.  You get quite a lot of smokiness and oak with this rum.  It has a lovely balance though despite its youth.  It has some really good complex flavours going on.  Nice notes of leather and a hint of tobacco, sweetness is provided by way of a nice warming caramel.  It has a really nice warming finish which is not too overpowering but lingers long enough for you to savour each sip.

The rum is quite spicy and especially at full proof quite dry.  Don’t see these as criticisms though – they add to the complexity and depth of this rum.

I’m a big fan of Worthy Park’s rum.  As they produce 100% Pot Still rum they do not bother with any additives you are always getting a solid, honest and well crafted rum. Proper rum as I call it.

This is really good stuff and makes a mockery of its price tag! I’ll certainly be looking at Arnisser in the future.

Apologies for the relatively brief review but this is fantastic stuff.  Highly recommended.

 

 

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  • Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola

    ByMrs Fatrumpirate

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirate Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola. Today I’m continuing my journey into what our Mexican friends call Charanda. For those unaware about Charanda, it is a alcoholic spirit which derives from sugar cane. This particular brand Uruapan, is also one the biggest cities in the state of Michoacan, were Charanda is exclusively produced.

    Charanda is protected and recognised by a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). Charanda is produced through the distillation and rectification (double distillation) of sugar cane cold-extracted juices. The result is a colorless crystalline spirit. Like rum it is often then aged in oak and other native woods.

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco, may be familiar to you. Particularly if you are in the US, where a Uruapan Charanda Blanco has been available for a few years. However, I am reliably informed that this is not the same spirit that you may have seen in the blue coloured bottle.

    You may note on the front of the bottle to the right it is noted as being a

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSingle Blended Rum. Whereas the bottle I have taken my sample from, is noted as being Pure Single Agricola. The “blue bottle” Uruapan Charanda Blanco is produced from both Sugar Cane Juice based distillate and Molasses based distillate. 50/50 I understand.

    The bottle I am reviewing, is produced solely from Sugar Cane Juice. hence the Agricola tagline.

    Both of these Charanda’s have been bottled at 46% ABV. The Charanda I am reviewing today was produced on a Copper Pot Still. It is an unaged Charanda which has only been rested in steel vats before bottling.

    The “blue bottle” Single Blended Uruapan Charanda Blanco is quite easily available in the US. It retails at around the $25-30 mark. It has also received a fair amount of praise and attention in the drinks world.

    This Charanda is more tricky to find for sale. However K&L Wines do seem to be stocking this, though it is more pricy than the Single Blended effort at $39.99. I’ve been unable to find a stockist in the UK or Europe for this Pure Single Agricola but the blue bottle Single Blended Charanda is available here. Though I have never used this online store before.

    The distillery that produces Charanda Uruapan goes by the same name and is one of only 6 or 7 distilleries left. At one point there were hundreds, such has been the decline in the popularity of Charanda. The distillery also produces the Tarasco range of Charanda’s one of which I have reviewed previously.

    So there really is little else to say. Having heard some of the comparisons of this Charanda with the likes of Clairin, Rhum Agricole and even Jamaican Overproof rum I am keen to taste the liquid.Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola is crystal clear. It looks to all intents and purposes like vodka. However, the pungent aromas coming from the glass give a clear indication that this is far from being a boring, neutral spirit.

    It’s rich and creamy on the nose with layers of double cream and vanilla ice cream.  This is backed up by pungent grassy Rhum Agricole like aromas of freshly cut cane.

    A smoky yet very spicy aroma also comes from the spirit which immediately reminds me of spicy nachos covered in a dusting of peppery spice. Allowed to rest in the glass the nose becomes much more rounded and approachable given around 15 minutes. When initially poured it is much more spicy.

    At 46% ABV sipping this Charanda is a very pleasant experience. It has quite a spicy peppery kick to it particularly on the initial sip. Black Pepper and some chilli oil are the first things I think of. As the initial spicy notes die down the mid palate sees the vanilla and more creamy notes from the nose return. These mingle nicely with some grassy notes.

    Finish wise it is surprisingly light much of the spicy notes are contained in the initial entry and this Charanda flows nicely into what is quite a short finish. If I saw this predominantly as a sipper this might be a fault. However, it would be unfair to rate this Charanda as a sipper. Clearly it is more for mixed drinks. That said what is there on the finish is nice and gentle and it fades out nicely without any rough edges.

    This is Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum piratedefinitely something quite different from most white “rums”. That is because whilst this is similar to rum, in that it is derived from Sugar Cane – it is a spirit very reliant on its terroir. For once that is not some marketing bullshit. Charanda is only produced in a very small part of the a state in Mexico. So the soil the cane is grown in has very distinct characteristics of its environment. You might not even identify this as being a “rum”, if you tasted it blind.

    It is mixed where this Charanda really comes out to play. In mixed drinks such as a Caiprinha it gets to show both its lighter vanilla/creamy side. It is also able to show its “funkier” side with a nice range of banana and fruity flavours. The 46% ABV certainly works well in mixed drinks and cocktails giving the drink just a little bit extra oomph.

    This is certainly worth keeping an eye out for – if you do see it for sale at around the £40 mark or less then I wouldn’t hesitate in picking up a bottle. Especially, if you are seeking out something a little different.

     

  • Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateFoursquare Rum Distillery 2007. Foursquare may have dropped the “Rum Distillery” part from the front label but I’m keeping if for my review titles. Just to keep things nice and tidy. I was going to finish off the sherry finished rums and review Patrimonio but my photographer is not available tonight, so we’ll do the 2007 instead.

    As with all the Exceptional Cask Series this is a Single Blended rum. Which means it is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rums. I do not know the exact ratio of Pot/Column but I do know that the ratio of Pot to Column has increased from the 2005, which in turn had more Pot Still rum than the 2004. All three of these rums are part of the Exceptional Cask Series. This is number ten already in the series.

    All of the ECS named after the year of distillation have been quite straightforward affairs. All have been aged in small oak (ex-bourbon casks) with no additional maturation or any other faffing aroun. This is a 12 year old rum and was bottled in March 2019. it has been bottled at Cask Strength of 59% ABV.

    For those familiar with the ECS, the bottle will be familiar. They have tweaked it a little to give a little medal on the neck and we now get a synthetic cork stopper, rather than a screw cap. You pick this up quite easily in the UK from the likes of The Whisky Exchange (make sure you get a Hereditas as well whilst you are on) a bottle of 2007 should set you back around £55. This bottling is not similar to the Foursquare/Velier 2006 collaboration aside from the distillery it is a progression of the 2004 and 2005 releases.

    The 2004 “version” of this rum one my Rum of the Year back in 2016, so this has quite a lot to live up to. So let’s put it to the test and see how we get on.

    In the glass, we have a classic golden/dark brown rum with a slightly orange hue. The nose is full of sweet notes of vanilla and coconut. There is a spicy sweet/sour bourbon note, the more you nose. Nice notes of woody oak and a touch of ginger.

    Sweet notes of raisin and sultana move in and out of the mix, adding a really nice fruity balance to oaky notes. You wouldn’t think you were nosing such a high ABV spirit as the balance of this rum is absolutely perfect.Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007 Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    The woody/oaky notes are fresh and quite airy. I’m not getting much barrel char, it all smells very light and very fresh.

    Sipped at Cask Strength you get a lot of spice on the initial sip. It shows it’s full 59% ABV especially when it is your first drink of the evening. Further sips of this rum come much easier and more flavour does come forward. It’s just a case of getting the palate accustomed to the ABV. You can of course, add some water if you prefer.

    Once things have calmed down the initial sip is still quite hot with a lot of oak spice and ginger especially on the entry. This seems more boozy than the 2004 especially. There is a slight bitterness on the mid palate but this leads onto more rich oak spice, which really integrates nicely. It’s rich and warming.

    Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007 is a woody, very dry rum. It is not as sweet as the nose suggested it might be. The sweeter notes come in time – on the entry you begin to get some coconut, banana and vanilla.

    It is not as easy to drink as some of the other Foursquare offerings, especially those with a secondary maturation. It is very much an example of a very pure, simple Barbados rum. Yet one of exceptional quality, which few other producers could even begin to replicate or match.

    The question will be is this as good as 2004 and 2005. How does it compare? The answer is, I am not at all sure I would be able to pick them out blind. Much like Rum Sixty Six Cask Strength the rums are very similar. From memory this rum seems a touch less sweet than the 2004. I have one bottle of 2004 left but I won’t be opening it for some time yet. It’s more similar to the 2005 I would say.

    For £55 Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007 is another fantastic example of a pure Barbados rum. Maybe lately, my preferences have geared more towards some of the sweeter Foursquare offerings but this reminds me what I liked about Foursquare in the first place. Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007 Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Many rum producers neglect the balance of a rum and many rum commentators, also miss this as something very important in rum. A lot go for intense rums, such as Jamaican Long Ponds or Hampden DOK marque rums, Clairin’s from Haiti and other such “flavour bombs”. Whilst there is nothing wrong with such rums – I enjoy those as well, the belief that 100% Pot Still or Maximum Ester rums is where the good stuff is – I feel is a bit misguided an shortsighted. An excellent balanced blended rum, is every bit as good if not better.

    The score for this one may be a bit predictable. If you enjoy Foursquare, you will thoroughly enjoy this bottling.

  • That Boutique-y Rum Company The London Distillery Company Batch 1

    Bythefatrumpirate

    That Boutique-y Rum Company The London Distillery Company Batch 1 rum review by the fat rum pirateThat Boutique-y Rum Company The London Distillery Company Batch 1. Quite a mouthful that and Google Search will certainly not be pleased with it either. I’ve covered the back story of The Boutique-y Rum Company in previous reviews of their bottlings. Those reviews will appear at the foot of this one. So please read those, if you haven’t already.

    So we will cover the back story of The London Distillery Company. Such a company existed way back in 1807. The original distillery was opened by Ralph Dodd. Except it never actually did. A complaint by a prominent Essex-based corn distillery, headed by Tory MP Philip Metcalfe, the English Crown brought a case against Dodd and The London Distillery Company under the 1720 Bubble Act. This was after Dodd had raised funds, assembled a staff and acquired the Old Water Mill at Nine Elms on the Thames for £12,000. As the first case to be made under this act the Crown hired barrister Sir William Garrow as prosecutor. Dodd lost the case and the business was disbanded before it began.

    The Bubble Act was brought into prevent the promotion of a scheme for a company with transferrable shares. The capital used to fund the distillery had been raised by a public subscription of 2,000 shares at £50.

    In 2013, The London Distillery Company launched their range of Dodd’s Gin in Ralph’s honour. His intention when opening the distillery was to produce and promote the finest English Spirits. The new venture hoped to realise his dream.

    The distillery is now situated on 55 Druid Street, Bermondsey in an archway in what is known as “Beer Mile“.

    The Boutique-y Rum Company The London Distillery Company Batch 1 is the first rum I have seen or heard from this particular distiller. When looking for distilleries in London be careful a few have very similar names. If they do have a brand of rum out at the moment then I am not aware of it and nor seemingly is their own website.

    This release comes in the standard Boutique-y 50cl bottle on release only 139 bottles are available. It has been bottled at 44.6% ABV. It retails at £51.95 via Master of Malt.

    The London Distillery Company Batch 1 is 100% Pot Still distilled I assume from imported molasses. I did search for some more information on That Boutique-y Rum Company’s website but alas this one hasn’t been added as yet.

    in the glass we have a crystal clear liquid – as I would expect of an unaged rum. The nose being it “another” (we have seen quite a few crop up the last few years) British rum. I say British because a lot of the rum that has sprouted up from our little island has been from The London Distillery Company LogoScotland. I especially like Sugar House White and J Gow’s Fading Light an innovative Chestnut Cask offering.

    They love a bit rum in Haggis land. In terms of English rum we have seen the likes of English Spirit Distillery and Bimber emerge over the past few years, with some fairly molasses heavy expressions of rum.

    Which is the first surprise with London Distillery’s offering. A lack of that strong toffee/caramel molasses aroma on the nose. Instead I’m getting a very aromatic almost gin like nose. Juniper? Is that really what I am nosing?

    It is (and I’ve asked around and others have confirmed). Other than the aromatic nose of Juniper, I can’t really detect that much else. A slight rub of alcohol and a tiny kick of black pepper.

    The nose is quite neutral all be told. Yes, there is a slight “gin” like aroma but it’s mostly just a hit of booze. There is a slight vegetal sour note to it but its way down in the mix – it’s all a bit muted.

    Sipped, it’s not all that interesting either. Quite plain and pretty bland if I am being honest. It’s a very light style of white rum. As a sipper, I don’t really feel I am that far from drinking neat vodka to be honest.

    There is a slight note of strawberries and some spicy kick on the mid palate, which leads into a very limp almost apologetic finish. It pretty much just fades into a bit of boozy alcohol and then disappears.

    When you consider this is 100% Pot Still Rum and Bimber is a blend – I have no idea quite what they have done in the distillation to remove so much flavour. I was expecting a lot of this and I’m pretty disappointed.

    It’s not unpleasant but its very neutral. How does it go as a mixer? Does it redeem itself with some kind of flavour burst caused by the mixers?

    Does it hell. Mix it with lemonade, you might not even realise its not vodka. There is a slight burst of sugar cane in their somewhere, maybe. A slightly sour tangy note but its all very watered down.

    Overall a real disappoint and its way down the pecking order of British Rum I’m afraid. Hopefully, things will improve in the future this is after all their first attempt.

     

  • S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Denmark 2014

    Bythefatrumpirate

    S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Denmark 2014 rum review by the fat rum pirateS.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Denmark 2014. As 1423 are based in Denmark it is perhaps unsurprising to see a rum from Denmark being bottled by them.

    Whilst Denmark might not be the most obvious place to find rum being distilled, the rum scene in Denmark is booming. Bottlers such as Compagnie des Indes often release rums solely for the Danish market – often at Cask Strength. There are a number of notable rum enthusiasts hailing from Denmark – Ingvar Thomsen, Johnny Drejer and of course Mads Heitmann of Romhatten.com.

    I have experienced Danish rum in the past from Skotlander, so I have quite high hopes for this bottling from the micro distiller Enghaven. They have their own website here. The distillery is based in Mellerup, Randers. Their own “brand” rum has won a medal or three at the Berlin International Spirits Competition amongst others.

    The rum was distilled in 2014 and 239 bottles were produced in 2018 from a Single Cask. Bottled at Cask Strength of 50.6% ABV. It is a blend of Pot and Column distillates. The rum was matured solely in an ex-Port Cask. Aside from this rum you can find a number of Enghaven’s products (they distill whisky as well) for sale here.

    The rum is nicely presented in line with the other rums in the line up. You get a nice stubby bottle which has information about the actual rum – something a lot of producers could learn from. A cut out card sleeve helps store the rum and the cork stopper is to be expected, at this price point. In the UK you should expect to pay around £90 for a 70cl bottle. You can view all the rums in the 1423 range here.

    When poured, Denmark 2014 Enghaven Distillery is a vibrant orange/golden brown. The nose is quite familiar and it reminds me of the rums from Skotlander. The port cask influence is very apparent giving the rum a very rich and intense sweetness on the nose. Huge juicy raisins, cranberries and redcurrant jam come rush onto the nose. Slightly more acidic tannic notes of red wine also put in an appearance. There is a slight musty-ness on the nose as well which mixes in with some light baking spices and ginger.

    The nose also shows that this is a fairly young rum. It’s quite fiery – the nose does have a lot of alcohol fumes and some white pepper heat wafts up the nose once the initial sweetness has subsided.

    Sipping the rum it is very fiery. Hot chilli and black pepper hit you on the initial sip. There is a touch of curry powder in there as well. Further sips reveal some of the port cask influence and you get some more fruity notes – more blackcurrant than anything else and some pomegranate – with a slight bitterness – cranberries perhaps.

    50.6% ABV isn’t particularly strong but this rum feels a lot “hotter” than that. This is a full blooded bruiser of a rum. Real fire water in many respects.

    A couple more sips and you start to notice some treacly molasses notes but its still very, very spicy. I’m a fan of spicy food so I quite like this rum – it’s very different.

    The finish is best described as long and intense. I’m reminded of a very hot pepper sauce and vindaloo curry!

    With all these heat you might find a drop or two of water helps bring out some of the subtleties of this rum. It does indeed, it tunes this down from Vindaloo to Madras and you get an added layer of complex – yet still spicy flavours with a drop or three of water. Cardamon, turmeric and a lot of fresh ginger.S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Denmark 2014 rum review by the fat rum pirate

    This is a very different rum and its a pretty strange one. As spicy as some of the Mexican Charanda I have tried (Los Valientes for example). Though this has more of an actual rum feel to it – you still get the  molasses and sugar cane.

    A real “marmite” of a rum I feel. I can’t help feeling, some of the 239 people who buy this rum, probably won’t enjoy it all that much.

    Luckily, I did and its a really different rum experience. Not an everyday sipper but it’s very interesting and quite challenging.

    Man it doesn’t half numb your tongue! It’s drinks like a 151 in many ways. I like it though, it really works for me.

    Booooommmmm.  A very good start to the 2019 S.B.S range

  • Plantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversary

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Plantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversay Rum Review by the fat rum piratePlantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversary. Aside from Stiggins’ Fancy, this is perhaps Plantation’s most well-known bottling.

    It is held in great regard amongst some rum lovers and treat with complete scorn by other perhaps more serious rum “enthusiasts”.

    Which is probably the “camp” I will fall into. Prior to this review, I had only tried this rum “out and about” at Rum Festivals and at a Plantation tasting event.

    I have a few issues with this rum. Firstly it is quite often listed as being 20 years old. Now admittedly Plantation do not say this but it doesn’t stop online stores advertising it as 20 years old. Or people saying it is 20 years old. The 20 is there though on the front label, yes it’s smaller perhaps than years gone by but it’s still there. It’s deceiving and I think it is quite deliberate. I do not think Alexandre Gabriel is a fool so I’m pretty sure he knows how a 20 on the front of a bottle works.

    The other issue is the sweetness of this rum. A hydrometer tests sees the ABV bob between 33 and 34 – which leaves us with “additives” of around 24g/L. This is a little higher than what Plantation usually acknowledge as their “dosage”. It is also interesting that whilst Plantation have added dosage levels on the listing of some of their rums on their website. This one does not have the dosage disclosed. I guess they will get around to sorting that out soon…….

    So those are my two “gripes” with this rum if you like. Presentation wise – its very nice with a lovely chunky cork stopper and a sturdy box to store your rum in. I like the decanter style bottle. It’s all very nice, sleek and modern and screams “Premium”. In the UK a 70cl bottle will set you back around £50. The rum in the bottle is a blend of pot and column distilled rum believed to be from West Indies Rum Distillery. The rums in the blend are aged between 8 and 15 years. Not 20.

    In the glass we have a vibrant dark brown liquid with a red and orange glow. Nosing this rum I am immediately struck by huge wafts of toasted coconut and coconut ice (here is an explanation of that). If I had been given this in a blind tasting I would assume, automatically it was a coconut flavoured rum.Plantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversay Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    And to be honest quite a “confected” one at that. It’s very sweet. The nose becoming almost saccharin like – just a slight bitter artificial note creeping in. Despite this I can still get some notes of oak and spice from the rum. Hints of vanilla and some traces of bourbon flit in and out.

    But it’s all a little bit one-dimensional. It’s not unpleasant but it is not really what I would expect of an aged Barbados rum. Sipped the rum is very easy to drink. It goes down easily with a fairly minimal burn. It tastes pretty much like a coconut liqueur, it just has a thinner mouthfeel.

    Further sips reveal an overly sweet saccharin note which make the rum taste artificial. It’s a one trick pony. The long and luxurious finish I am promised by Plantation is limp and insipid. I get a slight burn and a little warm spice but it quickly fades leaving only a sickly sweet, slightly artificial flavour in my mouth.

    The actual rum taste is obscured but the spirit doesn’t taste particularly old or well aged. Aside from coconut I get notes of sweet young alcohol rather than a sophisticated blend of aged rums. Plantation’s Barbados Wild Cherry Finish rum shows that they can make excellent Barbados rum.

    This just shows that they will also sell what sells. As a business, this makes perfect sense. This is really a pretty bland product with a sweet hit to keep the masses happy.

    If Plantation want to be taken seriously – as they indeed should be, as when they aren’t overly dosing their rums they can make some great stuff. They need to ditch mass market crap like this. In fact if I was Alexandre I would release my non dosed more “serious” rum under another banner. One which isn’t tainted the way Plantation is to so many enthusiasts.

    Plantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversay Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAm I being unfair? No, unfortunately for Plantation the more “serious” rum enthusiast – those that want unadulterated spirits are largely unenthused by Plantation’s efforts. Even when they release undosed product.

    This is not my own personal opinion as I have spoken with a great number of people about Plantation. A lot of people completely boycott their products do to having sweetened rum from then in the past.

    I don’t like this rum at all. I think it is by some distance Plantation’s worst product. It’s seen as a gateway rum. One to get you moving from spiced rum and over to more serious stuff. Trouble is the amount of units this shifts suggests to me it’s not really a gateway. People get stuck on rum like this and to a lesser extent Bumbu and think this is great Barbados rum.

    Which is a huge shame as this is definitely not.

     

  • Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL. Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL Rum Review by the fat rum pirate Jamaica Pure Single Rum from the Worthy Park Estate. Although Velier are an Independent bottler and importer many of the Habitation Velier releases are collaborations between Velier and the producers.

    Rather, than the more traditional Independent bottling model, whereby the bottler either buys direct from the distillery or sources from a broker, Habitation Velier release the rums in conjunction with the distillery, as a joint venture.

    Which is one of the reasons why Habitation Velier are now using the Worthy Park name, rather than using the still names or the WP abbreviation. Luca Gargano is very keen to push his “Gargano Classification” and over the past few years he has began working more closely with other distilleries sharing the same vision. Other Independent bottlers have been asked not to use the Worthy Park name on their bottlings. This is because Worthy Park are trying to promote their own releases such as the Special Reserve. The Caribbean producers are increasingly looking to release their own premium efforts, rather than sell bulk rum to brokers.

    Worthy Park have been gaining a reputation for producing classic yet very distinctive Jamaican rums over the past few years. I am pleased to say that this website has been championing the rum from Worthy Park long before most people were aware of the wonderful rums coming from the Lludias Vale.

    This 10 year old rum is a result of the third distillation since the distillery was re-opened in 2005. It is an 100% Pot Distilled Rum aged in ex-bourbon casks. Distillation took place in 2007 and it was bottled in late 2017. The WPL marque stands for Worthy Park Light, as it is a relatively low ester rum.

    Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL has been bottled at 59% ABV – Cask Strength. The rum was distilled on the Forsyths Double Retort Pot Still. I paid around £110 for the flask like 70cl bottle. It has an Angel’s Share of 64% I do wish those Angel’s would leave more rum for us mortals so it wouldn’t be so expensive!

    The rum comes in the now traditional Habitation Velier flat flask like bottle. You get a nice card sleeve to house the rum and more than enough information on the actual rum in the bottle. No fairy tales just facts. Worthy Park seem to have been given an Orange and Gold colour scheme for their releases.

    As with a lot of Authentic Rum Producers that do not involve additives and bullshit age statements you will struggle to find a “bad” Worthy Park rum. The worst I have encountered is one that fell into the hands of Bacardi and was dosed. Which took away a lot of the character.Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    I was actually looking for the 2006 release when I discovered this had been released. So I opted for the newer kid on the block. Lets see if that was a good choice.

    In the glass Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL is a rich dark/golden brown with orange edges.

    The nose is easily recognisable as Worthy Park. Lots of Banana, Pineapple and hints of Coconut. The breakfast tea notes are dialled back a bit with this one but they can still be found.

    Further nosing reveals a lovely balance of toffee, milk chocolate and caramel. Notes of Almond and Cashew nut mingle alongside a very rich caramel heavy hit of sweet alcohol and a burst of spicy barrel notes – cinnamon, ginger and as you delve deeper you discover a bit more of the breakfast tea notes.

    It’s rich, warm inviting and very rummy.

    Sipped at the full ABV it is full of flavour – very spicy with lots of lemon and orange zest. There is a really nice weight of oak and bourbon sour/mash spices. Married alongside chocolate covered bananas and Banoffee Pie on the entry.

    On the mid palate you get more of the breakfast tea, coconut and some slightly bitter cocoa. It’s a very complex sipper with a lot going on.

    Finish wise it is long, spicy and very warming. This is a very intense and very rich tasting rum. It has a really nice long oaky finish to it with notes of coconut, ginger, allspice and a hint of cinnamon. As it fades you get a nice hit of pineapple, cocoa and some dark chocolate makes an appearance.

    All through the rum from nose to finish you get some funky, fruity Jamaican rum but the Worthy Park style also exhibits richer notes of chocolate, cocoa and breakfast tea. Which makes it a different take on Jamaican rum from the likes of Long Pond and Hampden.

    Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL is a richer, more chocolately take on Worthy Park. It is not quite as fruity or funky/grassy as some of the releases but it’s unmistakably a Worthy Park rum.Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2007 WPL Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    As with the Foursquare releases of late we are dealing in very small margins in terms of quality. Miniscule or almost non-existent. We are now getting into the nitty-gritty of small nuances in the rum, which you may enjoy more than other releases.

    There is something in this rum that appeals to me, ever so slightly more than the other Worthy Park releases I have tried. All of which were excellent I must say.

    This however is my favourite Worthy Park to date and it is one of the best rums I have tried this year. Scratch that one of the best rums I have ever tried.

    You need to buy this. Treat yourself.