Berrys’ St Lucia Rum Aged 14 Years

Bythefatrumpirate

Berrys Bros and Rudd St Lucia Rum Aged 14 Years Rum review by the fat rum pirateBerrys’ or Berrys’ Bros and Rudd are an Independent bottler. We have featured their offerings on this site on a few occasions already.  This is the second Berrys’ St Lucia rum to be reviewed.

They bottle a wide variety of rums from familiar rum producing islands and nations.  Ocassionally they dip their toe in less well established islands, such as Fiji.  Here we have a rum from an island which is growing its reputation and becoming well respected in the rum world.

For review today we have another offering from St Lucia Distillers.  From what I can gather this rum was distilled back in 2000 and bottled in 2014.  Unfortunately I do not have any further information on this rum.  I cannot find anything indicating its make up ie Pot,Column still etc.  I will take a guess though and state that is likely a blend of Pot and Column distilled rum.

This is hard to find at the moment and the price for it fluctuates quite a lot online!  I have seen it as cheap as £51 and as expensive as over £100.  It is bottled at 46% ABV.  Again I am unsure how many bottles were produced. I do know however not many seem to be still in existence!

If you are looking for an alternative review then you might want to check out Serge at Whiskyfun’s brief assessment.  All part of this search for malternatives.

So as I haven’t got any more information we may as well get stuck into the actual review of this rum.

First up in the glass this Berrys’ St Lucia is a very light straw colour. It appears no “older” than the previous Berrys’ 11 Year St Lucia I reviewed earlier.  Side by side they are near identical.

The nose suggests this is a blend of column and pot distilled rum.  It is not as fierce as some of the pot only rums I have had from St Lucia.  Having said that it is still quite “fiery”.  There is an almost Caroni like petrol note. This mixes with a touch of brine and that medicinal/minty note that is so distinctive to St Lucian rum.  Despite what some may see as “off notes” from the descriptors, the nose is actually nicely balanced with a mellowing hit of vanilla and light spices. A healthy burst of oak rounding the nose off and tempering it.

Sipped and compared to its 11 Year Old younger brother it is noticeably more oaked and lighter in terms of flavour.  There is less of the brine and saltiness and the sharp medicinal tones with this one.  Much more vanilla, clove and a longer zingier finish.  It’s lighter on the entry and in the palate but the finish is longer and quite spicy with a lot of oak.

I prefer the 14 year old ever so slightly.  Having said that there may be occasions when I might prefer the extra sharpness and saltiness of the 11 Year Old.

The good thing is that you can tell a difference between the two rums and you can see the progression extra time in the cask has created.  This is slightly easier going than the 11 Year Old.

This is a very nicely balanced yet pretty funky/medicinal St Lucian rum.  Unlike the 1931 series from St Lucia Distillers it for me seems less “complicated” rather than less complex.  I enjoy the 1931’s a lot but I’ve yet to have one that I feel is perfectly balanced.  This rum isn’t perfect – I would like a little more of Bourbon “zing” you get with the 1931’s. It is another great example of how truly world class St Lucian rums are.  I’ve yet to have bad one (other than Chairman’s Reserve Spiced).

The secret about St Lucian rums is now well and truly out of the bottle.  If you do find this rum then I would seriously consider giving it a try.  If you like the St Lucian rums you will not be disappointed.

 

 

 

Similar Posts

  • DropWorks Distillers Drop #001

    Bythefatrumpirate

    DropWorks Distillers Drop #001 rum review by the fat rum pirateDropWorks Distillers Drop #001. DropWorks are one of those new‑wave British rum distilleries determined to prove the UK can do more than just drink rum badly.

    Distillers Drop #001 is their first proper “let’s have a play and see what happens” release. Instead of oak, they’ve gone with English Sweet Chestnut which, if you’ve never had rum from Chestnut before should give things a softer, sweeter and nuttier edge. It’s not common in rum.

    The rum sits at 52.3% ABV and has spent 17 months in Chestnut casks. The outturn which I am told sold out within 48 hours was 450 bottles. It was priced and available from the DropWorks website at £64.95. It is a molasses based rum, distilled on Copper Pot Stills fermented initially using a house yeast.

    The bottle is clean and modern, no palm trees, no pirates, no “crafted with passion” paragraphs. Just the facts. Which is nice. There is a good amount of information on the bottle which an enthusiast will appreciate.

    I’ve reviewed a couple of DropWorks releases in the past, Their Clear DropWorks Distillers Drop #001 rum review by the fat rum pirateand Barrel Drop. Which I quite enjoyed so lets see how this one “Drops”…….

    In the glass it’s a medium gold to dark brown.

    The nose hits you straight away not violently, but with enough enthusiasm to let you know it’s awake. Toasted chestnut from the cask, some praline, butter, a touch of honeycomb. The molasses note common in UK rums is there but its not quite as prominent and aggressive as you normally find. Its less pronounced.

    There’s even a tiny herbal flicker, like someone waved a sprig of thyme over the barrel and then wandered off.

    On the sip you get an initial hit of spicy ginger and some herbal oak notes. This dissipate to show more of the butter and toffee notes which were on the nose.

    Further sipping reveals some vanilla ice cream and some pecan nut. Peanut Brittle maybe. The mid palate allows the chestnut oak to come back with some hints of spice and cinnamon.

    The finish is long, warm, and gently drying. Nutty sweetness hangs around, a bit of spice, a bit of dried berrie, and that “I’ll just have another sip” moment you pretend you’re resisting but absolutely aren’t. It fades out slowly and nicely.

    DropWorks Distillers Drop #001 rum review by the fat rum pirateI didn’t really mix this much if I am being honest. I still had some of the Barrel Drop left for that. So I just sipped it and I did have a Rum and Cola with it but I felt it a bit of a waste.

    This perhaps isn’t a mainstream rum. Its more of an enthusiasts tipple. DropWorks despite the media frendly branding appearance aren’t looking to be the next DMF’s.

    It’s for people who enjoy seeing what happens when a distillery colours outside the lines. DropWorks have let the distillate speak, let the chestnut cask do its thing, and avoided turning it into a novelty bottle you try once and forget.

    It’s distinctive, well‑made, and genuinely interesting  is more than you can say for half the bottles on the shelf these days. Especially in the UK

  • Berry Bros & Rudd Hampden 17 Year Old TWB Exclusive Cask #27

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Berry Bros & Rudd Hampden 17 Year Old TWB Exclusive Cask #27 rum review by the fat rum pirateBerry Bros & Rudd Hampden 17 Year Old TWB Exclusive Cask #27. The Whisky Barrel (TWB) certainly seem to like their Hampden rums! This is the one of their latest and one of two rums available that were bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd.

    This particular bottling is a single cask (cask #27). It was distilled way back in 2000 and bottled in 2018. It is noted as being 17 Years Old. The rum is 100% Pot Still. As the rum is from 2000 then it is believed to be a Diamond H marque (I can’t use the arrow keys on WordPress documents as it goes a bit crazy). So the ester count on this one is fairly “low” 200-400 g/hlaa on the scale. it is bottled at 57.2% ABV. Which will either be Cask Strength or very close to it. When this went to retail only 194 bottles were available. I am unsure of the percentage of Continental (European) and Tropical ageing but I assume the vast majority of this rums life was spent in Europe.

    Presentation wise the rum comes in a tall thin Berrys Bros style bottle with their new typeface and presentation. It’s all very clean and straightforward but very classy. Information is kept soley to the rum. No fairy stories from Berrys. The rum retails at £84.95 which is more than reasonable for a 17 year old rum.

    In the glass it is a straw colour. The nose is typical Hampden funk and Pineapple Juice. After 17 years of ageing though it has lost some of its youthful exhuberance.

    The nose shows a nice integration of woody spice which permeates through the full on Pineapple and burnt Banana funk. This adds an extra dimension. The rum is  acidic with notes of sharp green apple peel and lime zest.

    Sipping this rum you being to appreciate the 17 years continental ageing. The wood has mingled nicely with the funkier notes of the distillate to give a very complex sipper. Alongside the familiar pineapple and banana filled funk you get a really nice note of orange marmalade and some pencil shavings. Nice woody integration – oaky notes and some spiciness –  ginger and allspice. Notes not unlike Worthy Park rums as well with a nice hit of milk chocolate and breakfast tea. Milky tea though unlike Worthy Park’s more stewed black variety.

    The mid palate really mellows down from the initial sip, giving a really nice overall balance to this rum. It’s been really well aged and really is a delightful treat. This is perhaps medium to low on the Hampden scale in terms of esthers, but it’s very tasty and very rewarding. The belief that more esters are automatically better is something that needs to be knocked on the head in the Rum Snob world. This shows what nonsense they are talking.

    The finish is long and very peppery.  Spicy and zesty lots of orange peel and banana mingling alongside some almost curry like hot spices. A touch of turmeric and cardamom.Berry Bros & Rudd Hampden 17 Year Old TWB Exclusive Cask #27 rum review by the fat rum pirate

    BBR seem to be able to take their rums and add just a tiny bit of something extra to make them stand out from the crowd. Other bottlers at 17 years old would have over oaked the rum, not so BBR. This is a very vibrant fruity rum with a lot of complexity.

    Another really good Hampden at a really reasonable price. Despite me being a little slow off the mark with this review (I’ve had manflu on and off for a number of weeks now) it is still available though I suspect it will sell out soon.

    I’ll be reviewing cask #54 soon. Looking forward to that one as well. I have kept some of my sample back to compare the two head to head.

     

  • Samaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Samaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary rum review by the fat rum pirateSamaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary. It’s probably worth me noting at this point that this is a rum from the Foursquare Distillery.

    I dare say I probably don’t have to elaborate any further on the subject of Foursquare. If anyone reading this is wondering why, then please type Foursquare into the search function on the site…..All should become quite clear.

    For those unfamiliar with Samaroli they are an Independent bottler and importer primarily of Scotch Whisky. However as you can see from this review they also bottle rum. The company was founded by Silvano Samaroli, who sadly passed away in 2017. Further information is contained here in his obituary by ScotchWhisky.com. I could regurgitate some of the information contained in the piece but I think it’s a very nice piece and a great tribute to the man.

    I’ve not reviewed a great deal of Samaroli rum over the years. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a bottle. When I have reviewed, like I am today I have done it from a sample.

    I don’t have anything against Samaroli or any doubts about the quality of what they bottle. However, most of their offerings of aged Barbados, Guyana and Jamaican rums – which are primarily what I will purchase from Indie bottlers are not Cask Strength.

    Samaroli in the main tend to bottle their rums at around the 43-46% ABV mark. Again I don’t really have anything against this but they are also priced quite highly for this kind of ABV. With the amount of Cask Strength offerings both from IB (Independent Bottlers) and OB (Offficial Bottlings) that have come out of the likes of Foursquare, Demerara Distillers, Hampden, Worthy Park etc – I’ve just not got that excited about Samaroli. I like to feel I am getting a good bang for my buck. I’m a stingy Northerner after all.

    I digress, so we’ll get back to the rum I have in my glass. What we have is an 11 Year Old rum from Foursquare Distillery. It was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2011. It has been bottled at a slightly conservative 45% ABV. A Single Cask rum noted as being Cask Number 16. It has been selected by The Whisky Barrel as part of their 15 Year Anniversary celebrations. Only 330 hand numbered bottles have been produced.

    Samaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary rum review by the fat rum pirateAs touched upon earlier Samaroli bottles are really cheap – this retails at £120. It is available exclusively from The Whisky Barrel.

    There is nothing telling me split between Continental (European) and Tropical ageing with this. It was bottled in Scotland in 2021. I’m not sure when it left Barbados for Europe though.

    I make an assumption that this is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rum – as is very much the house style of Foursquare. If it were 100% Pot or Column distilled I am sure it would be noted somewhere. Liikewise I assume it has also been aged in ex-borubon casks as again nothing suggests otherwise……..

    Presentation wise we get the 3/4 almost stubby opaque bottle – which is popular amongst Italian bottlers. The label is quite nice but I would prefer a little more information on the liquid. The rear label isn’t hugely useful to be honest. You get a carboard cut out sleeve to house the rum as is often the way with IB’s.

    In the glass Samaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary is a classic Golden Brown and is very vibrant and shiny (I can’t think of a better way to describe this!).

    The nose is full, warm, light and inviting. It’s familiar (I’ve had a fair bit of Foursquare’s output). It’s not as rich and “deep” as some of the recent Cask Strength Foursquare Exceptional Cask series. This is more in keeping with the Doorly’s line up – especially the 5 Year and the XO.

    Vanilla, butterscotch, banana bread and some nice warming spicy oak give this is a very pleasant and approachable feel. Easy drinking……….

    Very easy drinkinSamaroli Barbados Rum Distilled in 2010 TWB Exclusive 15th Anniversary rum review by the fat rum pirateg…..Taking a sip it’s got a really lovely blend of oak, vanilla, cashew nuts and some heavily buttered white toast. If I was some kind of raging alcoholic, I might refer to this as a Breakfast rum…….

    It’s easy going, yet so very well blended and put together it just literally slides down. There isn’t much burn. I’d place it as kind of Foursquare equivalent of Mount Gay’s 1703.

    Just a lot better…….

    The mid palate becomes slightly gentler with more vanilla, icing sugar and some almonds/cashew nuts. The finish fades out nicely, it’s a decent length and has a nice sharpness to it. Quite Bourbon like with lashings of vanilla and some fresh tasting oak.

    With the current trend towards Foursquare and the fact this has been bottled by a famous Whisky bottler, I doubt it will be around long.

    I reckon The Whisky Barrel are on to a winner here………….

     

     

     

     

  • Old Amazon No1. Tonka Bean Infused Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Old Amazon No1. Tonka Bean Infused Rum Review by the fat rum pirateOld Amazon No1. is the brainchild of Olly Simpson who is behind along with two of his friends Rum Fellows Ltd.  In 2014, Olly tested his rum infusions on unsuspecting friends at a BBQ.  Inspired by their positive reaction he set about Rum Fellows first creation…..

    I’m always interested (often sceptical) in new rums and this Rum Infusion sparked my interest immediately.  Being a British rum did nothing to sway my enthusiasm.

    Old Amazon No1. is 100% Pot Stilled Rum.  It is distilled by the the English Spirit Company.  The base rum in this infusion is actually a rum I have already reviewed.  Old Salt Rum.  Despite harking back to an almost bygone era I actually quite enjoyed the pungent intensity of Old Salt Rum.  However it was without doubt one of the more challenging rums I have tried.  It’s certainly not a rum I would give to my more sensitive friends.  That aside I am assured having spoke to the company their Old Salt Rum is now aged for 3 years so it may be more approachable to sensitive types, than it was when I originally sampled it.

    So with the base of this rum identified what else do we need to know about this rum? Well I can probably guess what you are thinking.  What the hell is a Tonka Bean?  In truth I had no idea prior to tasting this rum.  For the purposes of this review I have took the time to Google and find out exactly what a Tonka Bean is.

    The Tonka Bean is a flat wrinkly legume (a dry fruit that grows from a pod) which grows on the Cumaru/Kumaru tree in South America.  Quite how Olly came across these is anyones guess.  It is worth noting that Tonka Beans are used frequently in perfume and have such an intense flavour they can be used as a vanilla substitute.  Tonka Beans have actually been banned in some countries (most notably the US) so I hope this rum isn’t going to kill me…….In large doses apparently the Coumarin in the seeds can be lethal.

    As this rum has a HMRC duty sticker on it I am safe (I hope) to assume that the rum is perfectly safe and has been fully tested prior to being brought to market.Old Amazon No1 Tonka Bean Infused Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Old Amazon No1 is now available via Master of Malt.  I was actually Olly’s first online customer.  I paid £35 for a 70cl bottle.  This Spiced/Infused rum comes in at 42% ABV.  I like the heavy squat stubby bottle that is used.  The red wax seal is very thick and is actually a bit of a pain as there is not thread to help break it away from the bottle.  This is something that needs addressing.  Once opened, Old Amazon has a very nice cork stopper which gives a very satisfying pop.  The label currently has a bit of a home made feel to it but I’m sure this is something Olly will also address in time.  It is very early days for his little enterprise.

    The nose of Old Amazon is unlike most conventional Spiced Rums.  Technically this rum is infused with Tonka Beans.  As I’m not a distiller I’m not sure how much of a difference there might be between a Spiced and an Infused rum?  I’m guessing Olly gets the rum as is, from English Spirit Company and then adds the Tonka Bean flavouring/infusion.  The nose is strong and pungent.  Stewed apples and pears, slightly soft brown bananas. The young rum from the Pot Still is still very much evident but there is a softer note to the rum.  The Tonka Bean extract mellows the Old Salt Rum base.  Bringing with it gentle light spices.  Vanilla, a little nutmeg, some Demerara sugar notes.  There is a rich sweet note in the nose.  It’s inviting but also has a little menace about it.  It’s still a very strong complex, challenging young rum.

    Old Amazon No1. Tonka Bean Infused Rum Review by the fat rum pirateThe nose did not surprise me from my experiences with Old Salt.  For those unfamiliar we are in Smith & Cross like territory.  Heavy funky Jamaican style Pot Still Rum.  Rum for Pirates and Plunderers.  What does surprise me is how much the Tonka Bean infusion has added both sweetness and smoothness to what was quite a bitter tasting spirit previously.

    In many ways Old Salt was quite inaccessible to many and a little harsh.  A touch to rough perhaps.  Certainly it would not be a rum to appeal to a Pyrat or Zacapa drinker.  The Tonka Bean Infusion has tamed the beast.  Don’t get me wrong this is still a very strong vibrant Pot Still spirit but the infusion has smoothed a few of the rums rough edges.

    Unlike the Old Salt Rum you could easily sip this straight from the bottle and enjoy it.  I had previously drank Old Salt rum cut with a tiny bit of Ginger Liqueur.  The infusion in the Old Amazon No1. works in a similar way.  The sweetness and lightness of the Tonka Bean infusion really lifts the drink and makes it very enjoyable.

    Mixed Old Amazon No1. can be a difficult rum to judge.  It doesn’t make a fantastic rum and cola.  I much prefer it straight.  In cocktails, it will probably work best with fruit juices otherwise the pot still elements may clash and overpower more delicate soda based cocktails.

    Much like the recently released Dark Matter this is taking the Spiced Rum market in another direction.  Despite the Tonka Bean being a Vanilla substitute this rum really doesn’t go down the intense vanilla flavour of say Morgan’s Spiced Gold or Old J.  The Tonka Bean infusion enhances rather than dominates the rum.  Like Dark Matter this feels authentic and natural not synthetic and cloying.

    It will certainly be interesting to see what Olly comes up with next.

    4 stars

     

     

     

  • The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced

    Bythefatrumpirate

    The Original Islay Rum Peat SpicedThe Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced. The Scottish isle of Islay is best known for Scotch Whisky. The Islay Rum Company are the first distillery on the isle to distil rum.

    The company is led by Head Distiller, Distillery Manager and Freddie Mercury look a like Ben Inglis. Ben is a long term rum fan and it has long been his passion to build a rum distillery on Islay.

    At the distillery Ben is supported by Jonathan Cairns who despite originally hailing from Canada has worked at famouse whisky distilleries such as Bowmore and Laphroiag.

    Outside of the distillery The Islay Rum Company is overseen by Director Andrew Crook who runs the parent company The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. He in turn is supported by Caroline James. Caroline who works tirelessly managing the Islay Rum Company dream.

    Those of you with an interest or knowledge of Scotch Whisky, will be aware that Islay is famous for its Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky. In rum terms Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky is probably the rum equivalent of heavy Caroni rum. Even perhaps the more extreme Jamaican rum marques.

    It’s kind of a marmite type of whisky and is much less forgiving than say a Speyside Single Malt such as Glenfiddich or Glenmorangie. I’m not a huge fan of heavily Peated Whisky. In fairness my whisky leanings are very much on the softer side of things. American Corn and Rye Whiskey and Bourbon.

    That said I’ve always said a reviewer has to balance their own personal tastes with the quality of what a rum/whisky etc is aiming for. Just because I don’t like something does not make it inferior quality.

    The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced is created with orange, ginger cocoa nibs and some undisclosed “special” ingredients. The base rum is not noted on the site but I assume that it will be their unaged white rum. Once distilled and spiced it is then smoked over peat to give it a peaty smoky flavour.

    You can purchase for £45 a 70cl bottle of the 40% ABV rum directly from the distillery here. It is also being stocked by The Whisky Exchange and other retailers.

    I’ve a few more offerings from The Islay Rum Company to review so I will save some further information for those reviews to stop things getting repetitive. If you wish to find out more about the distillery in the meantime then please check their website.

    The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced rum review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced is a dark/golden brown colour with a nice orange/reddish hue around the edges.

    The aroma is smoky and slightly peaty but its not hugely overpowering. Aroma’s of candied orange peel and cocoa are also present.

    I’m also getting a little toffee and caramel. Thankfully I’m not getting any cinnamon or any of that OTT vanilla sweetness that is all to common in spiced rums.

    I’m not a huge fan of Spiced Rum and I have reduced the number of spiced rums I review. Especially when they are all the distillery/brand offer. I have made an exception in reviewing this offering as I know that they are focused on things other than Spiced Rum and are genuinely trying to create something different.

    Sipped neat The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced is a little sweet with notes of cocoa powder and dark chocolate with a slight orange twist. This is balanced by the smoky peaty notes. These work surprisingly well alongside the sweetness. I can still taste the rum at the heart of this Spiced Rum. Some nice fresh grassy youthful notes still come through and at 40% ABV it gives a nice warming kick.

    As you move into the mid palate the sweetness fades and the peat and smoke take over. Mingling alongside the core rum base this is quite an interesting and unique experience.

    The finish is a medium length and is mostly smoke and peat but it is mellowed, presumably by the spices. I didn’t find this overpowering and I found it have a surprisingly good balance. Very much enjoyed this neat.

    I wouldn’t usually go in for this type of thing but (disclaimer) I do know Ben. I have known him for a few years now. So I thought it was about time I reviewed some of his range. I’m very pleased I took the time to try this Spiced Rum out.

    The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced rum review by the fat rum pirateThe Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced is a very different Spiced Rum to the hundreds you see on bar backs up and down the country.  A more grown up kind of affair. I would imagine that a cocktail bartender or home enthusiast will be able to create all manner of drinks using this. Me?

    Well, I tried it with some cola and ice. I found myself enjoying a rather pleasant rum and coke. It didn’t feel too “spiced” but had more than enough flavour and variety, to make a very pleasant and different drink.

    It might even point me in the direction of exploring a bit more Peated Whisky. This has restored my faith a little in “Spiced Rum”. Just hold the vanilla please.

     

     

  • Bristol Classic Rum Port Morant 1999 (bottled 2015)

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bristol Port Mortant 1999 rum review by the fat rum pirateUp for review is a Port Morant rum from the Diamond Distillery by Bristol Classic Rum.

    Bristol Classic Rum have over the years released a number of editions of Port Mo(u)rant rums.  All releases seemed to stem from a stock of rum dating from 1990 and 1999.

    To date I have reviewed a number of Bristol’s rums and those have included two Port Mo(u)rants from the 1990 stock.  To even things up I have also acquired some of the 1999 stock.

    This rum bottled in 2015 was very much a blink and you’ll miss it affair.  I have spoken with John Barrett of Bristol Classic Rum and he has confirmed that all the 1999 stock of this rum has now been released.

    Often Bristol’s releases of Port Mo(u)rant rum have had Port or Sherry cask finish.  This goes for a more straight forward approach.  It has spent its 15 plus years ageing in American Oak (bourbon barrels/casks).

    At the time of release a bottle of this rum would set you back a very reasonable £55-60 for 70cl of 46% ABV rum.  The presentation is classic Bristol and the colour scheme of red and black in keeping with their other Port Morant releases.  You get the usual cylinder to store the rum and a very nice real foil covered cork stopper.

    I have enjoyed the Port Morant 1990 from Bristol.  I have quite high expectations of this vintage as well.

    In the glass it is very interesting to see just how light the rum is.  It is straw coloured.  Similar to similarly aged Guyanese rum from Mezan.  Much lighter than the Port and Sherry finished Port Morants I have tried previously.

    1999 demerara bristolWhich to be fair was one of the reasons why I was so keen to try this rum.  It has no specific finish and will just rely on the extensive European ageing down in sunny Bristol.

    The nose is familiar.  Anise and an almost herbal note are immediate.  What is less apparent on the first few nosings is the more delicate notes.  The American Oak really has had a considerable affect on the rum.  Lighter vanilla and honey notes are also present.  Nice balanced smoky notes.  The nose is more balanced, slightly less intense than the 1990 port finished rums I have tried previously.

    Sipping – the rum even at 46% ABV is very spicy and quite heated.  The anise note comes to the fore – this is then followed by a lot of spicy oak notes. There is quite a lot of fruit on the palate.  Dry, acidic almost white wine like notes and a definite bitter kick going into the finish from the distinctive Port Morant still – bitter liquorice and aniseed.

    It is a full flavoured, quite hard hitting rum yet it has some of the rough edges rounded off slightly by the less dominant notes.  The honey and vanilla flavour subdue the spice of the oak going into the finish.  The finish is long and satisfying – nice aniseed and wood.

    I think this particular rum may have been slightly over cooked however.  Some of the oak notes make it a little too dry and take away some of the fruitiness.  That is just personal preference though.

    In short if you wish to try an authentic Port Morant and you prefer drier spirits this won’t disappoint.  It is also about the cheapest way you will experience such a rum – if you can track down a bottle.

    4 stars

     

     

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Berry’s St Lucia Rum Aged 14 Years | Rum Diaries Blog

  2. I did manage to pick up a bottle of this floating around an online whisky site. I love the rotting fruit vegetall character mixed with ripe stone fruit and liquorice. Berry Bros do good stuff but they would be so much better at higher ABV. At 50% this would be a belter. I just got the BB 16 Saint Lucia but yet to taste.

  3. Finally got around to try this with, unfortunately it was only a dram. However recognised what you described and enjoyed it quite a bit (am quite fond of St Lucia rums). 🙂

Comments are closed.