Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2021

Bythefatrumpirate

Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve Rum 2021 rum review by the fat rum pirateBlack Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2021. As we close in on 2021, I felt it was right I put some time in and reviewed this rum. Not just because it will soon be 2022 and it will be “out of date”.

I’m actually making sure this is reviewed this year, so it has the chance to “compete” for the most prestigious Award in the Rum World………. That is of the course thefatrumpirate.com Rum of the Year!

Okay maybe it isn’t all that prestigious but nevertheless I think it would be a huge oversight not to at least give it a chance of being in the running. After all it’s predecessor Black Tot 50th Anniversary Rum picked up the crown last year.

So what has changed since last years bottling? Well presentation wise – not all that much. The overall bottle and design is much the same with only really the title of the rum changing. However, the blend has been changed considerably. Once again a detailed breakdown of each component in the blend is provided on the rear of the bottle.

The price is also slightly higher than last years bottling coming in at £120 rather than £110. It is available at all good retailers and  Master of Malt currently have it in stock at £119.95 and free delivery. It is bottled at 54.5% ABV

Following the takeover of The Whisky Exchange – the company behind Black Tot Elixir Distillers are no longer connected/affiliated as much with The Whisky Exchange. Though they still stock the full range and I would imagine will continue to do so.

Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2021 commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the last rum ration given to Australian sailors on British Royal Navy ships. As well as the usual suspects making up this blend. Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad, we also have 6.7% of the blend made up of Australian Pot Still rum from the Beenleigh Distillery.

If you want a further breakdown of the blend then visit the Black Tot website here. They have a done a great job giving details of everything in the bottle.

For a quick run through the rum uses 14% of the 50th Anniversary Blend as the base for this rum – we then have rum from all the nations above added into the blend. The blend has been re-casked in ex-sherry casks/butts. I’m unsure how long the blend was left in the casks/butts.

In the glass we have a medium/dark brown coloured spirit with flashes of gold. The nose is rich and warming. Slightly smoky with some slightly fuesel notes and a bit of engine oil.Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve Rum 2021 rum review by the fat rum pirate

With time in the glass the fruitier and spicier elements of the rum come more to the forefront. Some citrus – lime zest and orange peel mingle alongside spices such as Cinnamon. I don’t know if I’m influenced by the time of year but it smells a bit Christmas-y. Which is nice.

There is hit of Jamaica Pot Still rum and dark raisin from the Guyanese/Perpetual Blend element. It’s a rich deep complex nose and very inviting.

On the sip it is a touch smoky and slightly “musty” this is interspersed by big hits of lime zest/juice, orange peel, bananas in syrup and some honey. As we move into the mid palate we get a more oilier mouthfeel with a richer denser profile. Touch of petrol, lots of raisins dipped in dark chocolate.

The fruitiness on the mid palate evolves into a more Tropical note with Lychee’s and Guava coming in. I’m getting oranges and tangerines as well.

The complexity on the nose does come through on the sip. This is a rich very typical Navy Style Rum. That said it carries the kind of complexity only really found in the likes of its predecessor and Velier’s Royal Navy Rum. The standard Black Tot is a very good rum. This, however is a good few notches ahead of it in terms of overall complexity and body.

The finish does not disappoint either as most of the components found in the entry and mid palate merge together in a quite citrus heavy finish. There are some herbal notes as well and a re-assuring “mustyness” which tells me that we have some very old rum lurking in the blend.Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve Rum 2021 rum review by the fat rum pirate

The length on the finish is just right and the flavours linger for long after the liquid has evaporated. As mentioned already this is quite an intense rum so you will probably take time between each sip to savour the finish. I certainly have anyway.

As is often the way my previous years bottling is long gone. So I can’t do a head to head comparison. I do know that this is definitely in the same league as the 50th Anniversary and I really have no hesitation in giving a rum as good as this full marks.

Another great addition to the Black Tot cannon.

Great stuff.

 

 

 

 

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  • Dead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Dead Reckoning "The Bosun's Persuader" Barbados rum review by the fat rum pirateDead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados. Over the past few years Dead Reckoning have developed a bit of a reputation for bottling rums from Foursquare Distillery.

    I would also argue that they have perhaps gained a reputation for bottling the BEST Independently bottled Foursquare Distillery rum. Don’t believe me? Well let me explain……..

    Whilst the debate over Tropical and Continental ageing continues Dead Reckoning have quietly gone about getting the longest aged “bulk” Foursquare rum that is available on the market. So 8 Year Old Tropically Aged rum. Foursquare do not currently sell anything older in bulk.

    It is then shipped to Tropical Adelaide rather than Sub Zero Liverpool or the slightly warmer and certainly more picturesque city of Amsterdam.

    “Tropical Dry Ageing” as Justin Boseley the owner of Dead Reckoning terms it then occurs as the rum is matured again in another Tropical Climate. As we have seen from Foursquare’s own Exceptional Cask Series longer tropically aged Foursquare rum is a wonderful thing. Is Justin currently bottling the nearest thing to it on the planet?

    I would say definitely.

    So what have Dead Reckoning got for us to today? Well I would say this is a variant of the all ex-bourbon barrels ECS rums which began with the 2004 and have continued up to 2012 (I think)

    Dead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados is a 14 year old ex-bourbon barrel rum. It has been aged for 8 years in Barbados and a further 6 years in Australia. All in -ex-bourbon. As with nearly all Foursquare rum it is a Single Blended Rum. Pot and Coffey Column still rum.

    This is a single Cask Release I am drinking number 94 of just 200 bottles. The rum is bottled at a hefty 61% ABV.

    Dead Reckoning "The Bosun's Persuader" Barbados rum review by the fat rum pirateNo before anyone outside of Australia gets too excited – this rum has now completely sold out. It was pencilled in for a limited UK release but unfortunately due to demand in Australia this will no longer be happening………….

    I don’t often review rum which is “unobtainable” but I had already started my review and notes when Justin informed me it had sold out.

    For the curious amongst you a “Bosun” is a leader or supervisor of the Deck Team on a ship. The term is actually the phonetic spelling of Boatswain and is one of the oldest “ranks” still in use on board a ship.

    So with that explained lets see if this Bosun can be persuaded…………

    In the glass we have typical aged rum coloured spirit. A reddish/orange hue forms around the side. I do note that this appears quite a viscous rum. Thick and slightly oily.

    On the nose you get some lovely wafts of vanilla ice cream, Creme Brulee and some slightly sharper winter berries.

    Further nosing reveals traces of gingerbread, shortbread bisuit and some lighter summer fruits to go alongside the darker hints of raspberry.

    At 61% it is an intense but not overpowering nose. The alcohol you might expect at this ABV isn’t as prominent as you might expect.

    It’s a wonderful nose and really does remind me of those ECS releases mentioned earlier.

    Sipped it is very drinkable. Almost dangerously so. It starts with some intense dark fruity notes paired with soft vanilla. You then get a nice warming hit of ginger and white pepper. There is a very nice hit of soft oak and some icing sugar.

    As we move onto the second glass you’ll notice further development. On the mid palateDead Reckoning "The Bosun's Persuader" Barbados rum review by the fat rum pirate especially you will get richer oak and smoky notes alongside some lighter summer fruits. A touch of strawberry alongside the stoned fruits such as Plum and Blueberry.

    There is a lot going on with this rum and its surprising to my palate that this hasn;t been finished in something more exotic than an ex-bourbon barrel. Yes it is fairly “woody” and has a good hit of vanilla that sweet sour Bourbon tang but it also has a lot more going on.

    FInish wise it is long and very satisfying with a lovely balance of warming oak and spice alongside light vanilla and some fruity notes. It is quite a dry finish which sets you up nicely for the next pour……

    This is another excellent bottling from Dead Reckoning. No surprise it has sold out so quickly. With the sales being in Australia its unlikely many will show up on the Secondary Market in the US or Europe but you never know. Keep your eyes peeled you certainly won’t be disappointed.

     

  • Don Papa Baroko

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Don Papa Baroko Rum Review by the fat rum pirateDon Papa Baroko. Every now and again a bottle or sample arrives that I know is going to be good for a review but not necessarily good for me. I usually try to hide my  opinion on a rum but I can imagine a good many of you have clicked, expecting the worst. Or best depending on how you see such reviews.

    Let’s get the important bit out of the way early, before anyone gets too excited: Don Papa Baroko is not rum. Not under EU rules, not under UK rules (do we have any that are enforced?), not under any definition that requires rum to be well…. ermm….rum. What we have here is a Rum‑Based Spirit Drink, which is the polite legal term for “we added so much sugar, vanilla and flavouring extract that we disqualified ourselves and the uneducated masses won’t notice anyway so who cares?”

    Despite being labelled exactly as this, albeit it quite discreetly and with Don Papa still front and centre it is never made clear and obvious when it is on the shelf.  Even alleged “Specialist” retailers still put it on display as rum and categorise it as such on their Online Shop Fronts. So don’t just blame the Supermarkets for promoting ignorance.

    When we use the Hydrometer we get a reading of 32% ABV which suggest if the ABV is true and is 40% additives in the region of 29g/L. That also discounts more concentrated extracts such as vanillin and glycerol that the Hydrometer struggles to detect as they do not alter the density of the spirit significantly.

    This particular expression comes in the standard 3/4 rounded stubby bottle. It has a nice chunky stopper. Just so you know it is Premium Rum.A  70cl bottle coming in at at 40% ABV will set you back around £35.

    It is produced by the Bleeding Heart Rum Company. The base spirit is column‑distilled molasses from the island of Negros in the Philippines — or “Sugarlandia,” as Don Papa’s marketing insists on calling it, presumably with a straight face.

    The brand was founded by Stephen Carroll, formerly of Rémy Cointreau, who clearly realised that if you wrap a spirit in enough whimsical storytelling, sepia‑toned artwork, and vanilla, you can sell it by the container load. To be fair, he was absolutely right. Don Papa is a global success story just not one built on transparency or adherence to traditional rum production. Sometimes I feel its better to be wrong rather than right…….

    We’ve already touched on the presentation but we’ll expand a little on this. It is after all one of the major selling points for this concoction. Don Papa’s labels have always looked like the fever dream of a Victorian naturalist who’s had too much absinthe. Baroko continues the tradition: monkeys, moustaches, vines, scrolls, and enough decorative clutter to keep a tattoo artist busy for a week.

    It’s undeniably striking. It’s also undeniably over the top. But then again, so is the liquid unfortunately.

    Lets get this nonsense over with……….

    In the glass the colour is a deep, theatrical faux amber the sort of shade that suggests caramel colouring has been applied with enthusiasm rather than restraint. Swirl it and the legs cling to the glass like they’re trying to escape. I suspect they may well be right in doing so.

    The nose is a wall of vanilla, orange peel, and confectionery sweetness. Think pick‑and‑mix aisle meets scented candle shop. If anyone is familiar in the UK with the brand/shop LUSH! I would imagine if you covered yourself in super glue and got dragged through their store room by your coat tails you would end up smellingDon Papa Baroko Rum Review by the fat rum pirate similar………

    On the nose Sweet. Very sweet. Heavy on the sugar and vanilla. Sweet enough that you start mentally calculating whether this should be taxed as a spirit or as custard. I’d love to say there is anything else but sadly there isn’t.

    As a Sipping Rum? Vanilla dominates from the first sip. Then more vanilla. Then a bit of citrus. Then more vanilla, just in case you’d forgotten what you were drinking.  Ohhh hang on…….there’s some more artificial Vanilla Essence just in case you missed it the previous 87 times.

    There’s a spirit base in there somewhere, but it’s been buried under enough sugar to keep a Primary school class vibrating until the end of term and possibly half way through the six weeks holidays. Ther is also a hint of cinnamon which is something I’m not overly keen on just to add insult to injury.

    Further sips reveal a little more flavour than just vanilla. Artificial Pineapple and Cola Cube boiled sweets. There is no oak or spice or anything remotely rum like.

    I tried mixing this with cola and it reminded me of American Cream Soda and Dr Pepper combined. Both of which I despise………

    It’s smooth, yes — but so is baby vomit and no one is owning up to drinking that.

    If Don Papa Baroko were a rock band, it would be Nickelback.

    Not because it’s the worst thing ever created, though its not far off but because it’s glossy, mass‑marketed, aggressively polished, and engineered for maximum appeal to people who don’t actually want to be challenged.

    It’s the musical equivalent of a focus group saying, “Make it catchy, make it sweet, and make sure nobody has to think too hard.”

    Nickelback sell millions. Don Papa sells millions. Neither is doing it by being subtle. Or by being any good.If Nickelback is Baroko’s spiritual twin, then The Fall and Guided by Voices are its absolute antithesis.

    Where The Fall were abrasive, unpredictable, and gloriously unpolished, Baroko is polished to within an inch of its life. Where GBV recorded albums on four‑track machines in basements with beer cans for acoustic treatment, Baroko tastes like it was engineered in a climate‑controlled marketing lab by people wearing matching branded polo shirts called Tarquin or Forbes (the people not the Polo’s) and have a double-barrelled surname.

    The Fall and GBV are chaotic, prolific, messy, brilliant, and defiantly real. Baroko is none of those things. It is the corporate‑approved, sugar‑coated, stadium‑friendly anti‑Fall. Mark E Smith would not approve.

    The finish is short, Sweet and full of vanilla. It leaves artificial and concocted after taste. Its pretty much a dessert wine that’s been told to behave itself.Don Papa Baroko Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Don Papa Baroko is not a drink for purists. It’s not a drink for people who argue about ester counts on Facebook. It’s not a drink for anyone who thinks “agricole” is a personality trait.

    Do you like sweet, easy‑drinking, dessert‑adjacent spirits? After something to pour over ice cream?

    Do you want a bottle that looks like it should come with a free monocle and a voucher for artisanal moustache wax and a beard trim?

    Then Baroko will absolutely do the job.

    Just don’t pretend it’s rum.

  • Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx rum review by the fat rum pirateRon Barceló Imperial Onyx.

    One of my first “Premium” rums was a bottle of Ron Barceló Imperial that I picked up for around £12 in Gibraltar circa 2012.

    At the time I was fairly pleased with it but as my experience grew I found myself less enamoured by the rum. I reviewed it back in 2017 by which time my perception had changed quite dramatically.

    In the UK you will occasionally see Ron Barceló rums but it is not a brand which has been taken up by any of the big pub or restaurant chains to the best of my knowledge. It’s presence in the UK is fairly low key.

    However, for anyone who travels outside of the UK and into Europe it is often present at the AIrport Duty Free. This bottling I am reviewing today I have seen numerous times when visiting Spain especially. The brand is pretty popular over there.

    In the UK a bottle will set you back around £45 but if you are a regular traveller you are best picking it up at the Duty Free. I picked my bottle up from Amazon for £30 in a sale. Curiosity as much as anything and to maybe mix up the reviews a little.

    Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx comes in a very wide flask style bottle with a short stubby neck. The cork stopper has a large ornate plastic topper. You also get a cut out card sleeve to house the rum.

    Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx comes in a 70cl bottle coming in at a slightly disappointing 38% ABV. So only just above the legal limit. Quite common for Dominican rum though.

    There is no information regarding the rum on the bottle or the cardboard sleeve. So its off to their website for some information. First thing that hits me is that the site claims Ron Barceló is the most exported Dark Rum in the world. Which seems a slightly odd (and difficult really to judge) claim to make. Dark Rum? Hmmmm

    Anyway, I have found the following information regarding this rum

    “The result of the finest selection of rums aged up to ten years in oak barriques with a high toast degree, subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones to obtain a rum with intense, deep notes and a unique character.

    Notes on tasting

    Mahogany colour with amber shades.
    With a robust, structured body and of great character. Toasted fragrances, with a subtle hint of cherry, coffee and nuts. Intense sensations of wood and vanilla with a persistent aftertaste. An aged and complex rum that delights all the senses.

    Ideal for

    To be enjoyed used for the preparation of classic and contemporary cocktails. 750 ml and 700 ml presentations.”

    So not a great deal of information. Ron Barceló say that their rums are made from the finest Sugar Cane Juice. Which like their Haitian neighbours might suggest something akin to Agricole Rhum.

    What  Ron Barceló doRon Barceló Imperial Onyx rum review by the fat rum piraten’t tell us on the website is the method of distillation. Industrial Multi Columns. So not the traditional Coffey Column Still’s used in Agricole.

    So with my information exhausted I think I will pop that chunky cork and see what this is like.

    In the glass the rum is indeed pretty dark – almost a mahogany colour. Coloured a little? Most likely – nearly all continuously produced rums are coloured to some degree for consistency, if nothing else.

    The rum gives off a nice aroma – dark chocolate, a touch of cocoa, some plums and other dark fruits. There is a sweetness and a lighter touch as the rum settles in the glass.

    Further nosing I’m getting some leather and cigar smokiness.

    Despite the dark colour of the rum and the desire to be rich and decadent it isn’t as “deep” as I think they want us to believe. It’s still got a sweet light Spanish style aroma.

    I’ve checked the Hydrometer and it bobbed at 38% ABV but I wouldn’t be surprised if their is a touch of Glycerol/Glycerin.

    Taking a sip it is less interesting than the nose suggested. Much of the coffee and leather aromas are over taken by a sweeter note. It tastes more like something that has been made to feel old rather than actually long aged. I dare say there is a fair bit of a stretch going on with the “up to 10 years” claims.

    It’s sweet but not overly so but it gives a fairly standard Spanish style rum flavour which you can find for a lot less money. Even they note this is for cocktails.

    There really isn’t a great deal going on with this. It’s entry is fairly nice with a little bit of spice but the 38% ABV isn’t doing it any favours.

    I usually comment on the mid palate and the finish. Unfortunately the main downfall for this is how short the overall experience is. It disappears very quickly and d

    Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx rum review by the fat rum pirateoesn’t leave much behind once swallowed. A very slight burn which quickly fades – sweet and inoffensive.

    I’ve mixed it a Rum and Coke and its okay. At the price point it should be. That said I’d be happier with their own Anejo or Gran Anejo if that is all I was going to do with it.

    They offer up Premium Cocktails to try on the website but in all honesty this rum doesn’t have enough about it to really enhance anything. So I’ll give that a miss.

    I’m not disappointed or surprised by this rum. It’s not unpleasant but just doesn’t justify its price point in anyway shape or form. Which sadly means I’m going to give this very average rum a slightly below average score.

    Another one for the Pretty Bottle Brigade. Not for me though.

  • Foursquare Mandamus

    Bythefatrumpirate

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

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

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

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

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

    Foursquare Mandamus Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSo lets get on with the good bit…….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Dictador Distillery Icon Reserve Aged 20 Years Solera System Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Dictador Distillery Icon Reserve Aged 20 Years Solera System Rum review by the fat rum pirateDictador Distillery Icon Reserve Aged 20 Years Solera System Rum.  Quite a mouthful but thats what they’ve put on the label.  Quite how Aged 20 Years and “Solera System Rum” works is anyones guess, however.

    Dictador are a rum brand from Colombia. They also have lines of coffee, cigars and gin.  I’ve not been around the rum scene for that long but Dictador 12 was one of the first “premium” rums I bought.  I reviewed it in the early days of this blog. As was one of the aims of this blog I have learnt a great deal about rum since then.  I won’t revisit that review until I have completed this one.  I don’t recall being blown away by Dictador 12 though.

    Dictador rums are the kind of rums you will find in high end department stores that like to stock designer “gear”.  You’ll find them along side the likes of Zacapa XO, DIplomatico and Don Papa.  Presentation wise the Japanese made squat opaque bottles are very attractive and the black and blue colourway on this particular bottling is striking.  Presentation wise these are very much “designer” rums.  If there is indeed such a thing.

    A 70cl bottle of Dictador Aged 20 Years Solera System Rum will set you back around £50 it is bottled at a rather standard 40% ABV.  Dictador rums are pretty easy to pick up in the UK.  They have definitely tapped into the market.  Having said that I don’t really hear that much talk about them in rum circles.  Except when the Solera System gets brought up or we begin talking about the origin of rums…..

    Or when we start talking about “Virgin Sugar Cane Honey”.  The Dictador website is as slick as the bottles. Taking the information from the website you would believe this rum is a 20 year old aged in a Solera System.  Which doesn’t make a great deal of sense to me.  Dictador note that is a blend of rums distilled in Copper Alembic (Pot) and a Steel Continuous Column.  Which produces a “medium bodied” rum.  It seems to me Dictador are using the finest Grade A marketing tactics as used by Zacapa and Diplomatico with their descriptors.

    Dictador are a brand who claim to have been in existence since 1913. The following slideshow gives you more information on the brand.  The brand hails from Cartagena de Indias.  Dictador Distillery Icon Reserve Aged 20 Years Solera System Rum review by the fat rum pirateInteresting Dictador have a master blender rather than distiller Hernan Parra.

    When I originally tried the Dictador 12 I did think it had been adultered in some way.  I still hold this view.  True it “passed” the Hydrometer test but that can be easily fooled by other sweet alcohols such as sweet wine and other less invasive additives.  I’ve not seen anything which explains how the flavour has been produced. They do not mention anywhere I have seen what the rum in the Solera is aged in ie what type of barrels/casks.

    My thoughts on the flavour profile of Dictador will be revealed more over the next few paragraphs as I nose and taste this rum.

    Dictador Distillery Icon Reserve Aged 20 Years is a rich, dark brown colour. Without knowing the exact age of the rums in the blend (it is not a full 20 years) I’d still be surprised if the colour was entirely natural.

    A quick nosing reveals a very sweet, light almost Cuban style rum. It’s slightly floral but it does have a quite surpising hit of alcohol fumes. It’s reasonably spicy but it all seems a little “candied”. Overall the nose isn’t bad and there is quite a bit to come back to and far amount of complexity.  Licorice, cinnamon and some sweet boozy notes – like a younger rum sometimes exhibits. There is a hint of tobacco and a touch of tar. Overall though its mostly sweet.

    Sipped you get coffee, a lot of coffee. Sweet sugary coffee. It’s actually a lot more spicy than I had expected. I do believe quite a portion of rum a LOT younger than 20 years is in this blend. I’m not getting much of the pot still rum – its not doing much in this blend. Blind I would have assumed this was all column. It’s light and inoffensive. It has a reasonable amount of alcohol burn to reassure you it is a 40% spirit. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a lot of what I would determine as “rummy” characteristics. It’s more like a kind of sherried flavoured vodka. I’m sure such a drink exists somewhere.

    Sweet, light bordering on floral and with that strange coffee like hit especially on the finish. Which is very short. It’s an interesting spirit but I wouldn’t want to be forking out £50 on this if I wanted a bottle of rum.

    It’s agreeable and easy enough to drink. Whether it is really a rum I’m not so sure. It didn’t hold my interest. It’s certainly different to a lot of rums on the market. I’m not sure that is a good thing though.

     

     

  • Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Captain Morgan Spiced Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCaptain Morgan along with Bacardi probably gets the most abuse of all the rum companies.  It is part of drinks giant Diageo’s portfolio of brands and is one of the most recognised throughout the world.

    Whilst the companies Jamaica (or Dark) rum really isn’t worthy of too much criticism (it’s decidedly average), like Bacardi the strange flavoured rums the group have released, particularly over the pond are never going to win them many fans amongst rum conisseurs or purists.

    The UK has recently been treated to an assault of the Captains spin off label Parrot Bay – mostly flavoured pre mixed cocktails.  A release of a white rum in 2015 is the first real new rum in the Captains line upfor some time in the UK.  For whatever reason the Black Spiced Rum has never really received much of a release over here.

    However, one “Spiced Rum” (this is in the UK can only be classed as a spirit drink) that has been a regular on UK supermarket shelves, very often discounted or on special offer is Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold.  Originally this was marketed as simply Morgan’s Spiced.  In 2011 the Captain became part of the drinks name and in 2014 the transformation was complete – the drink becoming Captain Morgan’s Original Spiced Gold.  This presentation meant it was now inline with the US and other territories version, presentation wise.

    From the point of view of presentation, its okay.  I actually preferred the slightly more classy Morgan’s Spiced but this is solely aimed at the younger end of the market so the presentation is in keeping with that.  The bottle is a standard bar bottle and the metal screw cap and threads are of good quality.  To me the presentation is a little gaudy but it does catch the eye I suppose.Morgan's Spiced Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    The rum is made up of a “secret blend of Caribbean rums” likely this will be younger rums from Guyana and Jamaica.  Whilst the “rum” has moved in line with the US presentation wise frustratingly the drink can vary in ABV from market to market between 35-37.5%.

    The current UK version used in this review is bottled at 35% and cannot be labelled a rum in the UK as rum must be 37.5% so it is labelled as a spirit drink on the small print.  The bottles widely available in 70cl and 1 litre variants will set you back around £14 and £17 each.  Though the litre bottle is frequently discounted to £15 in the big supermarket chains.

    The popularity of this rum was boosted by the decline of Sailor Jerry following the re-formulation which left some of the vanilla behind. This certainly delivers on that front.

    As you might have guessed from the tone of this review – this isn’t my favourite drink in the world.  So lets get on with the tasting (the last I ever plan to do of this rum).

    The nose.  The marketing tells only of “mellow spice and natural flavours” it claims to get its colour from ageing in white oak.  Yes and a healthy dose of caramel and god knows what else.  The nose on this rum is sharp, sweet and artificial.  It smells almost cloyingly sickly sweet.  It is heavy on he vanilla, granted it is not quite as bad as Old J but its still very overpowering.

    I’m not going to insult my palate my sipping this.  The bottle itself calls for mixing and mix is what I’ll do.  In the signature pour a Captain and Cola.Captain Morgans Original Spiced Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    The best way to pour Captain Morgan’s Original Spiced Gold is down the toilet.  The sad thing for many UK rum lovers is that unbeknowing relatives will buy them this for Christmas.  I feel for those people. I usually manage to trade mine with my father in law as he has a very sweet tooth and can drown this in Ginger Beer and enjoy it.

    It really is just vanilla, vanilla and a touch more vanilla.  There is no subtlety, no hints of spices not even a hint of ginger or anything worth while.  Its basically Vanilla flavoured rum. I hate this stuff and I am going to waste no more of time writing about it.

    Small mercy is I should never drink this ever again………

    0.5 stars