Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2022. What better way to celebrate (do we celebrate the event – I suppose in the name of Health and Safety perhaps we do….) Black Tot Day than to take another walk down memory lane with Master Blender Oliver Chilton and his latest re-enactment of the traditional “British Style”  Navy rum our islands fine sailors enjoyed up until 31st July 1970.

As noted on the Black Tot website. The rum is as follows

“For 2022’s Master Blender’s Reserve blend, we drew inspiration from historical rums in our collection and the unique flavour profiles they exhibited over half a century ago. These rums, since lost in the rum world, were rich with notes of baked banana, dusty chocolate, mocha milkshakes, honey, tobacco, leather, liquorice, and spice. These flavours were mapped out and became our guide.

We began, as always, with rum drawn from our perpetual blend – our Master Blender’s Reserve from last year, which has been ageing in Sherry casks since last Black Tot Day. These four unique country blends were then brought together and married with our perpetual reserve, layered and perfectly balanced, to bring you Master Blender’s Reserve 2022.”

I am currently awaiting the exact make up of the blend (which is due to be unveiled today). What I do know is that the rums are a blend of rums from Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and the Perpetual Blend.

Presentation wise Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2022 comes housed in a 3/4 stubby style opaque bottle. Complete with a chunky cork stopper and a nice cylinder to store the rum. The colour scheme and over all design is similar to previous years releases. It’s clean and modern and the brand tend to supply a lot of information on the actual rum in the bottle. Unlike many other brands……….

It will be interesting to see what notes I pick out bearing in mind I’m not 100% sure of the make up of this release, at this present time.

In the glass, Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum 2022 is dark brown with an orange/reddish hue. On the nose it is slightly oily with some notes of tar and smoke. Fruity notes also come through with a nice hit of marmalade, raisin and dark chocolate. Or perhaps more of a slightly bitter cocoa?

There is also a kind of fruity/varnish like note which reminds me of Pear Drops (Boiled Sweets) and some Blackcurrant juice.

Sipped neat the rum has a bit of “menace” I bit like what I used to enjoy with Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof rum. It’s warming but not overly oaked or heavily spicy. It has a nice fruity hit of raisins and black banana.

As we move into the mid palate I’m getting more chocolate and some smoke. A bit more of the tarry notes and hints of liquorice and a spicy hit of cinnamon.

There is a lot going on with this rum and it has a bit of an “old” kind of feel to it. Not aged as such but it just tastes a little like something from another era. I say that not as a criticism.

This release of Master Blender’s Reserve seems to me to be a bit heavier than previous releases. Maybe more Pot Still rum in the blend or maybe more “Heavy” rum from Caroni or Jamaica possibly. I’m not sure will be interesting to find out.

There is so much going on with this rum. It is a delightful rum to sit and nose. The entry and mid palate evolve so much, each sip seems to add something else to the mix.

The finish is long and warming with lots of spicy elements. Star anise and some cinnamon alongside a wonderful warming oaky vibe. The sweeter elements don’t fade away either. There is a a nice hint of orange chocolate, with lots of  banana and some sweeter notes of pear and raisin.

It’s a rum to savour and to spend time with. Not one for guzzling down. It’s an excellent, almost perfect sip. Easily one of the best rums I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

A little bit of history and whilst its not cheap its certainly not over priced in todays crazy market.

An easy 5 stars for this.