Black Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2024

Bythefatrumpirate

Black Tot Rum Master Blender's Reserve 2024 review by the fat rum pirateBlack Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2024. It seems only fitting to be reviewing the latest release of “Black Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2024 today, which is of course Black Tot Day.

It has been 5 years since the Black Tot brand launched their 50th Anniversary Blend to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the abolition of the daily Rum Ration in the British Navy. Black Tot Day 31st July 1970.

Since then the Black Tot brand have produced a Master Blender’s Reserve on an annual basis. The Master Blender in question is Oliver Chilton.

From the first Black Tot 50th Anniversary in 2020 to each subsequent Master Blender’s Reserve, each release gets more and more complex. This is because a small amount of the previous year’s bottling is blended into the final product.

The breakdown below is on a country/island basis. An even more in depth breakdown is provided here along with some further information for the discerning rum geek.

  • 60% – Barbados – Foursquare, West Indies Rum Distillery, Mount Gay – between 7 and 22 years old;
  • 25% – Trinidad – Trinidad Distillers, Caroni – between 12 and 26 years old;
  • 5% – Jamaica – New Yarmouth, Clarendon, Long Pond, others – between 23 and 28 years old;
  • 5%  – Guyana – Diamond Distillery – between 8 and 21 years old;
  • 5%  – Perpetual Blend – a combination of Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve 2023 and Black Tot Last Consignment.

So as you can see there is a lot going on in this particular release and a lot of notable rums contained within it.

Presentation wise the Black Tot have continued with what they know – the white/silver/gold colour scheme with only a slight variation for the year in question. The rum comes complete with an attractive cylinder and very much like the 3/4 stubby style bottle which is topped of with a chunky synthetic stopper.

It is available from The Whisky Exchange and some other selected retailers and should set you back around £140-145. It is bottled at a 54.5% ABV.Black Tot Rum Master Blender's Reserve 2024 review by the fat rum pirate

So lets see how Black Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2024 stacks up to previous years and other “Navy Style” rums. This blend is said to have more of a Barbadian influence to get more tropical notes. So I’ve been told.

In the glass we have golden to dark brown liquid with a little orange/red around the edges.

It is “smelllable” from a fair distance and the immediate notes are light tar, petrol and some diesel fuel. Maybe a touch of smoke. So yes that 5ish% Caroni influence is very much there and up front. No surprise it always has been strong stuff!

Further nosing reveals some fruity notes, a little pineapple, plums and a touch of banana. The smoky notes continue alongside the tar and I’m also getting some dark chocolate and a touch of tobacco.

All in all it is an inviting kind of nose if you like the deeper, darker side of rum………

Sipped it is immediately giving me more of a Jamaican mouthfeel – with a touch of astringency and some strong “funky” notes. Reminding me very much of Long Pond Distillery. No bad thing at all for me.

It’s quite bitter and smoky – definitely not a sweet rum. That said there is a fruitiness and a bit of sweetness that stops it from becoming to dry or for me to much like Scotch Whisky.

You can certainly taste the different aspects of this rum and I feel the heavier Barbados element is helping pull this rum together and stopping it from getting away from itself. It feels like it is keeping all the elements in check.

On the mid palate and further sips the smokiness continues blended with a light funk and some hints of caramel and molasses. A touch of cherry and a little hint of somethin

Black Tot Rum Master Blender's Reserve 2024 review by the fat rum pirate

g slightly menthol.

I’m enjoying this very much. Each sip is a little different. It tastes old but has some vibrancy that stops it becoming too smoky or overly oaked.

On the finish Black Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2024 is long and very satisfying. Like old leather armchairs (thanks Dave Broom). It’s warm and comforting and extremely enjoyable.

All in all its an excellent blend and very well  balanced and put together. I could probably write another review in a week or so’s time and use a whole load more tasting and nosing “notes”. It is that complex and rewarding.

Excellent stuff all round yet again from the team at Elixir.

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  • Botran Ron Anejo Solera 1893 Sistema Solera 18

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Botran Ron Anejo Solera 1893 Sistema Solera 18. I’ve lost count the amount of times Botran have changed the presentation of their rums over the past few years. With the various different Solera ages and the re-naming of the various rums as well, I’m not totally sure where this one stacks up in the pecking order.

    I do know its pretty much nearer the top of the tree – though I’m not 100% if this bottling which I picked up in late 2017 is the current one…..

    Botran Ron Anejo Solera 1893 retails at around £45-50. The 18 on the label is quite prominent and it is often listed as 18 years old. Nearly as prominent on the label are the words Solera – which mean the oldest rum in this bottle is 18 years old – some of the other rum in the blend can be a lot younger. Their own marketing states between 5 and 18 years old. The ABV on this rum is 40%.

    I’ve covered a couple of Botran rums in the past. They are very much aimed at the pretty bottle brigade. Having said that although their rums have been found to have some additives (they make sure the Hydrometer can be fooled though) such as glycerol.

    I’ve always found them to still be “rummy” enough to still take them seriously. True they are very much in the Latin Style of Light Column Distilled rums but they do actually show some good signs of cask management and genuine ageing. They do however still insist on using the “Virgin Sugar Cane Honey” marketing nonsense though.

    Presentation wise as mentioned this is department store “Premium” rum. The gold and black colourway can be a little difficult to read (its not very easy to get a good photo either) but its kind of what you expect. I like the stubby 3/4 size bottle and you get a decenBotran 18 Solera Rum Review by the fat rum piratet synthetic cork stopper. I think this has been updated to the presentation in the picture further on this review but I’m not totally sure to be honest. It appears the 18 has been removed or is less prominent on the bottle now.

    Anyway despite the poor photography and me being unsure what bottle you might find – lets see how the bottle I have tastes.

    In the glass Botran Ron Anejo Solera 1893 is a dark mahogany colour. It will be coloured but most commercial bottlings are.

    The nose on the Botran Ron Anejo Solera 1893 is quite sweet with some strong notes of smoke and tobacco leaf. There is a decent amount of oak as well though not much in the way of spiciness. It’s light and slightly floral. A little chocolate and a touch of caramel. It’s not particularly fiery but its nicely balanced and not at all unpleasant.

    Sipping this rum you initially get a good weight of tobacco, oak and dark chocolate. It’s much spicier on the palate than the nose. It has a very nice bourbon like sweetness in the mid palate which is as nice as it is surprising.

    There is a note of Demerara sugar in this. Particularly on the entry. This does fade and reveal more of the tobacco and smoked notes. There is a nice oak note halfway down the sip which is good but unfortunately doesn’t last long. This moves into a gentle fade of bourbon like spice and a touch of slightly bitter red wine.

    Despite the lightness of the nose and the overall profile of this rum it does deliver quiteBotran Ron Anejo 1893 Sistema Solera 18 a lot of alcohol notes, especially compared to a lot of rums made in this style. It’s not been heavily dosed and been “muted”. At 40% ABV its not hugely boozy. It does have a kick, which so many Latin Style rums lack. For me this is a positive. I am not so sure how the target audience might see this “burn”. Some people have very funny ideas about what rum is!

    For a change of pace and a good example of a decent aged Latin Style rum you can do a lot worse than this. It’s not badly balanced overall. It may have a slightly floral note to it that doesn’t totally agree with me. I can still enjoy a glass or two or though.

    Not bad at all.

     

     

     

  • Whisky Broker – Rum Distilled at Diamond Distillery Guyana Aged 12 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Whisky Broker Whiskybroker Demerara Rum 12 years review by the fat rum pirateA Demerara rum from Whiskybroker.  Whisky Broker seem to be a company that goes down the Ronseal route of promotion by doing “Exactly what it says on the tin”. So apologies for the slightly long title for this particular review.  They have declined to give their first rum bottling a snappier title.

    Which is a Cask Strength Single Cask bottling of Demerara rum from Guyana.  ABV of 63.5% from barrel number 34.  My particular bottling is number 32 of 264.  It is none chill filtered and no colouring has been added by Whisky Broker.  The barrel was filled in July 2004 and this was bottled as recently as December 12th 2016.

    I would/could have had this review out earlier but I was waiting further information from Whisky Broker on the still on which this rum was produced and any marques notes on the barrel.  This rum is from the Enmore Wooden Coffey Still – the marque on the barrel MDXC (god knows).

    From the appearance of the rum you could be led to believe this rum has been mostly tropically aged.  It is significantly darker than any 12 or even 15 year old Demerara rums that I have seen that have been aged in Europe.  It is of course entirely possible (and probable) that DDL coloured this prior to or even after some ageing, before it arrived in Europe.

    The rum comes in a rather simple/standard bar style bottle with a bulbous neck and a decent quality plastic topped real cork.  It retails (there are still a few bottles remaining) at £45 for a 70cl bottle.  Taken at face value it is extremely good value for money.  Unfortunately sometimes things are cheap for a reason.

    Now I will give credit to Whisky Broker for providing the information they have provided on the bottle.  Yes I would have liked more information but unfortunately the actual still is quite frequently omitted from Independent bottlings of Demerara rum (and indeed most of El Dorado’s blended efforts -you have to search to find a table showing what rums are in their blends).  Still it is an encouraging start.

    The colour of this rum has been a bit of a talking point.  A word to the wise – do not ever judge a rum on its colour and do not dismiss a lighter rum in favour of a darker rum.  In fact view all expensive dark rum with caution.  Do your homework before splashing the cash.

    DDL have recently admitted to both coating their barrels with molasses and adding “caramel” – the caramel addition was particularly interesting as it was in relation to a hydrometer reading.  Thus indicating that it wasn’t E150 that the UK Brand Ambassador Dean McGregor was actually referring to. Whisky Broker have stated they have not added anything to the rum  and as predominantly whisky bottlers I sincerely doubt they have.  A hydrometer test comes up clean.

    Despite dismissing a rums colour I will concede that this rum is a nice welcoming dark brown.

    The nose is equally welcoming.  It’s a very rich smelling rum.  Big juicy raisins and sultanas, a hint of liquorice, a little coffee, dark chocolate even maybe a touch of port.

    For those familiar with rums from the Enmore still particularly those aged in Europe there is a slight undercurrent of something a bit more medicinal, a bit more “fiery”.  You get a real waft Pussers Goodpowder.  In fact this rum puts me in mind of both Woods Navy and Pussers.  I’m also being reminded of El Dorado 8 Year old and Cadenhead’s ClaWhisky Broker Whiskybroker Demerara Rum 12 years reveiew by the fat rum piratessic Rum Blend.

    None of these comparisions will do the rum any harm if they follow onto the tasting.

    Now as this is bottled at 63.5% it should be pretty much at the edge of what any reasonable human being can really glean much taste from.  The effect of alcohol at such strength numbs many of the taste buds (for most people) including me.

    At the full 63.5% the rum is surprisingly “hot” both in terms of ABV but also the flavours.  It is quite difficult to drink at this ABV and is (especially the first couple of sips) quite bitter and very astringent.

    So we’ll add a few drops of water. (if you do have a hydrometer at home you might consider using this to measure how much you need to dilute the rum so it enjoy it at its peak).  I’ll dilute this down to around 55% ABV.

    Which does make a big difference.  It brings out a lot more flavor and also calms some of the more fiery elements of this rum.  It is not as sweet as the nose suggests. If you prefer sweeter then you may wish to stick with the rums I compared it to during nosing.  It’s not a bitter or astringent rum though (when diluted a little!).  In many ways its just a good well aged clean spirit.

    The promise of sweetness lasts literally no time on the lips. You then get an almost burnt caramel and unsweetened liquorice.  There’s some strong cold coffee in there as well.  The finish is quite long and warming without being overly aggressive.  It tingles and leaves behind cocoa and some spicy oak.

    With it being a single cask rum it doesn’t have the benefit of blending so like the Silver Seal 2002 Enmore I reviewed previously this does have a couple of more aggressive notes in the mix.  It’s slightly medicinal/petrolly at times but at the same time it also has a very soft and easy entry.  The mid palate is probably where it is at its most medicinal but the finish is much less aggressive.

    Overall at this price point you can’t really go wrong for an unadulterated Demerara.  I do think it has had some ageing in the tropics (I’d estimate around 5 years but its just a guess) and it is a very pleasant and very strong tasting rum.

    It’s not perfect but this is a more than decent start to Rum bottling from Whiskybroker!

     

  • Black Tot Day – Navy Rum Splice Off

    Bythefatrumpirate

    BlackTotDay31st July 2016 will mark the 46th Aniversary of Black Tot Day.  31st July 1970 was the final day a “daily tot” of Navy Rum was given to British Royal Navy Sailors and personnel.

    The ration was originally introduced not as rum but as beer and not just a pint but a gallon or 8 pints!

    No wonder there were sea shanties about Drunken Sailors, such as this

    “What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
    What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
    What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
    Early in the morning?
    Way-hay, up she rises
    Way-hay, up she rises
    Way-hay, up she rises
    Early in the morning

    Put him in the long boat ’til he’s sober

    Pull out the bung and wet him all over

    Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him

    Heave him by the leg in a runnin’ bowlin’

    Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under”

    Over time the ration evolved.  Storing so much beer aboard ship took up a lot of space, which could be used for other more profitable cargo.  It also went bad very quickly causing sickness on board.  In 1655 a half pint ration of rum was introduced and quickly gained popularity with sailors.  Not surprisingly with half a pint of rum inside them and little else other than meagre food rations – drunkenness on board navy vessels became an increasing problem.

    In 1740 Admiral Edward Vernon aka “Old Grog” demanded that all rum rations must beVernon diluted to the ratio of 1 part rum to 4 parts water and a little lemon or lime juice added, if available to ward off Scurvy.  The ration was divided into two daily servings.  This diluted rum concoction became known as Grog.  Vernon’s nickname “Old Grog” is believed to be as a result of his fondness for Grogram coats.

    In 1824 the size of the rum ration was once again called into question.  Indiscipline and insubordination by inebriated sailors continued and the rum ration was duly halved again to a quarter of a pint.

    In 1850 calls were made to remove the rum ration all together.  In the end the tot was once again halved to an eigth of a pint a day.  This meant sailors received only one tot per day.  In 1881 officers had their ration removed and in 1918 warrant officers no longer were entitled to a their daily tot.

    On December 17, 1969 the Admiralty Board issued a written answer to a question from the MP for Woolwich East, Christopher Mayhew advising that “The Admiralty Board concludes that the rum issue is no longer compatible with the high standards of efficiency required now that the individual’s tasks in ships are concerned with complex, and often delicate, machinery and systems on the correct functioning of which people’s lives may depend”. A debate in the House of Commons on the evening of January 28, 1970, now referred to as the ‘Great Rum Debate’, started by James Wellbeloved, who believed that the ration should not be removed. The debate lasted an hour and 15 minutes and closed at 10:29pm with a decision that the rum ration was no longer appropriate.

    On July 31 at 11am (6 bells in the fornoon) the final rum ration was issued in the Royal British Navy.  From that day forward the anniversary of 31 July has become known as Black Tot Day.

    So, how is best too celebrate such an important event in the Navys and rums past? Well it would seem only logical to me to celebrate with a tot of Navy Rum.  So let us see what is available.

    Black Tot Last Consignment British Navy Rum

    Black TotThis is the authentic Navy Rum as issued aboard Navy Vessels circa 1970.  For more information see Black Tot webite.  This piece of history has been beautifully bottled at 54.3% abv and comes with a Tot cup, similar to those used in the days of daily rum rations, a wooden display case, a rum ration card and a book about the history of Black Tot, written by rum expert Dave Broom.  Unsurprisingly the price tag of even a “tot” of this rum which can also be found as a 50ml miniature, will mean for many they will look for an alternative to raise their glass with this Black Tot Day!

    However, do not despair as other variations on British Navy Rum are available.  Whilst they might not be 100% bona vide examples, most are more than acceptable for usage on Black Tot Day.

    Lamb’s Navy Rum

    Lamb's Navy Rum review by the fat rum pirateArguably the most recognisable rum on this list.  Especially in the UK (and perhaps Canada).  A mainstay of pubs and clubs the length and breadth of England.  This is the rum you will get 99.9% of the time if you ask for dark rum.

    Quite where it gets the “Genuine Navy Rum” claim I’m not so sure as I cannot find any conclusive evidence that Lamb’s was ever issued aboard a British Navy ship which is what the bottle alludes too.

    Whilst not the best rum on this list, in my humble opinion it is easy to find and due to its sweetness won’t cause anyone to many problems if asked to down a tot.  Unlike our next rum on the list………

    Ancient Mariner Navy Rum

    Ancient Mariner Navy Rum CaroniThe eye catching presentation of the Ancient Mariner is equalled by the historic rum held within this 50cl bottle.

    A true Overproof (54%)  Navy Rum.  Ancient Mariner was produced to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubille and was released in 2011.  Sourced to be as accurate to the Original Navy Rum as possible, it may come as a surprise to many rum conniseurs that the Hebridean Liquor Company have bottled up a 16 year old Caroni rum.  A rum that will put hairs on the chest of any would be sailor!

    Pusser’s 15 Year Old

    Pussers 15 Years Nelsons Blood review by the fat rum pirateA bit of a Red Herring this, if I’m being 100% honest.  Pusser’s 15 Year Old unlike the other Pusser’s rums is not made to the same recipe as the Original Navy Rum.  It is a 100% Demerara Rum from the Port Morant still at DDL.  It is significantly more aged than regular Pusser’s and gives a more refined flavour.

    Personally whilst it looks very Naval and I certainly wouldn’t turn down a tot of it on Black Tot Day.  It wouldn’t be my first choice.  It’s simply just a little bit too posh for my liking……it’s bottled at only 40% as well.

    Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum

    Woods 100Another popular and relatively inexpensive Demerara rum.  Woods Navy Rum is another rum which I cannot find evidence of ever being issued aboard Navy ships……..

    However, it offers a better naval experience than Lamb’s as it is a 57% ABV Overpoof Rum.  Despite its proof this is a very sweet and highly enjoyable mixer.  Taken as a tot this will burn quite a bit but again it’ll do a good job.  In the UK this is pretty widely available in most Supermarkets.  Probably the best Navy Rum you’ll find unless you can find a specialist wine or spirits merchant.

    Pusser’s Gunpowder Rum

    rum_pus1Don’t be alarmed.  Despite the new name and the new Black Presentation this is still the good stuff.

    Although Pusser’s revamped their line up in 2014 it is only now that the old 54.5% ABV Blue Label rums are going out of circulation and being replaced by the Black “Gundpowder” labels.  Different label same juice. No worries!

    To create an “authentic” grog you can also get Pusser’s Grog Mix a syrupy lime flavoured concentrate which is certainly an acquired taste!

    But not so the rum.  Available now as both 54.5 and 40% ABV the original mix of Trini and Demerara rums are the best Navy Rums around.  Truly exceptional.  For Black Tot Day a tot of the warming 54.5% Gunpowder Rum is where it’s at!  Excellent stuff! Available easily online.

    Other notables mentions are Skipper Rum (an unremarkable nautically themed Demerara – worth a mention as it is easy to find in Sainsbury’s for example) and whilst not particularly Naval Smith & Cross Jamaica Rum does offer an Overproof example at least.

    Splice the mainbrace!

  • A.H Riise XO Reserve Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    AH Riise XO Rum Review by the fat rum pirateA.H Riise XO Reserve Rum.  A highly popular rum brand particular in Denmark.  I have previously reviewed A.H Riise’s 40% Navy Rum.  In that review I gave some information regarding the brands (so called) history etc.  The review is here.

    For the purpose of this review I will just focus on this bottling.  I have taken much of this information from the official website.

    The rum in this blend hails from the US Virgin Islands (think Cruzan or even Captain Morgan).  It is hand-blended from a range of golden distillates aged upto 20 years.

    The passage below is quoted directly from the site

    “It’s hand-blended by a variety of Rum distillates which is up to 20 years old and have a beautiful golden color.  This ageing produces a full bodied and fruity rum with notes of honey, apricot and peach and a velvety soft and delicate sweetness filled aftertaste and a finish with a touch of vanilla and raisin. Each cask is specially selected by our “Master Distiller” and bottled individually “Single Barrel” and each bottle is marked with individual bottle number. This rum is produced strictly limited quantities “Limited Edition”.”

    I can smell bullshit and its not just on this occasion the rum in the my glass! Though we will come to that later.

    A.H Riise is aimed at the sweeter end of the rum market. The kind of person who buys bottles based on how fancy the bottle and how glitzy the website is.The sort of person that posts pictures of their latest haul of artificial, sugar laden monstrosities on more serious rum forums and wonder why they get “hated” on. Seduced by a pretty bottle and endless marketing bullshit and fairy tales these people just can’t help themselves.  Due to the ongoing popularity of this “rum” brand these people are clearly not in short supply.AH Riise XO Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    A.H Riise Royal Danish Rum is without doubt the worst rum I have ever experienced.  It is so altered that it is a complete insult that it is even allowed to be marketed as rum.

    Tighten your seatbelt folks because this is not going to be pretty.

    The bottle tells me that this is “Super Premium Single Barrel Rum”. Bottle Number 2474, Cask 8, Batch 1. This was bottled on the 15th March 2014 and it is bottled at 40% ABV. In Europe this will set you back upwards of £55.

    In the glass A.H Riise is a very strange yellow colour. It looks extremely in-natural.

    The nose is strikingly similar to the Navy Rum. Which is strange because these are two completely different rums with totally different geography (Navy was Guyanese rum and this is from the US VIrgin Isles).

    It’s the same confected overly sweet nose. It smells more like an fruit ice lolly than rum. Huge wafts of artificial orange cordial, Jif Lemon and a sort of tutti trutti candy.

    There’s no oak, no spice, no vanilla and basically no rum aromas!

    This isn’t as heavily sugared as the Navy Rum but you’d struggle to tell the difference. Further nosing and time in the glass just seems to make things worse. It gets sweeter and more gloopier.

    Sipped it’s not as sweet as the nose initially. It’s quite bitter lemon and lime zest and even the tiniest hint of some oak. The problem is with each sip you get an extra nosing and it really is repulsive. There is a slight burn to remind you are drinking something vaguely alcoholic. The reality is however that this tastes more like children medicine than rum. Fake fruit flavours masking what must be near neutral spirit because it has no character whatsoever.

    AH Riise XO Rum Review by the fat rum pirateBeyond the initial tartness and a little bit of sweetness the rum quickly fades away to little more than a slight alcohol burn. No complexity. It is very much like drinking a very poor flavoured vodka with some essence to make it taste like a “brown” spirit.

    No hang on I’m wrong there is a bit of an aftertaste and what some might call a finish. Aspartame and saccharin. I suspect that is what is giving this rum its sweetness – artificial.

    I wouldn’t even bother mixing this as its an insult even to the cheapest nastiness cola or lemonade available.

    Now some people will get upset by my critique and maybe I shouldn’t be so critical of people’s choices. If you know anyone who drinks and enjoys A.H Riise please direct them to this review. It might make them have second thoughts about the “rum” they are enjoying.

    The reality is they are deluding themselves. If this is all they can take neat then they need to go back to mixing or beer/wine. You’re definitely not drinking rum and paying over the odds for it.

    Easily as bad as its Navy counterpart. Avoid….please.

  • Sampan Rhum Vietnam

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Sampan Rhum Vietnam. I aways like it, when I am reviewing something from a distillery that I haven’t touched upon previously. It makes the “introduction” section so much easier. Today, I am reviewing my first ever r(h)um from Vietnam.

    Located right on the seafront, just metres from the beach stands Distillerie d’Indochine. The Owner and Master Distiller Anotine Poircuitte has over 35 years of experience in the field of wine and spirits so the website tells us!.

    The sugar cane used to distil Sampan Rhum Vietnam is sourced from within 40km of the seafront distillery. It is delivered within 12 hours of being harvested and is crushed immediately.

    The Sugar Cane Juice is then fermented for 3 to 4 days. Distillation takes place in a 11-plate copper column still, at a strength of around 70% ABV. The resulting rhum isn’t bottled immediately. It is rested in steel tanks for between 8 to 12 months.

    Labelling of Sampan Rhum Vietnam gives the date of distillation and the bottling date. I am reviewing from a sample, I purchased from The Whisky Exchange. So unfortunately I do not know exactly what batch this is from. I could guess going from their most recent listing but I can’t say for definite its from that batch. If you zoom in the photo you can find out more.

    If you have clicked on the link above you will see that a 70cl bottle with an ABV of 43% retails at around the £45 mark here in the UK. A little pricy for unaged white rhum but obviously it has to make its way from Vietnam for starters. Which is never going to be cheap…….

    Presentation wise the rhum comes in a 3/4 stubby style bottle. Complete with a nice chunky cork stopper. You also get a nice cardboard presentation box to house the rhum. I like the simple pared back design and the information on the bottle (from what I can see) seems to concentrate on what is in the bottle rather than fairy tales. Another tick in the box for Rhum Sampan Vietnam.

    Sampan Rhum Vietnam rum review by the fat rum pirateI have tested Rhum Sampan Vietnam for any additives using the Hydrometer and it came up clean. With such production methods in place I would have been extremely surprised (and hugely disappointed) had this not been the case.

    So without further ado I think I will crack open my sample and see how this one goes down!

    In the glass Rhum Sampan Vietnam is as expected crystal clear. The nose reveals some traditional “agricole” like notes but it isn’t as grassy as you might expect. Whilst the “resting” in steel tanks shouldn’t age the rhum – it certainly seems to have had an influence here. It’s a very dry, very mineral heavy kind of nose. Pebbles from the sea – with a salty briny note but a very definite “stony” note.

    It’s very clean and fresh. Hints of sea salt and and freshly cut hay. Mixing nicely alongside a slightly “Parma Violet” like note. Parma Violet are a brand of very “perfumed” sweet  – that personally I detest but in this rhum it seems to work nicely. Adding an extra layer to the overall experience.

    It’s not a huge grassy agricole style of cane juice rhum. Maybe a little more clinical but I do lenjoy the nose.

    Sipped the rhum is very approachable. Very agreeable with a nice balance. Nice grassy almost fruity notes, mingle very nicely alongside the more floral and “perfumed” notes. It’s not as pungent or as rough as a lot of younger Agricole Rhum. It is more refined overall.Sampan Rhum Vietnam rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The mid palate becomes quite perfumed and flowery but you still get a nice kick and bite of the unaged rhum. Fruitiness is in place with notes of peach and lychees for a more instense flavour. It has however a little bit clean and clinical and lacks any real funk. Which is a little disappointing.

    Finish wise it is a long fade of flavour and it all stays very nicely balanced. It’s not pulling up any trees but its got a lovely balance to it and is clearly a well made product.

    As a mixer it delivers nicely in lighter cocktails and makes an decent enough Ti Punch without really quite hitting the heights some other young Agricole can reach,

    Sampan Rhum Vietnam is clearly a very well made product and a lot of care has gone into its production. Personally I would like a bit more bite and funk for it to really mix alongside other unaged “Cane Juice” or Agricole style rhums. It’s good but not quite great.

  • Bacardi Superior

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bacardi Superior White rum reviewThere’s probably not a lot to be said about Bacardi that hasn’t been said before.  Probably, on this blog and one of my other Bacardi reviews amongst other places.  It was on completing a review of Lemon Hart White Rum that I realised I hadn’t actually reviewed Bacardi Superior.  I’d had the pictures taken and reviewed a few other of Bacardi products but somehow I’d totally forgotten to review their flagship offering.

    To most people Bacardi (and even rum) begins and ends with this rum.  Ask for a rum and coke and many places won’t even ask what you want and just serve a Bacardi and Coke.  To be honest in some places in the UK you’d be more than glad of a Bacardi!

    Do I need to explain the bottle that Bacardi Superior comes in? Is there anyone on the planet with even the vaguest interest in rum (or just drink in general) who wouldn’t recognise Bacardi?  Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Gold and Bacardi Black all come roughly the same bottle.  I’ve said it before but I do like the way Bacardi presents it products.

    The Bacardi Superior comes in, well a standard Bacardi bottle complete with bat logo, gold medals and the “Case Fundada En Cuba estd 1862” which any Bacardi aficionado will recognise.  The bottle I’m reviewing is 40% ABV and its a 1 litre bottle.

    I made the mistake of trying to sip Lemon Hart White rum (and Wray and Nephew!) I’ve drank more than enough Bacardi Superior to know that sipping is not a good idea.  I sipped it along side the Mastro De Ron when conducting that review.  It’s a mixing rum and any pretence of anything else is frankly just plain stupid.

    Bacardi works well in a classic Cuban Cuba Libre.  It is a mixing rum.  It is a white spirit that has a sweet fruity taste which vodka cannot match.  If you wish to look beyond this spirit and try to make it something else then you are looking at the wrong drink.  Let’s be honest a lot of people who drink Bacardi probably don’t even know its rum they probably just think its well errrm Bacardi!

    A review of Bacardi Superior can be nothing other than brief.  It is a very sweet -apple, banana and a little sweet pear are all in the profile.  I don’t know how much sugar is in this rum but it is very, very sweet.  Being honest it isn’t something any serious “rum” lover is going to get excited about.  It’s probably of more interest to a mixologist or bartender.  I don’t build cocktails but I would imagine there will be times when certain cocktails really benefit from Bacardi Superior.

    I often think of Bacardi Superior as “sweet vodka” a relatively inoffensive yet very sweet mixer.  I think if you knock this you’re kind of missing the point.  There’s plenty room for the rum’s you like alongside this.  Hey sales of this rum might even help subsidise the “better” Bacardi offerings such as 8 anos and Reserva.

    2 stars

     

     

     

     

    This rum is available from

    THEDRINKSHOP