Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum

Bythefatrumpirate

Blackwell Jamaican Rum Review Island U2For those that aren’t aware (and either you haven’t bought this rum before or cannot read – in which case you won’t be able to read this either and come to think of it you wouldn’t be reading my blog…) Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum is named after Chris Blackwell.

Still none the wiser?  Well the Blackwell’s are (so the label tells me) one of Jamaica’s oldest merchant families renowed for exporting banana’s, coconuts and rum.  Okay, I’m kidding Chris Blackwell isn’t famous for exporting banana’s.  He was the owner of Island Records and he discovered U2 and Bob Marley.  So you’ve got him to blame for Bono and No Woman, No Cry.

Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum is also noted as “Black Gold” and “Special Reserve” on the bottle.  The Special Reserve part seems odd as I understand that this is a rum which has only been aged for 1 year. My other bottle of Special Reserve is my El Dorado 15 year old! Blackwell rum cost around £20-25 per bottle which places it in the same price range as Appleton VX/8.  It is bottled at 40% ABV.

Blackwell Rum is actually distilled by J Wray and Nephew (who market Appleton Estate amongst others).  It is made using an old family recipe and is created by Chris Blackwell and Joy Spence (the master blender at Appleton Estate).  Blackwell’s family once owned J Wray and Nephew so the story goes.

The presentation of the Blackwell is actually really good.  The bottle is dark brown and has a “lopsided” label, sealed with a wax/plastic seal similar to those used many years ago to seal letters.  The wax seal has Blackwells embossed on it. Too much use of the word seal there I fear (and more to come later!)  The front label has a Pirate style map of Jamaica and the rear has a picture of a very young looking Chris Blackwell and a little story about the rum’s heritage.Blackwell Rum Review Island Records U2

So onto the tasting.  Lookswise the rum is pretty much the same colour as the bottle.  It is a very dark reddish/brown.  It is certainly not the bright orange colour of the younger Appleton’s.  The nose is rich, dark molasses and caramel.  There is a lot of youth and “booze” in the nose.  This doesn’t smell like a refined sipper.

And in indeed it certainly is not a rum for sipping unless you enjoy a strong burn.  It is too young and harsh to recommend as anything other than a mixer really.  The sweetness of the aroma is overpowered by the youthfulness of the blend and the burn is long lasting and leaves little by way of flavour in the mouth, just heat.

I approached this rum not really knowing what to expect.  Some reviewers seem to have concentrated on the Jamaican-ness of this rum.  Now admittedly young Jamaican rum’s are quite rough and many a person who enjoys sweeter rum’s cannot get over the aroma and “funk” (it’s the only word that I can think to use!).  However, this rum despite its rough edges doesn’t display that distinctive pot still high ester flavour of the younger Appleton’s or Smith and Cross.

In my opinion, of the reviews I have read, many have missed the rum which comes closest in terms of overall taste and profile.  It seems odd because at the bottom of the Blackwell label is a reminder – Black Gold.

Once mixed with cola Blackwell Fine Jamaican rum reveals a lot of sweet flavours – caramel, black strap molasses, a little coconut, hints of vanilla.  It’s pretty close to a Spiced rum.  To my palate the rum it reminds me most of is Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Rum.  Comparing this to Appleton just doesn’t work for me.  It does have a little Jamaican flavour to it but it isn’t a rum I would personally recommend to a lover of Smith and Cross for instance.   It tastes slightly confected like the Black Seal but comes up without added sugar at least in the hydrometer tests.  As it is bottled in Jamaica it should be additive free.

Blackwell Rum Review Island Records U2This is a relatively inexpensive offering (some reviews note it is quite expensive in the US – it seems fairly reasonable over here).

Overall the rum is fairly reasonable mixing rum.  It is enjoyable enough but at its price point there is a lot of competition.  Any rum retailing at £20-25 should at least mix well.  It isn’t something to sip, maybe over a couple of ice cubes at a push.

Unfortunately for Blackwell despite its cracking presentation and its reasonable price it’s direct competition – Appleton, offer a different more authentic Jamaican experience entirely as do most Jamaican Rums.  This only really leaves it appealing to lovers of Goslings Black Seal. I keep being reminded of Sailor Jerry but I fancy that is because the Blackwell bottle is similar.  This isn’t a sweet or vanilla-ey as our favourite Tattoo Artists offering.

In my view this isn’t as good as Goslings Black Seal or Appleton VX.  It’s not a bad rum but it would need a heavy discount say to £15 per bottle to make me buy anymore.

Very average

2 stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Dead Reckoning Barbados PX

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Dead Reckoning Barbados PX rum review by the fat rum pirateDead Reckoning Barbados PX. We continue our recent reviews of Independent bottlers with a review from the other side of the world. Today we have a rum from Aussie bottlers Dead Reckoning. I’ve covered quite a few of their releases over the past few years.

    The bottling I have in my hands today is a Barbados rum. A mix of Pot and Column distilled rum from……..you guessed it Foursquare Rum Distillery. Without doubt the “hottest” rum distillery around at the moment.

    Dead Reckoning Barbados PX has been aged for 8 years in ex-bourbon casks on site at Foursquare. It has then been aged for a further year in Adelaide in a Pedro Rodriguez PX Sherry cask which is around 40 years old. A further maturation has then taken place in a level 3 char ex-Maker’s Mark cask for 1 year again in Sunny Adelaide.sp

    The rum is a Single Barrel comprising of 370 bottles coming in at a 50% ABV. The bottle size is 700ml.In Australia where it has initially been released via The Rum Tribe it comes in at $155. Should the UK/Europe get an allocation expect a similar price point in £/Euros.

    Presentation wise we are treated to the usual black and white Dead Reckoning colour scheme and the same tried and trusted rounded stubby bottle. I like it when Indie bottlers keep a tried and tested identity. I’m a bit like with bands it irritated me immensely when Oasis and Inspiral Carpets deviated from their classic logos……

    Anyway I digress. I don’t have any back story regarding this rum as it is a bit like Ronseal and it does exactly what it says on the tin. This isn’t paying homage to any of Dead Reckoning owner Justin Boseley’s family or any notable naval event in history.

    So lets crack on see how Dead Reckoning Barbados PX goes down…..

    First up we have the colour which is a deep rich reddish/brown with a slightly orange hue around the outside.It looks a little like Rose wine in the glass.

    Thankfully it doesn’t smell like it……Dead Reckoning Barbados PX rum review by the fat rum pirate

    On the nose Dead Reckoning Barbados PX is quite acidic initially with lots of strong slightly sour fruit flavours. Stewed plums and some tart gooseberries. There is a lighter, softer note of strawberry and a touch of peach.

    Beneath this we get some nice mellow oak notes and a touch of vanilla. Some hints at coconut and a good dose of spicy zesty citrus peelings. The nose is familiar but has a lot of complexity and is very inviting.

    Sipped you initially get a lot of sweetness on the entry. Rich dark fruits – plums, blackcurrants and some sweeter notes of strawberry and some slightly tart orange/marmalade notes.

    After a couple of sips and time on the palate the rum begins to reveal more of the ex-bourbon influence. It’s not heavy on the vanilla or coconut but it does have a lot of oak influence. It has some very spicy and very enjoyable oak notes alongside something which adds a spicier profile. Some all spice and some heavier less sweet fruity notes of prune, sultana and dates come into play. I also get a nice toffee and caramel note which is warming and luxurious.

    There’s quite a lot of black pepper as we move into the mid palate and the spiciness seems to build a little along with the heat. That said it never becomes disjointed or unpleasant. It’s just adding another nice layer of flavour to the rum.

    The extra 1 year in ex-bourbon seems to have tempered the sweetness of this rum slightly. Adding a different dimension to it. In terms of a comparison this drinks more like Foursquare’s 2004-2011 series than anything which they have matured in ex-Sherry, Madeira etc.

    Dead Reckoning Barbados PX rum review by the fat rum pirateAs a result the finish is drier and less sweet than you might have expected from the initial sip. The difference between the initial sip and the finish is quite noticeable and its almost as if you are getting two rums for the price of one! The finish is almost like a bourbon.

    Which if you like bourbon as i do is far from being a problem. Dead Reckoning PX Barbados has a really long and really nice mellow finish which I really appreciate. The spiciness of the mid palate/early finish really fade out and mellow leading to a very nice ending. Touches of leather, toffee and cigar smoke.

    I will say (and this is without trying every Indie bottling)_ that I do think Justin at Dead Reckoning rum is perhaps producing rums that are the closest in terms of profile as Foursquare’s own Exceptional Cask Series. Most bottlers tend to stick with tried and trusted ex-bourbon casks only.

    Another absolute belter of a rum!

     

     

  • Foursquare Convocation

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Foursquare Convocation Rum Review by the fat rum pirateFoursquare Convocation. If like myself you have a fairly limited lexicon with regards to Latin and words derived from it you’ll have no idea what a Convocation might be. It might not even come from Latin for all I know.

    It does actually (maybe I’m not so thick after all) according to the gospel which is Wikipedia

    “A convocation (from the Latin convocare meaning to call/come together, a translation of the Greek ἐκκλησία ekklēsia) is a group of people formally assembled for a special
    purpose, mostly ecclesiastical or academic.

    The Britannica dictionary defines it as

    a large formal meeting of people (such as church officials)

    I did actually think it might be something along those lines but only really from hearing the words convent and conclave which are similar.

    Anyway, this is the 28th release in the Exceptional Cask Series. It has been just under 10 years since the Exceptional Cask Series was “revived” (there was only one previous
    release) with the Port Cask Finish and the 2004.

    How time flies.

    It is a testament to the quality of the ECS that the rums are still selling out and are much sought after by consumers. They have certainly not been a passing fad.

    Despite this only being released in the UK in the last couple of weeks there are already a few reviews floating around. My knack for being the first person to get a review out has slipped of late. I need to get that sorted and show these young whippersnappers who’s boss……….

    Foursquare Convocation is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rum. It has been distilled and aged at Foursquare Rum Distillery, Barbados. So 100% “Tropical Ageing”. The rum has been matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Madeira casks. To be more exact we have the following

    1 ex-Bourbon barrel aged for 14 years
    1 ex- Madeira barrel aged for 14 years
    1 cask ex-Bourbon aged for 10 years and then aged for 4 years in ex-Madeira.

    The above has then been blended/married to together to from the final product. Foursquare Convocation comes in at a hefty 62% ABV and (if you can still find a bottle)
    will set you back just under £100. Ivar over at Rum Revelations knocked up a review as early as May and he asked Richard Seale a few questions about the use of Madeira casks. You can read that review here.Foursquare Convocation Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Despite Foursquare having more ex-Madeira casks than ex-Sherry casks there haven’t been many ECS releases using ex-Madeira. Criterion is the last that I can think of without looking into all my reviews. That I recall being told by Richard was aged in “very old” ex-Madeira casks.

    The reason why ex-Madeira isn’t used more in the ECS is quite simple. Foursquare use the ex-Madeira Casks for their core range of Doorly’s rums. The 12 and the 14. As these are a continuous release and not a “limited edition” the ex-Madeira casks have to be more carefully managed than others.

    I think I have exhausted my information so lets see how this one goes down.

    In the glass we have a dark brown liquid with a yellow/orange hue. It looks a little cloudy – likely due to the ABV. This is not a criticism remember. This means flavour!

    On the nose it is rich, warm and invitingly familiar. The immediate hit is off rich dark stoned fruits – plums, dark cherries, raisins and some prunes. So a mixture of standard and dried fruit aromas.

    Beneath this is a lovely balanced hit of oak and all spice. Some cardamon and a touch of black pepper.

    Time in the glass alllows more of the vanilla, coconut and banana notes to come through. A nice smattering of marmalade as well fills out the profile.

    So the nose has plenty going on but its all very harmonious (and very Foursquare).

    Sipped at full strength this is quite intense – it is 62% ABV after all. It’s more than manageable though. It doesn’t drink at 62% thats for sure. Be careful is what I will say even if sipping slowly!

    Foursquare Convocation is rich, intense and quite sweet (not sweetened!). There is a big hit of Marsala cask influence straight off the bat so a lot of the rich dark fruits come through straight away. It’s quite Blackcurrant-ey. Which I don’t mind as I’m partial to Blackcurrant squash etc.

    Going past the initial intense fruity-ness you get a real hit of spicy oak. Which is dry but huge in terms of flavour. Lots of woodyness mixed with the stoned fruits and some spicy heat.

    In terms of this I think Foursquare Convocation is pretty much at its peak in terms of ageing. Any older and perhaps without the Marsala influence it may have been too oaky or woody for my tastes.

    The mid palate gives you an array of flavours with the dark fruits allowing more of the peppery notes to come through alongside some light vanilla ice cream and some papaya notes.

    Foursquare Convocation Rum Review by the fat rum pirateThe finish as you would expect from a 62% spirit is long and very, very good. It reminds of the everlasting gobstopper scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory….theres just so much going on and it never seems to completely fade.

    The fruity notes continue through the finish alongside more oak and some leather, a hint of toffee, vanillla the list goes on and on and on……..

    I’ve not had a great deal of ECS recently. I think the break has done my palate the world of good to be honest. This is (from memory) one of my most favourite ECS releases thus far.

    I really like this. Top, top drawer stuff.

     

  • Plantation Jamaica 2000

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Plantation Jamaica 2000 rum review by the fat rum piratePlantation Rum should need little introduction.  Part of Cognac Ferrand, they finish and/or age rum they procure from all around the globe in cognac and other wine casks.

    They also add “dosage” (a practice used in Cognac where sugar is added post distillation). Plantation tend to add around 16g/L on average. Their rums nearly always gain positive reviews and they have quite an extensive network of representatives and they are not afraid to promote the brand.  They have a large presence at all the more prestigious Rum Festivals and Competitions.  More often than not coming home with an array of awards.

    My overall opinion of the Plantation rums I have tasted so far have been mostly underwhelming.  Some such as the Plantation Dark I think are hugely overrated.  Others I find pleasant enough but nothing too spectacular.

    One thing I do like about Plantation is their presentation and by in large their prices.  Most rums in the Plantation range are not particularly expensive.  For their £40-45 range of rums (of which this is a part) they usually opt for the taller wine style bottle.  Complete with netting on the bottle and maps of each country/island the rum hails from and some information on how the rum is aged etc.  They also have a sticker over the top of each bottle indicating the country of origin as another nice little touch.  Presentation wise Plantation rums really do stand out and have strong brand identity.

    This pot stilled Jamaican rum comes in at 42% ABV.  It has been difficult to gain a definitive age statement on this rum, which was released onto the market a few years back now.  Eight years seems to be the most noted claim so we’ll go with that.  The notes on the bottle state only that it has been aged in small oak casks.  No information is given on the dosage or if it is “double aged” at all.  Information has led me to believe that this rum is from Hampden Estate.

    You’ll likely struggle to find this bottle on the shelves anymore I was able to pick up aPlantation Jamaica 200 rum review by the fat rum pirate pretty dusty bottle from a local off licence just a few months ago (October 2015).  I went for this over the other Plantation’s on offer as it was the only one I could identify as no longer being available.  The world has now moved onto the 2001 edition of this rum.  A 2001 edition of this rum will set you back around £40.

    In the glass the rum is a lovely mahogany colour – slightly lighter than many aged rums.  The nose is very distinctly Jamaican pot still.  Jamaican pot still rum can be quite divisive.  You either get it or you don’t.  It’s not the kind of rum you find many people noting as okay.  You usually form quite a strong opinion on Jamaican rums one way or the other.

    Which is what makes this rum so confusing.  The nose is heavy on the familiar funky notes – bruised bananas, coconut and rich tropical fruits run right through the rum.  The nose also has a burst of strong boozy notes.  However in contradiction of all these notes you also get overly sweet notes of brown sugar.  Which reminds me very much of the Plantation Dark, sadly.

    As a sipper the rum is pretty harsh and I find very jarring on the palate.  It’s initially very sweet but the sweet sugary toffee like notes are fighting with rather than complementing the pot still ester heavy notes of this rum.  Being honest if this has been aged for 8 years there is little in the profile which agrees with that.  It seems very young and very edgy.  It lacks balance and the “dosage” isn’t really rounding this rum off the way, for example Plantation Nicaragua 2001 was.

    Plantation Jamaica 200 rum review by the fat rum pirateThe only hope I feel this rum will have is a mixer.  It’s amazing how some rums really work as mixers even when they fall short as sippers.

    It’s better when mixed – in this instance with Cola but like the Plantation Dark I find it cloying.  It’s too sweet.  Again it kind of jars against the Pot Still Flavour rather than enhancing it.

    I know some in the rum world feel that I am critical of Plantation they feel I am using them as a protest against “added sugar”.  I don’t feel like this at all.  I still try Plantation rums and when I enjoy them I will state that.  I actually like the fact they are open about the added sugar debate and that they have even had the balls to enter into a discussion with none other Richard Seale about the issue.  The people I have spoken to are friendly, fun people who feel that Plantation offer something a little different.  I agree and whilst many hold up Plantation as the poster  boys for all that is wrong in the Rum World – I don’t share that view.

    That said I still haven’t enjoyed this particular expression.  I don’t agree that all Plantation rums are spectacular.  The positive reviews on other sites don’t really surprise me or influence my own opinions.  For £40 I believe you can get much better Jamaican rum.  With some styles of rum I think Plantation’s methods work very well but with Pot Still Jamaican I think they got it wrong.

    If you do like Plantation Dark then give this a go.  I just found it didn’t have the right balance and ended up too sweet and cloying.  All the pot still flavours are there but the added sweetness just doesn’t work for me.

    1.5 stars

  • Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Diamond Distillery Aged 10 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Diamond Distillery Aged 10 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateDràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Diamond Distillery Aged 10 Years. I said when reviewing the Dràm Mòr Fiji bottling a couple of days ago that I would get their other Spring release reviewed as quickly as I could. So here we are…….

    This rum hails from the Diamond Distillery, Guyana which is the home of Demerara Distillers Limited. Who produce the El Dorado range of rums and also sell a lot of bulk rum.

    A lot of this rum is used to produce the various “Demerara Rum” brands you will see such as Wood’s, Pusser’s, OVD etc. It is also used in blends and a lot of casks make their way to Independent bottlers such as Dràm Mòr.

    This rum is noted as being from the Diamond Distillery but we need to dig a bit deeper to work out exactly what type of Demerara rum this is. Over the years Guyana has lost all but one of its rum distilleries – Diamond is the only one still active. As a result of this they have acquired a number of heritage stills from other distilleries.

    As a result Demerara Distillers Limited can produce a lot of different marques of rum. Even within the same still they can produce a wide variety of different marques. This is something which has been covered quite extensively by bloggers and enthusiasts. It is perhaps only Jamaican rum which has come under similar scrutiny and interest, when it comes to identifying individual marques.

    As the stills have on some occasions been located at a number of distilleries it can get confusing. Some Independent bottlers will identify the rum by its “marque” or by the still it was produced on. Others will identify it by using the distillery it was produced at.

    This particular rum is the “MPM” marque. I’m not entirely sure what the first “M” stands for but I do know that this is from the Port Mourant still. Rums from this particular still are often noted as being “Uitvlugt” which is where the still was located prior to being moved to Diamond Distillery. Dràm Mòr are correct in identifying this rum as being from the Diamond Distillery as this rum was distilled when the still was up and running at Diamond. For clarification way back in the midst of time the Port Mourant Still was held at the Port Mourant Sugar Estate. That said you’ll not find any rum available from that time period. The factory closed in 1953.

    So we have a Port Mourant Rum. The Port Mourant still is noted as being “Double Wooden Pot Still” and rum produced on this still are used in the likes of Pusser’s and Wood’s.

    Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Diamond Distillery Aged 10 Years hails from cask #46 it has been matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished in an ex-Buffalo Trace barrel for 5 months prior to bottling. It was distilled in 2011 as mentioned already on the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still. This rum has been bottled at 55% ABV. As with all the Dràm Mòr rums so far it is a Single Cask rum with only 249 bottles being available. As per the previous Dràm Mòr releases it is available from the Good Spirits Co.  (and other retailers) priced at £55.50.

    I don’t think I have anything else to add. So we may as well get on to the fun part and get nosing and tasting.

    In the glass, we have quite a light coloured liquid. Straw in colour.

    The nose is familiar. Some nice notes of raisin and sultana alongside some of the trademark liquorice/aniseed notes that I enjoy from Port Mourant. I don’t know if it is the “finish” in the 1st Fill Buffalo Trace cask but this Port Mourant seems more vanilla-ey than usual. Large wafts of vanilla ice cream and some toffee sauce come into play. I’ve got to say I rather like this “softer” profile.

    There isn’t a great deal of “menace” or aggressive spices. I’m not getting much oak or any kind of chilli/pepper profile. On further nosing I’m getting quite a strawberries and cream kind of note as well.

    I’m enjoying this nose it’s sweet (not sweetened) and inviting. It has enough complexity as well to make me wonder quite how the rum will taste.

    At 55% ABV it is quite an easy drinker. It’s certainly more “savoury” than the nose suggested. The initial sip has a nice depth of spice and we are getting some warming oak notes. The aniseed note is there as well giving it a nice kick.

    It’s quite malty and a little whisky-esque as we move into the mid palate. The vanilla and strawberry notes on the nose were only briefly present on the entry. They now give way to a more cask driven kind of flavour.

    Overall this isn’t the most powerful Port Mourant I have had. It’s quite light in profile. That being said it is does have a nice mix and complexity. There is a fair bit going on with this rum. It’s just not going to be knocking anyone socks off. Actually, it might as the ABV is quite high but its dangerously drinkable………

    Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Diamond Distillery Aged 10 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateAt 10 years old the finish is decent enough but it does fade out a little quicker than I might have hoped. It becomes almost a little hoppy in parts and it feels a little like an aged bourbon.

    Which is not a problem for me as I really enjoy an aged bourbon. Overall this isn’t quite as good as the excellent Fiji bottling. It is still a very nice example of the Port Mourant still. At the price its not going to break the bank either. It’s the kind of rum you could happily have a couple of glasses of an evening, without having to scrutinise in too much detail.

    This has a really good balance of flavour and I think the Buffalo Trace finish has possibly given it a bit more of a rounded profile.

    Good stuff.

  • Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum Review by the fat rum pirateJamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum. I’ve noticed a few Ginger flavoured rums appear on the market over the past couple of years. We’ve always tried on this site to help with people’s curiosity when usual or different rums appear. Especially when they are priced at the mid and lower end of the market.

    I’ve no doubt a number of you may have seen this rum online and thought what a Black Ginger rum might well taste like. I know I was certainly curious to find out.

    Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum was released in 2017. It is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rums from Hampden Estate, Clarendon and Worthy Park. The rums are aged between 2 and 3 years. The rum is then infused with Ginger and other botanicals to create Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum. It has already been picked up in quite a lot of retailers and you should find a bottle of this priced at around £26. Refreshingly for a flavoured rum it is bottled at 40% ABV and comes in a 70cl bottle. You often get short-changed with both ABV and bottle size with more “exotic” flavoured rums.

    Jamaica Cove refers to the coves used by smugglers to hide their precious booty of Jamaican rum back in the mists of time around the Southern Coast of England. Places like Falmouth on the Cornish coast.

    Presentation wise you get a nice stubby bottle and a very nice synthetic plastic topped stopper which alongside the presentation gives the rum a more premium feel. Also available in the Jamaica Cove range is a Black Pineapple rum which I am very interested to try following all the fuss about Plantation’s Stiggins’ Fancy a couple of years back. Might we have a competitor?

    We’ll find out another day. Today we will see exactly what a Black Ginger Rum tastes like…….Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum is a dark to orange/golden brown. It’s quite vivid with orange and red flashes throughout.

    On the nose you are met immediately by a sweet very fruity aroma. Hints of pineapple, mango and fruity boiled sweets.

    Despite the initial sweetness further nosing reveals more of the actual rum in the blend. Which is a good thing. You aren’t getting huge amouts of heavy Pot Still Jamaican rum but you are getting enough of the rummyness to still be convinced that this is a flavoured rum. Some of the sweeter notes are definitely the Jamaican rum base.

    The nose is all wrapped up with the ginger though. Sweet stem ginger biscuits – it gives a really nice spicy note.

    Taking a sip on the rum reveals even more of the ginger. The sweeter notes retreat a little revealing more of the Jamaican rum which nestles nicely alongside the Ginger. I’m now getting McVities Ginger Cake and Ginger Parkin (a cross between a cake and a biscuit). The rum is slightly harsh when sipped – quite a lot of alcohol coming though.

    That said I don’t mind that at all because it at least shows this hasn’t been sweetened to silly levels. The hydrometer actually shows only a trace of additives. The rum is botted at 40% ABV and the hydrometer returned 39.5% which would suggest around 4-5 grams per litre of additives.

    Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum Review by the fat rum pirateBut really I wasn’t expecting this to be a stellar sipping experience. I was expecting to end up mixing this rum. Which is where you will have few complaints. It makes a really good Dark and Stormy when mixed with Ginger Beer – Ginger Ale works well also. Surprisingly the drink doesn’t become overpoweringly ginger.

    Mixed with cola I have really enjoyed the Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum. The rum isn’t overly sweet and the ginger flavour works well alongside the Jamaican rum. It’s a really nice combination.

    As a flavoured rum this works really well and gives a really nice twist in mixed drinks. The ginger flavour is pretty authentic and as mentioned it’s not overly sweetened or over the top.

     

     

  • Cane Island Dominican Republic Aged 5 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    CANE ISLAND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RUM AGED 5 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateCane Island Dominican Republic Aged 5 Years is the final review in the recently released trio of rums from Cane Island.

    As mentioned previously Cane Island are a new Independent bottler – at the moment their rums are only available from shops in Amsterdam.  Luckily most of these stores deliver to the UK so I didn’t miss out on trying these rums.

    For me when it comes to Independent bottlings it seems that Demerara, Caroni (Trinidad) and Jamaican rums are the most popular offerings.  There are perhaps a few reasons for this – DDL do not release many rums that do not have additives – a gap in the market which Velier expertly exploited which heightened peoples awareness of Demerara rum without additives.  Velier were also in the favourable position of being able to have their rums aged in Guyana – unlike the rest of the competition.

    Even said European aged Demerara is still very popular.  The myth that is built around the Caroni distillery and their “heavy” style rums ensures their enduring popularity.  Jamaican rum is popular because Appleton apart none of the Jamaican rum distilleries release many aged products.  So if you want aged Hampden or Long Pond rums you must buy independently.  The likes of Monymusk and Worthy Park are moving into the aged market.

    So this makes a couple of Cane Island’s releases a little more interesting.  Especially this one.  Rums from the Dominican Republic are very popular especially in Spain.  Brands such as Brugal, Bermudez and Barceló are well known and well recognised.  Oliver & Oliver also have numerous bottlings available in numerous guises.

    Very few indie bottlers have put out any Dominican rum.  This rum is aged for 5 years and has been column distilled at “Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos” the distillery location noted on the bottle is “San Pedro de Macoris”.  Which is the distillery which produces the Ron Barceló brand amongst others.

    The rum from the Dominican Republic is produced in the “latin” style additives and adulteration take many different forms and information is hard to come by.  The hydrometer reveals 12g/L of “additives” in this rum.  It is likely this rum will be a light, approachable and sweet rum.

    A 70cl bottle will cost around 40 euros – again slightly more expensive than the branded equivalent.   It should be noted though that the likes of Brugal. Barceló and Bermudez do not note ages of their rums..

    The rum is noted as being column distilled and aged in American Oak (Bourbon) barrels.  No details of any “finish” or second maturation are noted.

    In the glass the rum is a little dull – its not a particularly vibrant colour, it looks a little washed out.  It’s an ungolden brown.

    The nose is not overly impressive either.  It’s quite muted and I’m not getting a great deal from it.  There is a slight sweetness to it.  It smells a little Cuban.  It’s very light and easy going.  There is nothing offensive about it but at the same time nothing exciting either. It has a slightly floral note lurking in the background.

    When sipped it initially is quite “boozy”.  It’s youthful and the alcohol really comes out.  Further sips reveal more of the sweetness hinted at on the nose.  It’s a very familiar rum – it reminds me of Botran or a younger Panama rum.  It is not as sweet and as layered with chocolate notes, like Barceló Imperial nor is it is a dry and briny as Brugal.

    Although the nose and appearance were a little disappointing its not an unpleasant experience sipping this rum.  At 5 years old it still has some of the youthful alcohol notes.  I enjoy these as they make it more “rummy”.  This make it less generic than some of the lighter column distilled rums from this part of the world.

    It’s not massively sweet and is quite dry (especially on the finish).  It also has some nice spicy oak. A good deal of interaction with the barrel giving it some sweet/sour notes.

    It’s a light latin style rum but its not afraid to show its teeth.  I wouldn’t call it particularly meaty or complex but it does have a bit of a twist and an extra dimension.  It’s easy to drink but it does give you a little bit of a kick.

    All in all much better than I had imagined.

5 Comments

  1. Pingback: Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum – Review – The Lone Caner

  2. I have only had this once, and it reminded me (without directly having them side by side) of Myers’s Dark. How do you compare the two?

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