Bristol Classic Rum are an Independent bottler based unsurprisingly in Bristol, England.  Over the years they have released several variations of their 1990 and 1999 Port Morant Demerara rums. NB Port Morant is their spelling error not mine I’m aware it should really be Mourant.

This is the latest release of their 1990 distillate and it comes in the typical red colour scheme.  Much like Veliers bottlings they stick to certain colours for rums from a particular still.

I first became aware of this rum via a picture on Romhatten (a Danish rum community led by Mads Heitmann).  Denmark has a thriving rum scene and Bristol Classic Rum have released several Danish only editions of their rums.  It is likely that Bristol Classic Rum are more popular in Denmark than in their native UK.

Presentation wise this Port Morant comes in a clear stubby bottle which is typical of Bristols more recent bottlings.  It has a slightly DIY feel to it with a standard black tube which has the same sticker as one the bottle.  The bottle is sealed with foil and beneath is a plastic topped cork stopper.

This rum retails at around the £100 mark for a 70cl bottle and has been bottled at 46% ABV.

The Port Mourant still is housed at Demerara Distillers Limited or if you prefer the Diamond Distillery.  To be honest I’ve read a lot about the various stills and former distilleries based in Guyana and I still always double check my facts prior to any review.  The Port Mourant still is a Double Wooden Pot Still it was originally housed on the Port Mourant Estate (back in 1732) and moved from Uitvluigt to Diamond in 2000. It is used in the El Dorado 15 Year Old and is also a major component in Pussers 15 Year Old and their regular rums.

I very much enjoyed my previous Port Morant from Bristol, which was this rums 17 year old younger brother.  That rum was finished in Port Pipes for two years. This rum has been finished, since 2005 in Oloroso Sherry casks.  Both rums were aged prior to that in Bourbon casks.

The rum is a lovely dark to golden brown with flashes of red.  It’s difficult to determine whether this is due to the ageing as DDL have admitted to adding E150 (Caramel) prior to ageing.  Nonetheless its a nice colour.  I think a lot of the colour is due to the Oloroso finish as its noticeably darker than the 17 year old.

The nose is very pronounced a big hit of aniseed, some nice almost chocolate like notes, nice rich dried fruits.  This rum has been aged mainly in the UK – so the oak ageing notes are less prominent. The Sherry Cask finish, (10 years is some finish its more like double ageing) and the extra years ageing have really rounded off the rough edges of this rum.

In the 17 year old there was still a slightly off note in the finish – a little sulphuric, it was still ever so slightly grassy which stopped me awarding it a higher mark.

This rum has really benefited from the 10 years in Oloroso Sherry cask and the extra ageing.  All of Bristols rums are interesting and worth trying but this is amongst one of their very best to date.

It is smooth and surprisingly easy to drink – yet it packs a lot of flavour.  Like a lot of Bristol’s rums its a very clean pure tasting spirit.  On entry you are taken by the sweetness of the sherry yet also hit by the drier aniseed flavour which quickly takes over.  This in turn gives way to more subtle notes of chocolate and cocoa.  The sweetness remains in the finish along with the aniseed which is the last flavour to remain on the palate.

This is a step up from the 17 year old – as good a Port Mo(u)rant as I have had so far.  I will put off awarding a maximum score for this as I haven’t tried a Tropically aged Port Mo(u)rant as yet.

A very unique rum from a very unique bottler!