Dead Reckoning T.C.B. Another release from Australian Indie bottlers Dead Reckoning. This time we have a Three Continent Blend (T.C.B.) rather than a rum from a single distillery or even rums from the same Continent.

In this particularly bottling we have rums from South America, Asia and Africa. So three different continents. The rums are sourced from Guyana (South America), Vietnam (Asia) and finally South Africa (Africa).

The Guyanese rum is a blend of rums from Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and makes up 8% of the total blend. The rums are from the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still, the Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still and the Enmore Wooden Coffey Still.

The Vietnamese rum comes from Distillerie d’Indochine home of Sampan rum and makes up 36% of the overall blend. This is (or was when Justin acquired it) unaged column distilled Cane Juice rum.

South Africa is represented by Mhoba Rum. This is also a Cane Juice rum but this is Pot Distilled.

It is noted on the bottle that Dead Reckoning T.C.B. has been aged (on average) for 2-5 years in the tropics with a further 18 months maturation in Australia. Due to the 0% humidity where Justin ages his rum losses to evaporation stood at a staggering 27% in just 18 months!

Dead Reckoning T.C.B. comes in the now familiar 3/4 rounded stubby bottle with a nice chunky stopper and maximum information on the bottle. With no marketing waffle. It is bottled at a beefy 50.3% ABV and has no additives or colourings. This release was only available in Australia via The Rum Tribe and is now sold out. It was a release of just 185 bottles retailing at $139.

I’m reviewing this as its a really interesting rum and one I wanted to share my thoughts on. If you can find a bottle at auction or the secondary market. Then this review might help you decide whether you want to bid on it.

You can read more of Justin’s thoughts on this blend and its make up over at The Rum Tribe. It’s really worth a read. I was going to include some excerpts here but felt its best read in full.

So lets see how this one goes down.

In the glass we are presented with a medium golden brown rum. It’s a little “dull” I guess and a touch cloudy but nothing for us to be worrying about. I’m not even sure why I still mention colour – its pretty meaningless after all. Anyway I digress….

On the nose it is very vibrant and fruity. Sweet but not sweetened. I’m getting notes of Peach, Strawberry and hints of Fruit Salad sweets (UK chewy confectionary for those who don’t know – nice but superseded by their stable mate the Black Jack). Notes of tangerine and mandarin, some Pear Drops.

Beneath this and with further nosing you get more of the Guyana influence. It’s quite an oily almost Caroni like note – petrol and a touch of something slightly rubbery/plastic. Bit of burnt tyres.

This is rounded of by some more familiar oaky bourbon notes. Overall the nose is very enjoyable and pretty complex.

I was expecting a more grassy and vegetal experience to be honest. I’m wondering if the Guyana element albeit in small, is playing those elements down a little.

On the first sip I immediately get a little more of the cane juice elements. With the Mhoba influence being felt quite strongly. There’s a nice clean grassiness mingling alongside some light tar and some salty notes. Theres a bit of “dirtiness” or menace about this rum – which I like. It’s a big blend of rums and its not afraid to show its teeth.

Further sips reveal some sweetness with green apples and peaches putting in another appearance.

Theres a lot going on and I’m getting some liquorice and a touch of menthol as we move down into the mid palate. Some nice oak notes and some black tea also put in an appearance.

Finish wise it is long and as complex as the rest of the rum. It has a nice burn to it and a good length which keeps on giving up more tarry and briny notes alongside the oak. The lighter fruitier notes fade out on the finish leading a smoky, tarry ending. Bit of shoe leather and some burnt tyres again.

All in all this is a good blend and very interesting. I’m pleased I got a chance to try ut out! Have plenty more coming from Dead Reckoning as well!