Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery

Bythefatrumpirate

Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery. Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery. This bottling opens Distilia’s “Floral Rum Series”, which helps explain the presentation.

Distilia was set up by Spirits Afficionado’s Jakub Baginiski and Piotr Kossowski, initially they released long aged whisky from Karuizawa, Glenfarcas and Clynelish amongst others.

Now they have begun to release their own “brand” of rare rums from all around the world. For more information on Distilia you can visit their website here.

Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery is a rum which was distilled in 1998 at Caroni Distillery, Trinidad. It was bottled in 2022. It has been bottled at Cask Strength of 60.2%. Chaconia has enjoyed over 10 years Tropical Ageing before being move to Europe. It has been aged in an ex-bourbon barrel. There are only 139 70cl bottles of this available. It is noted as being “Heavy Trinidad Rum” on the front label.

Presentation wise the bottle and Cardboard sleeve are adorned by the Chaconia. The Chaconia is the National Flower of Trinidad and Tobago. The bottle itself is a 3/4 stubby style bottle with a short neck and chunky wooden topped cork stopper. The presentation is all very premium.

To be fair so it should be as this is a long aged and rare example of Caroni rum. At this stage you are probably wondering what the retail price of such a bottling might be.

There is actually no RRP for this rum, not will you find it in any shops. For this release Distilia are working with global auction site Catawiki to sell these bottles. So the price is pretty much what people are willing to pay. You can view the initial auctions here to get an idea of the price a bottle might fetch.Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery rum review by the fat rum pirate.

In the glass I am presented with a dark brown liquid with a distinct orange hue. Nosing Chaconia I am in familiar territory. I’ve had a fair bit of Caroni and this is certainly a nice example of a more balanced Caroni nose.

Whilst the familiar petrol, varnish, smoky almost peated notes are all accounted for I am also getting a nice sweeter hit of stoned fruits and even dare I say – a touch of vanilla. Something just a little softer.

Despite being 60.2% ABV the nose is not at all over powering and is very enjoyable and complex. There’s quite a bit going on once you get past the “stronger” notes – some peanut oil, hints of English Breakfast Tea, buttered toast and some marmalade.

It’s all very interesting and nose wise it is certainly up there for me with the best Caroni’s I have nosed.

Sipped, the rum is initiallly quite smoky and dry. Quite oaky with a fair amount of burn (which I personally expect and enjoy at this ABV). A few sips in and more of the nose begins to come into play.

The smokiness gives way to the varnish and shoe polish notes along with some burnt tyres. Beneath this you get a slight bitter-sweet note. A slightly medicinal almost tannic hit as well as it moves into the mid palate.

The mid palate grows with layers of oak and some dark stoned fruits almost like red Distilia Chaconia 24 YO Distilled at Caroni Distillery rum review by the fat rum pirate. wine. The rum is thick and heavy. As it moves into the finish I’m getting notes of cocoa and bitter dark chocolate alongside a touch of dark stewed figs.

The finish is long and smoky with a lovely hit of charred oak and dark stoned fruits.

This is a great example of Caroni’s Heavy Style Rum. It is not everyone’s cup of tea but those who enjoy this type of rum will appreciate this. With this being released at auction only, it is difficult to determine how much it will eventually sell for. Whilst I am sure a fair amount will go to collectors rather than drinkers – it will be those collectors who are really missing out.

If they never try this rum.

 

 

Similar Posts

  • The Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden 2000 Berry Bros & Rudd

    Bythefatrumpirate

    The Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden 2002 Berry Bros & Rudd Rum Review by the fat rum pirateThe Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden 2000 Berry Bros & Rudd. Popular Independent Whisky retailer The Whisky Barrel have once again teamed up with London Independent bottler Berry Bros & Rudd to give us another exclusive Single Cask rum release.

    This time we aren’t in Trinidad but instead we have a rum from the increasingly iconic Hampden Distillery in Jamaica.

    Presentation wise the The Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden comes in your standard tall Berrys’ bottle and comes with a nice cork stopper. Berrys’ have recently updated the typeface and made slight changes to the presentation of their bottles. It’s also encouraging to see Cask Strength releases from them. They did tend to bottle their rums at 46% ABV which was a bit of an issue for some.

    This 17 Year Old European Aged Jamaican Hampden Rum was distilled back in September 2000. It was bottled in early 2018 by Berrys’ exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. It is cask number #31 and is bottled at Cask Strength of 55.4% ABV. We have a run of just 220 bottles. It is currently priced at £75.60 exactly for 70cl of Jamaican rum goodness. It is noted on the front label as being Pot Still rum.

    There isn’t a many mention of where this rum was aged. I’ve mentioned this before but as far as I know at this time Hampden did not age any stock in Jamaica. The rum will have been sold as bulk rum to blenders and brokers in Europe. It is likely this rum has been aged in Liverpool or Bonny Scotland.The Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden 2000 Berry Bros & Rudd Rum Review by the Fat Rum Pirate

    I really enjoyed the previous Whisky Barrel exclusive so we’ll get on with it and see how this one is!

    In the glass the Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden is a straw to dull gold colour. It looks a touch hazy. Perhaps minimal filtration with this one.

    The nose is best described as very ripe – pungent. Sharp notes of medicinal funk – menthol, peppermints and a hit of almost sour Pineapple and Grapefruit. Zesty citrus fruits – Kumquats and sharp bitter Limes. We are getting into Long Pond territory but it dials back slightly toffee and brown sugar. Some Banana pudding and just enough oak to add an add a touch of refinement. It’s up there so far, so lets see how it sips.

    The entry is quite spicy and very tangy – again quite a lot of citrus peel. Minty and fresh tasting. Vibrant and surprisingly sweet “boozy” notes. Rum soaked bananas. Banana fritters in boozy batter. Pineapples again – that grapefruit won’t go away either. There are some notes of white pepper and a touch of ginger and all spice.

    The mid palate reveals more of the barrel influence with woody oaked notes coming into play as the spiciness of the initial sips subdues a little. This is a very funky, medicinal kind of Jamaican rum but it has a sweetness to it which really appeals to me.

    In many ways it still feels young, fresh and a little raw but it makes for an amazingly complex sipper.

    The finish is not overly long and is the less intense part of the drink. You feel it is very short at first because their is so much flavour in the liquid – what is left behind seems at first to be insignificant. Give it time though and you will realise their is a light nicely The Whisky Barrel 17 Year Old Hampden 2000 Berry Bros & Ruddbalanced spicy burn left behind along with just a little tongue tingling spice.

    I may have enjoyed this at a younger age – again the sweeter notes. It’s not hugely oaky or anywhere near over oaked but I personally would have preferred more of the boozy sweet menthol notes

    This is a rum which is certainly up there with the best Jamaicans I have tried so far. There are a lot of Independent Hampdens out there at the moment. Some are a lot more this expensive than this. I like what the Whisky Barrel are doing with their Indie rum selection so I’ll definitely pick up one or two of these!

    PS Berry Bros & Rudd are okay as well I suppose….

     

     

     

  • Mhoba Pot Stilled White Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Mhoba White Potstilled Rum review by the fat rum pirateMhoba Pot Stilled White Rum. I first came across Mhoba Rum at London Rumfest a few years ago. 2017?

    At the beginning there was a bit skepticism surrounding the brand. They had pretty much rocked over from South Africa. Hardly a hot bed of rum and had a big-ish selection. Not just one or two expressions of Pure Single Sugarcane Rum, as they called it. Okay, they had 4 expressions but it seemed a lot more at the time…….

    Agricole Rhum from South Africa? Tasted really nice but is there any added sugar? Isn’t the branding all just a bit too slick? Is it too good to be true?

    There were a lot of doubts about the brand from a lot of Rum Enthusiasts at the festival. To be honest, they can be a funny bunch. When presented with something a little different, they can often seek validation from others before stating their own opinions. I remember saying I thought it was pretty good but I would like to test it under a Hydrometer. It seemed a little too smooth.

    I’ve tried Mhoba at that Rumfest and everyone since, I think. I’ve always enjoyed the rums but no particular one ever stuck in my mind as a must have. So I didn’t buy any until recently. I felt it was about time that we got some Mhoba Rum on the website. So I’ve got 8 of their expressions to review. As a result I’ll keep back some background information and opinion for some of the other reviews. I’ll try and concentrate on each particular rum as much as I can.

    I’m not aware of reviewing any rum so far from the continent of Africa? No hang on, Madagascar is Africa so I reviewed a Dzama rum a while back. Maybe my geography is off for some others as well. Apologies if it is.

    So first up we have Mhoba’s” cheapest” rum. Their Pot Stilled White Rum. This rum has an ABV of 43%. In the UK it is readily available. You can currently pick up a bottle from The Whisky Exchange for £38.75 for a 70cl. All of Mhoba’s rums come in the 3/4 style square flask bottle with a short neck and synthetic cork stopper. As mentioned earlier, the branding is very slick and very modern. Not as “rustic” as some other rums from similar parts of the world.

    Mhoba Pot Stilled White Rum is produced from estate grown Nkomazi sugar cane at the Mhoba Sugar Estate, which is near the small village of Malalane in South Africa. Mhoba Rum is a farm to bottle outfit.

    The rum is produced from hand cut estate sugar cane which is fermented for 7-10 days using traditional bakers yeast, with no temperature control. The resulting wash is then double distilled in hand built (by owner Robert Greaves) Pot Stills, of which Mhoba have 3.Mhoba White Potstilled Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    It is then reduced down with local pure spring water to 43% ABV before being hand bottled.

    So lets see how Mhoba White Potstilled Rum smells and tastes.

    First up I will confirm that everything Mhoba have said about no additives in their rums is true. This rum came up clean as per the Hydrometer. So we’re off to a good start.

    The nose is crisp and clean, not as grassy or vegetal, nor as alcohol forward as I would expect of an unaged spirit. The double distillation seems to have added a smoothness to this rum. It’s quite an unusual nose with nods to Agricole in terms of the more vegetal notes but there is also a sweet molasses note which reminds me of younger white rum rather than rhum.

    Just to add an extra layer – their is also a milky/sour cream note commonly found in cachaça.

    Further nosing reveals some chilli heat, ginger and slight zestyness. There is certainly a lot going on with this white rum.

    Sipped it is very smooth. It goes down very  easily. Initially the nose translates the funkier vegetal notes on to the palate but it quickly switches to reveal sweeter notes and a touch of smokiness. It’s much cleaner and less funky than I recall some of the higher ABV Mhobas being.

    Further sips confirm that this is a really clean and crisp, almost palate cleansing white rum. It is fairly unique and certainly carries a very interesting profile.

    There are no real off notes with this rum and whilst I doubt I would regularly sit and sip it, I am expecting that it will shine even more when used in some mixed drinks.Mhoba White Potstilled Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    It works really well in both traditional drinks calling for both White Agricole and Cachaca so Ti Punches, Mojitos and Caiprinhas all benefit from the smoothness of the rum and its punchy sweeter/vegetal notes. The creaminess in particular really comes out adding a nice twist.

    It works a little better than most White Agricole with cola but only hardcore Rum and Coke devotees like myself will worry about that.

    This is a decent start. I hope you’ll continue this Mhoba journey with me. If you wish to do a LOT of background reading on Mhoba Rum then my good mate Steven James over at The Rum Diaries Blog has produced an absolutely outstanding series of articles on the producer.

    This has been a bloody good introduction to Mhoba.

     

  • XM VXO 7 Years Finest Caribbean Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    XM VXO RumAt the time of buying this I hadn’t tried much in the way of Demerara Rum other than the supermarket “Navy” style rum’s.  So I thought I would give this a try.  It was very highly regarded on The Whisky Exchange (I get a lot of rum online due to the lack of variety and specialist shops up here in the North East).

    This rum is blended and bottled by Banks DIH who deal in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and also have restaurants and bars in Guyana. However, it is noted on the bottle it is a Caribbean rum rather than Demerara. The reason behind this is simple – the rum is not from Demerara County, Guyana. The heritage of the rums used in the blend I have yet to confirm. Any information would be gratefully accepted.  The XM brand of rum has its own website here.

    The rum comes in a stubby style bottle as pictured. The labelling is a little busy for my liking (the older expressions seem to be slightly classier) and the metal screw top was a bit disappointing.

    On pouring, the rum is a dark brown/copper colour, not as dark as cheaper Demerara’s such as Skipper and O.V.D.  Interesting it isn’t as dark as the El Dorado 12 or 15-year-old. Whilst this rum isn’t a true Demerara rum it tastes quite alike the El Dorado rums. So much so I was genuinely shocked that it is over 20 years since Banks DIH used rums from DDL.

    The rum is quite thick and clings to the side of the glass when poured.  It’s a very sweet rum but unlike O.V.D it doesn’t have the bitter after taste that spoils that rum. It has more depth of flavour than Skipper rum.  The rum isn’t in the class of the El Dorado 15-year-old (its around £20 cheaper for a start) but it definitely has similarities.  It compares favourably with the 8-year-old El Dorado

    I paid around £25 for this bottle of rum. In comparison to the similarly priced El Dorado 5 Year Old this is much better in my opinion.  The El Dorado 5-year-old lends itself more to fruity cocktails where this sits well on the rocks or with a little cola.  It would be interesting to taste this in comparison to the El Dorado 8 Year Old.

    All in all a very pleasant sweet tasting rum with more depth than you might expect.  It can be sipped, enjoyed with cola or probably even on a dessert such as Ice Cream.

    I will be trying other rums in their range.

    4 stars

     

  • Six Saints Caribbean Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Six Saints Caribbean Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSix Saints Caribbean Rum. Hailing from the island of Grenada via spirits importer Crucial Drinks comes Six Saints Caribbean Rum. I was told some time ago that this rum was the “same” as Clarke Court’s Old Grog Rum. Quite who, when and where  was told that I don’t know.

    Anyway, although I enjoyed Old Grog back in the day the review dates back to 2014, looking back I do think it had an almost artificial banana flavour added to it. Maybe I should get another sample and do a re-review? We’ll see.

    Six Saints Caribbean Rum was a rum I avoided for another reason as well. Despite there being two active distilleries on Grenada – Grenada Distillers Limited (Clarkes Court) and River Antoine (Rivers Royale) there was one other rum producer Westerhall Estate. They no longer distill their own rums. Instead using rum from Trinidad and now Barbados and blending it. I feared because Six Saints was marketed as Caribbean rum hailing from Grenada rather than specifically saying it’s distilled at a specific distillery – it might have been similar to Westerhall.

    Anyway this was on offer at Amazon for around £25 a bottle so I thought I would finally give it a spin. Upon carrying out a little more research at the brands website, I am pretty sure this rum is distilled at Grenada Distillers Limited. It notes the distillery is in the south of the island near the capital St.George and became active in 1937.

    Six Saints Caribbean Rum is a “small batch” rum which is bottled at 41.7% ABV 100% tropically aged in ex-bourbon barrels. As far as I am aware they do not have Pot Stills at Grenada Distillers so this is column distilled rum. In the UK it retails at around £30. The website seems to have it priced quite competitively at £25.99 Six Saints Caribbean Rum Review by the fat rum pirateat the moment.

    There aren’t that many reviews of this rum – or indeed Clarkes Court products in general. Distribution of Six Saints seems to focus on the UK. Recently the brand have released a few different “finished” rums. Presention wise the label is quite busy and I like the squat bottle and the cork stopper is a nice touch. I would prefer a bit more information about the actual rum though. Tales and background are nice but I like to know exactly what the juice is inside.

    I’ve never really heard anyone say anything about this rum so it’ll be interesting to see how i find it.

    In the glass we have a fairly light spirit. Lacking an age statement I would guess this is around 3-4 years old. It’s shade darker perhaps than straw.

    The nose is also quite light with a fair amount of vanilla and some gent

    le oak spicings, It’s quite similar to an Angostura rum but isn’t quite as heavy on the vanilla. (This doesn’t have any additives).

    It’s reasonably pleasant but you do get a bit of young sweet alcohol. It’s not the most complex or challenging of noses. There’s a little brown sugar and some light ginger but it’s not taking long to work out.

    Sipped it has a pleasant mildly sweet entry with lots of vanilla and light toffee. Plenty of dry oak and spices make this taste a lot better than it smelled. Certainly more complex and with quite a nice overall profile.

    It’s short though – the mid palate doesn’t evolve much and the finish disappears pretty quickly. It’s a very dry rum but not one with any discernable length or overall complexity. You get an initial burst of flavour and then it kind of just disappears. It reminds in many ways of young South/Central American rums such as Flor de Cana 5. What is there flavourwise isn’t too shabby but it’s not a very long lasting experience.

    It’s not unpleasant or inoffensive in anyway but it lacks any real complex body. It’s just not terribly exciting. I prefer some of the rums from Clarkes Court themselves over this to be honest.

    Six Saints Caribbean Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAt the price I paid I didn’t mind putting Six Saints Caribbean Rum into a few mixed drinks. It made a decent if somewhat pedestrian rum and cola. It didn’t add a great deal of anything to most things though. It’s functional and serviceable. I can’t imagine anyone getting to excited about this.

    By no way is this a dreadful rum – it has no additives and has been aged for a decent period and it has no real off notes. It just has little to get excited about.

    As average as average can be.

     

     

     

  • Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente by the fat rum pirateFoursquare Rum Distillery Détente. As you will all know Détente is French and is used to refer to a relaxation of strained relations, through verbal communication. Well that’s what Wikipedia says anyway………

    It is often used when referencing relationships between the USSR and the West during the Cold War. Bearing in mind the current relations between certain rum producers, this choice of name does seem a little odd. Whether this indicates a sign of a “relaxing” of hostilities, I am not so sure. I suspect it might not be!

    As with all Foursquare releases we have a lot of information on what has gone into this bottle of rum. First, I will offer my view on this particular release which I believe is following a particular path. I suspect a few of you will have already picked up upon this.

    As we all should know Foursquare are very much against sweetened rum, especially sweetened Barbados rum. Now a lot of people believe that “Sweetened” rum can work as a entry into more Premium rums. I know a lot of people in the rum world who got into rum via something like Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Plantation, Pampero etc. For some Spiced rums were their first experience of rum. I still remember having a “Scary Jerry” or two back in the 00’s……

    Now back when the Exceptional Cask Series was re-introduced (after the sole 1998 release) the whole “added sugar” debate was in full swing. A lot of people were really starting to tune into “authentic” rum without additives. Tired of being duped by “Premium” brands. However, to go from “sugar bombs” to cask strength rums from the likes of Caroni and Hampden – is to be fair quite a stretch.

    Now if we chart back the Exceptional Cask Series you will see that a number of the rums have been released at Cask Strength. Not all though. You will also note that the second release Port Cask Finish was released at 40% in June 2014, this was followed in September 2015 by the Zinfandel Cask Blend at 43% ABV. We then had to wait around a little while for the next rum, I believe to be in this little series Premise in January 2018 which came in at 46% ABV.

    Fast forward to August 2019 and we had Sagacity at 48% ABV. Each of these rums had a mixture of ex-bourbon an ex-wine cask maturation. It is perhaps more telling how “approachable” they were. If you look through the ECS series and the Velier releases you will notice that there is a “connection” between quite a few of the rums. I won’t spoil all your fun so have a little look yourselves.

    So as we move through 2020 we are now confronted with Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente released at 51% ABV and partially matured in ex-port casks. Is this the Port Cask Finish for 2020? God knows 2020 needs it!

    In short what I am saying is that Foursquare have introduced a range of sweet (but not sweetened) approachable, yet complex rums and have slowly lifted the ABV to suit the changing mood of the market. I dare say there will be a number of people who have followed the Foursquare journey who never thought they would be able to appreciate rum at a 50% plus ABV. Not in any macho kind of way but lets be fair the less water the more flavour.

    Anyway thats my theory and I’m sticking to it……….

    Shall we get back to Détente now? Yes we best, still got a bit of information on that to cover before I get to the fun part!

    Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente by the fat rum pirateAs with all ECS releases the rum comes in the usual stubby bottle with the Foursquare “medal” around the neck and the new(ish) synthetic cork stoppers to stop all the moaning about corks breaking……

    Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente is Mark XIV (14 in English). It comprises a blend of rums from both the Artisanal Double-Retort Pot & Traditional Twin Column Coffey Still.

    In fact it is a blend of two single blended rums – one aged 10 years entirely in Ex-Bourbon barrels, and the other aged 4 years in Ex-Bourbon Barrels, then transferred to Ex-Port Casks for an additional 6 years.

    All rum is aged in total for 10 years. Bottled at 51% ABV in August 2020.
    I think it’s about time for the fun part don’t you?
    In the glass we have a dark to golden brown rum with a reddish/orange hue. Very slightly murky/hazy (suggesting no chill filtration) but only a touch. It might be my manky glass maybe?
    The nose of Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente, is soft and fruity. Strawberries, raisin and some baked apple. Nice hit of Coconut Ice (sweetened coconut confectionary sold over here). Blackcurrants and a very slight note of white pepper and some bourbon and vanilla notes.
    For something at 51% ABV it displays very little by way of alcohol. Or for that matter anything bordering on what I might call “boozy fumes”. It has a really wonderful balance to it and the fruity aromas are fantastic.
    Sipped, it’s got more body on the initial entry than the nosing might suggest. Which is a good thing. It’s got a lovely sweet note on the initial entry but it has a really welcoming hit of oak spices and some heat, but again the balance overall is exceptional.
    Now I really find these 46-52 (ish) percent spirits kind of hit a soft spot for me. Whilst I can and do drink Cask Strength I think this particular “style” of rum works really well for me. I know other people are less keen on the “series” of ECS rums I have detailed earlier. I’m personally a big fan.
    The mid palate evolves into a big hit of raisin, blackcurrant, stewed apples and some dark chocolate with red chilli(?).
    The blend of ex-bourbon and partially matured ex-port cask rum really brings this rum alive and gives it an a real edge. On one hand you are getting all the sweet notes from the Port cask but at the same time you are getting some of the Bourbon-esque spice and vanilla you find in something like Foursquare 2004. This is a bit like a combo of Port Cask Finish and that rum.
    Which is pretty delightful it has to be said.
    Foursquare Rum Distillery Détente by the fat rum pirateFinish wise we get some real Port like notes and what I would refer to as some really dry fruity cask like notes. My mouth feels like an oak cask drying out and taking on those flavours. It’s quite a long fade out and it builds with intensity. Lots of stone fruits – blackcurrants, redcurrants and a good smattering of really nice oak spices. It’s a bit christmas cake like on the finish.
    I really like this rum it starts out from the nose as quite light and maybe not as complex or intense as you might expect. However, it seems to build itself up in complexity w,ith each sip. The finish does make you stop as well to enjoy it as it really lingers.
    To be honest you might want to hold on the finish for a bit as this is very, very drinkable!
    PS – Thanks to Foursquare Rum USA Facebook page. Whose pics I am using for the time being, until I get a bottle of this!
    We might just have the Port Cask Finish of 2020. Which is just what we needed!

  • Mezan Guyana 2005

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Mazan Guyana 2005 rum review by the fat rum pirateMezan are in Independent bottler from the UK.  This Mezan Guyana 2005 is another rum they have been able to source from DDL.

    Mezan have been offering good quality Independently bottled rums from a variety of distilleries for a good number of years now.  They have offered numerous vintages and marques.

    As with all Mezan bottlings this rum is very keenly priced – around £35 for a 70cl bottle here in the UK.  Mezan’s presentation is consistent with only the island/country of note and the shield ever changing depending on the origin of the rum.  Recently they have began packaging some of their rums with cardboard protective sleeves.  This is one that has benefited from that. In the UK this rum will set you back around £35-40.

    As well as bringing us the range of Mezan rums the owner Neil Mathieson is also involved with distributor Marussia Beverages who import Foursquare rums (amongst others) to the UK and Europe.

    As already noted this Guyana rum comes in Mezan’s familiar bottle – a rounded stubby bottle with a simple colour scheme.  The card sleeve gives you a lot of information regarding the rum.  This is a pot still rum from the Port Mourant still at DDL.  Mezan are relatively inexpensive so its perhaps underrstandable to learn that the ABV for this rum is 40%.  Like most of their other rums.

    I’ve previously reviewed a Mezan Guyana rum from the Uitvlugt column still which I found to be Mezan Guyana 2005 rum review by the fat rum piratefairly average.

    In the glass the Mezan Guyana 2005 is a gold/straw colour.  In keeping with Mezan’s ethos the rum has not been coloured.  The only process other than ageing and bottling that Mezan undertake is a light filtration of the rum.  As a result the rum is clear and doesn’t show any “haze”.

    The nose is quite powerful.  Strong notes of aniseed and licorice alongside black bananas and quite heavy sweet and sour spice from the bourbon oak.  This rum has been aged solely in ex-bourbon barrels.  There is a savoury slightly malty note – a little twang of whisky.  It’s quite inviting.

    Sipping on this rum reveals a lot more of the sweetness.  You get a lot of the aniseed and licorice notes that are perhaps what is distinctive about the Port Mourant still.  It’s quite a fresh tasting spirit.  There’s nothing “sugary” or syrupy about this rum.  It is isn’t what I would call hugely complex or rich like the Velier Demerara’s.  However, what flavours that you do get are well defined and enjoyable.

    It’s intial sweetness gives way to a more savoury spirit.  Slightly salty and almost sweet and sour with all the tangy spices.  It’s a rum which has really interacted with the cask.  As already touched upon this is a clean, largely uncomplicated rum.

    As a Pot Still rum it is reasonably aggressive.  The 40% ABV may have clipped its wings a little but I don’t get much sense that I have lost a lot of flavour.  It’s still reasonably challenging and definitely not a beginners rum.

    European Aged Demerara’s can be quite complicated and difficult to judge.  Compared to Tropically Aged Indies and Mezan Guyana 2005 rum review by the fat rum pirateDDL’s own output they are in many ways completely different rums.  Which is something you need to be aware of before buying such bottlings.

    Factoring in how inexpensive this bottling is I feel that as long as you have done your homework  you are unlikely to be too disappointed with this rum.  It’s not a show stopper and it isn’t sweet in El Dorado terms but it is a solid example of Pot Still rum from the Port Mourant still.

    Good if not quite great.  Solid, workmanlike rum which won’t bowl you over but is nicely made all the same and goes down easily and pleasantly enough.