Havana Club Iconia Collection Twitter Tasting

Bythefatrumpirate

Havana Club Twitter Tasting the fat rum pirate rum

I’m pleased to reveal that I will be joining Peter Holland of The Floating Rum Shack in an online Twitter Tasting on Monday 1st June.  Along with other Rum Enthusiasts and UK based bloggers.

The Tasting will be overseen by Havana Clubs Global Ambassador Melmi Sanchez who will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have on Havana Club and Cuban Rum making in general.

The rums we will be sampling form Havana Clubs Iconia Collection and are a mix of classic and more recent aged rums.  These rums are

Havana Club Iconia Collection the fat rum pirate rum

I hope you can join us in what will a very informative and fun event.  To join us simply follow @_HavanaClub. Lets make this a great event #HavanaClubTT

 

 

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  • Black Head Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Black Head Rum Review Bacardi

    Another holiday bottle that I thought I would review.  I found this in a Supermarket in Ayia Napa amongst a selection of cheap looking Greek and Cypriot rum.  I passed on the various Greek/Cypriot efforts and settled for this Black Head Rum.  It is distributed by Slaur International, Le Havre, France.  Those who have read my introduction will be aware that amongst my first rum tastings was Bardinet Negrita rum.  That rum was also French.  Negrita also had a rather questionable stereotype on the label. I’m really pretty shocked by this one to be honest.

    Like Cabo Bay rum it has some ” faux medals” on the label, once again these don’t attest to the rum actually winning any awards.  I was only able to find (it found me really) a 1 litre sized bottle at 37.5% ABV.  To be honest I wasn’t really going to search around looking for a smaller bottle as it was only 8 Euro’s anyway.

    Black Head Rum comes in a

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    standard bar bottle with a gold screw top, which was pretty cheap to be honest.  The presentation is simple and uncluttered.  The front label states it is “light and mild savour”.  In all honesty I thought this rum was pretty old and had just been hanging around in his shop for years and years.  I bought it out of curiosity really.  Upon looking on the internet the rum, still with this presentation is available  should you wish to purchase it.  An old bottle was also available on the Whisky Exchange for £199 http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-16175.aspx and another bottle from the 20’s can be viewed here http://www.finestandrarest.com/rum.html

    Although the rum has been around a while it just seems to be a cheap mixing rum.  It does state on some of the older bottles that it is a product of the West Indies but it seems something that is mostly available in France.  Obviously with the dated presentation and cheap price I’m not expecting a great deal from this rum.  It’s a curiosity novelty purchase rather than a serious considered selection.

    When nosed the rum initially smells mostly of alcohol fumes.  After settling for a little while the rum smells very sweet as well – it reminds me in some ways of 1 Barrel Rum. I suspect this rum has not been aged for long at all and the “Rhum Braun” as it is described on the rear is due to added caramel.  This may also be contributing to the smell.  Foolishly I tried sipping this rum.  The sipping experience was similar to trying neat alcohol for the first ever time – when you were sober.  Not nice.  The taste was mostly alcohol and the burn was harsh but thankfully quite short.  Leaving a nasty bitter chemical taste in the mouth.  I add an ice cube and whilst the rum still smells quite inviting in a sickly kind of way, other than reduce the alcohol burn it doesn’t offer anything different.  No flavour.Black Head Rum Bacardi Review

    I’m adding a little cola in the hope that the rum will offer something when mixed.  So far the experience has been like trying cheap vodka or whisky neat – not pleasant.  However, this does state its a mixing rum so I’ll give it a go.  The sweetness of the smell comes through a little more with cola and you get a kind of maple syrupy/caramel kind of flavour, however it only hints at this taste and very quickly disappears leaving only that astringent alcohol taste again. After a few gulps it’s just really bitterness and chemicals that you are tasting.  It’s a drink which leaves you feeling that the headache in the morning really won’t be worth it.  It’s difficult to drink this to be honest its so bad.

    I suppose reviewing rum’s like these gives perspective if nothing else.  If this has indeed been imported from the West Indies then it’s a shame the ship didn’t sink on the way over.  To be honest I wish I’d left the rest of the bottle in Cyprus!

    0.5 stars

     

     

  • Admiral Vernon’s Old J Spiced

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Admiral Vernon Old J Spiced Rum review by the fat rum pirateAdmiral Edward Vernon AKA “Old Grog” was responsible for a reduction in the British Royal Navy’s rum ration in 1740.  Many of the sailors were dissatisfied with the dilution of their rum ration and legend has it that Admiral Vernon suggested the men spruce up their “tot” with sugar and limes.

    Now that in itself makes a pretty good story for Old J Spiced, however there is a far more modern and more interesting story lurking beneath this particular spirit.  I call it spirit because as this “rum” is bottled at 35% ABV (70 proof) it cannot be legally called “rum” in the UK.  Any rum must be 37.5% ABV or above to be legally sold as rum.

    Anyway I digress and back to the modern history of Old J.  In the late noughties a craze for Sailor Jerry and coke hit the UK.  Scary Jerries as one of my friends used to call them, due to the drunken states they would put him in!  For a while Spiced Rum and in particularly Sailor Jerry was very trendy.  Since this craze Morgan’s Spiced and The Kraken have taken over where Sailor Jerry once ruled.  The UK still has an appetite for Spiced Rum but its not quite as high as it once was.

    One of the reasons for this was the controversial adoption of the US recipe of Sailor Jerry in the UK.  You see the vanilla and sugar heavy Sailor Jerry us Brits so enjoyed was very different from the more rounded spicing in the US Sailor Jerry.  As much as it pains me to say it the US Sailor Jerry was and still is in my book better than the UK effort.  By a distance.

    However, popular opinion was that the original recipe Sailor Jerry needed to be broughtAdmiral Vernon Old J Spiced Rum review by the fat rum pirate back.  There is a big reason why the “Old” and “J” are so pronounced on the bottle and the Admiral Vernon are virtually non existent………This is the rum as the bottom of the front label states “The Original Taste” “You asked for it”.  Clearly they couldn’t do a blatant rip off but they have went close to the wind in terms of naming and the presentation.  Fair play to them.

    Old J Spiced Rum retails at around £18-20 per 70cl bottle in the UK and is bottled at 35% ABV.  As you can see the presentation is pretty standard and the bottle cap has a nice little touch with regard the red Old J being stamped on it along with “Loves live music”.

    Unscrewing the cap of the Old J is quite an experience.  Even before you pour the “rum” you are confronted with a very sweet smell of vanilla and sugar.  It is very strong and the nose is predominantly vanilla with maybe a little cinnamon.  It smells very strongly as soon as the bottle is opened.

    In the glass Old J presents itself as a medium golden colour.  The nose in the glass is still very sweet.  Still a lot of vanilla and a little cinnamon.  Still a heck of a lot of sugar. The spiced element of the Old J is introduced as Persian Lime and Smooth Vanilla.  I can only guess that the limes haven’t arrived from Persia yet…..if so I doubt they ever will as it no longer really exists!

    I’ve no idea what actual rum is used in this drink.  The only statement on the label is Caribbean.  With such heavy handed spicing it is difficult to determine.  From the amount of sugar which has been used in this drink I can only guess it hasn’t been aged for too long.  The surprising thing is that you can actually drink this rum neat.  However I will make a comparison with another great British drink – tea.  You can have a cup of tea with milk and no sugar, you can have a cuppa with maybe milk and a sugar or two.  But you wouldn’t have half a cup of sugar and half a cup of tea.  Which really is what Old J tastes like.

    You can sip it without doubt.  It doesn’t burn and it doesn’t offend too much.  However, its “smoothness” is produced only by the amount of added sugar.  It is bordering Baileys territory in terms of sweetness if not viscosity.  As a sipper it offers wathes of sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.  I’m not a huge fan of cinnamon or vanilla.

    When mixing you still cannot escape this oversweet sugarbomb of a drink.  It is liqueur like and I just find it far too sweet and cloying.  There are much better spiced rums such as Sailor Jerry (US recipe!), Pussers and the classic Foursquare.

    At the end of the day with an internsive promotional tour ongoing in the UK and a large presence on social media, Sailor Je….sorry Old J will find itself stocked in bars up and down the country and it will do very well for itself.  Regardless of my score!

    1 stars

  • Angostura 1919 Premium Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Angostura 1919 rum review A premium rum from Angostura (of Angostura Bitters fame) from the home Dwight Yorke. 1919 is the year this blend of rum was first casked.  The rum is aged 8 years in (what else) ex Bourbon barrels.  The bottle states that they believe it “will be the smoothest rum you have ever tasted with notes of oak, cocoa and vanilla”.

    I got my testing bottle from my local Sainsburys who often stock it in their larger outlets.  I’d been looking at the rum for some time but I always seemed to get tempted with a cheaper offering.  With a whopping £3 off I finally took the plunge so I got this rum for £23.50. Online it seems to be around £28-30.

    I didn’t get the cardboard sleeve (which seems to be present in pictures online), it’s something I can live without bearing in mind the £3 saving and the fact its still at least £5 cheaper than online.  However, it was the bottle which had originally got my interest and the fact it was made by the “bitters people”.  The bottle really is lovely for a rum under £30.   It’s more a decanter than bottle.  It has a high density wooden cork with a black painted topper, very luxurious for a rum at this price point.  The cork gives a very satisfying pop and the clear labelling gives the rum a very appealing appearance.  If this golden coloured rum from Trinidad and Tobago had been £23.50 and in say, a Cockspur bottle I think it would remain untried!

    Reviews of this rum seem fairly positive and it definitely passed the looks test, which no matter how much you don’t want it to does influence certain purchases.

    Looks are one thing but really its all about the taste.  When poured in the glass the rum is almost straw coloured rather than the amber hue in the bottle.  The nose of the 1919 is predominantly vanilla.  There is a little “oak and smoke” and a very small scent of fruit.  Perhaps a little banana but very subtle.

    When sipped the rum is very smooth.  It is quite light.  There isn’t a hit of pungent pot still rum like a Jamaican rum.  There isn’t the heavy rich fruits of a Demerara.  It is similar in body to a Bajan style rum but without the fruity flavour profile.  It’s more reminiscent of a Cuban style perhaps.  I suppose Trinidadian rum’s need there own category.  The rum does not give any fruit flavour at all when sipped.  It is quite oaky, the vanilla is now pretty subtle.  I have seen reviews commenting on a chocolate note to the rum.  I can only assume that this is in bitterness of the finish.  Very dark chocolate perhaps, there is some nuttiness to the finish as well.

    The rum doesn’t stand up well when mixed.  Cola just drowns it out.  You are left with a very smooth cola drink with a little hint of oak but nothing really else coming through.  The rum is really to subtle for mixing.  To be fair to this rum, it isn’t intended as anything other than a sipping rum.

    I have to say I have rums I much prefer.  I enjoy a sweeter fruiter rum.   As a rum to show someone that rum doesn’t have to be harsh this rum would be a good start. Due to the smoothness of the rum it is very easy to sip.

    I’d be curious to try the 1824 Angostura as I would imagine further ageing of their rums really could make for a much more complex sipping rum.

    2 stars

     

     

     

     

  • Doorly’s XO Fine Old Barbados Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    DOORLY'S XO RUM REVIEW BARBADOS SEALE BAJANDoorly’s XO Fine Old Barbados Rum.  From the house of Martin Doorly no less.  None the wiser? No me neither.  The rum is produced by R. L. Seale at the wonderful Foursquare Distillery.  So what does this Doorly fellow have to do with it exactly?

    Well, in 1906 the Rum Duty Act was passed and this caused considerable changes to how rum was distributed in Barbados.  The new law meant that distilleries had to obtain a licence and could only sell rums in bulk.  Many of the distillers became bottlers instead. Of these Martin Doorly & Co.  The growth of branded names began and Martin Doorly evolved into Doorly Macaw Rum and became the first bottled rum to be exported from the island.

    As time has passed the company was bought out by R.L. Seale who continues to make Doorly’s rum.  The front of the bottle gives a little information on how Doorly’s XO is matured for a second time in Oloroso Sherry Casks.  (From my limited understanding of Sherry this is a sweeter blend but don’t quote me on that).

    Unlike Rum Sixty Six  (12 Year Old) and R.L. Seale’s 10 Year Old there is no defining age statement on this rum.  Whilst usually this might cause a critical eye to be passed over the rum, in this instance as it is Richard Seale distilling few people will suggest he does this in order to give the impression the rum is older than stated.  The rums in this blend have been quoted online as being anywhere from 6 to 12 years in age.  The age of the rum probably varies from time to time, to enable consistent flavour and blending.  I have seen very little in the other reviews of the Doorly’s XO which suggests that anyone has found this rum to be a disappointment or more to the point taste cheap.

    The presentation of the bottle is another of our stubby little friends which I so enjoy.  There is a slight disappointment with regard the blue screw top lid.  However, such is the price of all of Four Squares common offerings (£35 would seem to be the ceiling) I would rather see costs cut in terms of bottle tops than quality of rum.  Doorly’s XO is available in the UK at around £25-30 and is fairly common in specialist wine merchants, department stores and “proper” off licenses (i.e. not corner shops).  Due to the similarity in the bottle make sure you do no confuse Doorly’s XO with the 5 year old.  They are two different rums, the 5 year old is around £20 and well worth seeking out.  (This is another reason why the rum in this blend must be quite well aged).  The rum is bottled at 40% ABV

    The front label of the rum also states that this is a “rum without equal” and the rear label simply states “There are rums for those who know and then there is Doorly’s XO for those who know better!”  Thinks a lot of himself this Martin Doorly……..Doorly's XO Rum Review Barbados Seale Bajan

    Onto the tasting and testing.  The Doorlys presents itself as lovely golden/reddish brown in the bottle and in the glass.  It has that distinctive light and fruity Bajan nose.  Tropical Fruits and vanilla with a little sweet toffee.  It’s nicely balanced and subtle on the nose.

    When sipped the rum is initially quite sweet with notes of toffee, banana, a little orange and citrusy lemon/lime.  It’s a classic Bajan blend.  As an introduction to the overall style of a Bajan rum, Doorlys would be a classic example.  It is smooth with very little afterburn.  The finish is long and quite spicy with a hint of oak.  For my palate the fruitiness in this particular blend (I presume from the ageing in Oloroso Sherry Casks) leads me to prefer it over R.L. Seale’s 10 Year Old – today.  However, on days where I seek a less fruitier more oaked drink I probably will opt for a 10 Year Old.  For those not familiar with Bajan style rum – the rum is a little on the dry side.

    With Doorlys XO £25-30, R.L. Seales 10 Year Old £30-35 and Rum Sixty Six £30-35 you could easily pick up three excellent Bajan expressions for under £100.  To say one is better than the other would be dangerous.  The snob in you may think that the Rum Sixty Six will be the best as its the oldest.  In much the same way many prefer El Dorado 12 year old to the 15 year old (and even the 21) it will come down to personal preference and possibly even a just a case of what you fancy on the day.

    The three rum’s are very similar in a lot of ways but when tasted side by side you will find that Doorlys XO and Rum Sixty Six are much fruitier than the oakier R.L. Seales 10 Year Old.

    I’ve had few disappointments with my rum adventures to the island of Barbados (sadly not actually visiting but one day!).  I can only really think of Mount Gay Eclipse and Plantations 5 Year Old Grand Reserve (which I think I do need to re-visit anyway) that I didn’t really enjoy.  Foursquare Distillery have yet to disappoint me and I would personally rank this as there second best rum next to Rum Sixty Six.  If we then take that into a face off between Cockspur 12 and Rum Sixty Six – I can’t split the two.

    This is a classic Bajan style rum which has no additives (other than Oloroso Sherry Casks).  It is rum as rum is when it isn’t “fannied about with”.  It might not appeal to those more familiar with the new breed of sweet “premium sipping rum’s”.  It might even confuse those more familiar with Demerara or Navy Style rums.  It’s not pungent or high ester like the Jamaican rums, it offers a rum experience more akin to the Cuban style.  Subtle, well balanced and slightly dry.

    This is a classic rum.

    4 stars

     

     

     

    Doorlys rum is available from

    THEDRINKSHOP

     

     

     

     

     

  • Bedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years review by the fat rum pirateBedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years. When Maison Ferrand teamed up with the Rum Co. of Fiji (South Pacific Distillery) a few years back, I was concerned about the future of Independently bottled Fijian rum.

    So far, there has been little change. Whilst Planteray have released their own take on Fijian rums, Independent bottlers are still consistently releasing quality products from the distillery.

    Today is Indie bottler Bedford Park’s turn. With one of the oldest Fijian bottlings I have came across so far.

    Bedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years is a 100% Pot Still Molasses based Rum. Distilled in 2004 at the South Pacific Distillery. The rum was aged in an ex-bourbon barrel until 2016.

    At which point it was moved to ex-rum cask (which will most likely be an ex-bourbon barrel!)

    It was bottled in 2024. Noted as being Cask Number 15. Which yielded just 223 bottles at 57.6% ABV. It is non-chill filtered with no additives.

    Availability of Bedford Park Spirits bottling is often split between Europe and North America. I’ve noticed the odd bottle for sale on Auction sites as well. In the US try Raising Glasses where it retails at $200. For Europe Bedford Park’s “own” website (ran by North Point Distillery) has it for sale at £120. They could do with separating their whiskies and rums or adding a search engine to make things easier to find.

    The artwork on the Bedford Park Spirits bottlings are particularly interesting. I’m sure you will agree. Certainly more interesting than some of the more austere European bottlers. This label was designed by The label is designed by Toronto-based artist Elise Conlin, whose early work while studying at the Ontario College of Art & Design caught their eye. Elise agreed to lend her talents to a series of labels, aptly named “Shady Grove”, for their first releases.

    In the glass Bedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years iBedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years review by the fat rum pirates a dark brown colour with a slightly reddish/orange hue. (I feel I write this a lot!)

    On the nose its quite grassy and floral. Not dis-similar to an aged Agricole Rhum. There is a slight hint of petrol on the nose and some more medicinal notes as well. Theres an almost floral sweetness running through it. Floral Gums (gum sweets) and a saccharin like note.

    It’s pleasant if slightly underwhelming. There is no sign of the more unpolished and fiery notes you often find with single digit Fijian rum.

    On the sip it is again quite sweet and a little on the floral side. Peach and Strawberry alongside a slightly perfumed note come through initially. It has a slightly oily mouthfeel which I enjoy

    Further sips reveal some very little tar and some slight petrol like notes. These are fairly faint though. As we move into the mid palate the rum begins to bear its teeth a little more.

    It’s spicier with some nice ginger heat and some cloves. There is a medicinal feel to the rum as the sweeter notes dissipate a little.

    The finish is a reasonable length and offers a nice mixture of spice and sweetness which fade out to leave a slight grassiness behind.

    I’ve compared Fijian rum to Caroni’s output in the past. For those of you looking for something akin to that then I would advise looking for something younger. Fijian rum is perhaps the distillate which seems to change the most in the Rum World. Especiallly Bedford Park Single Barrel Fiji Rum Aged 19 Years review by the fat rum piratewhen we get into the higher teens in terms of age.

    It would be unfair to say this is a sweet easy going sipper – without giving that some context. It’s certainly not a Zacapa or a Diplomatico style rum. It is probably more similar to an aged Foursquare in terms of profile.

    I like this quite a bit but I’m pleased to have had chance to try it before buying it. I would have expected more oomph from a Fiji rum if I had bought it blind.

    Another very good bottling from Bedford Park. Just maybe not what you might have expected.

     

     

  • Cacique 500 Extra Anejo Gran Reserva

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Cacique 500 Gran Anejo Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCacique is a rum brand from Venezuela. Home of Pampero and Santa Teresa.  Produced by Destilerias Unidas S.A,  (DUSA).  The distillery best known for arguably the most recognisable Venezeulan rum brand – Diplomatico.  The brand is now owned by industry giant Diageo.  Quite what relevance Cacique 500 has I’ve been unable to find out? I guess it might be some kind of anniversary, perhaps.

    Domestically Cacique is the best selling brand.  It’s reach also goes as far as mainland Europe, in particular Spain. This rum and the younger Anejo are both very popular and readily available.

    Presentation wise this is a very sexy rum.  The opaque contoured bottle is great.  As with many Central American rums it doesn’t have cork stopper it instead has a plastic cap with a diffuser in the neck.

    The diffusor is to prevent the bottle being re-sold with cheap hooch replacing the rum.  Which happens regularly in both bars and shops in some Central American countries apparently.  You also get a nice but pretty thin card sleeve to keep the rum in.

    This rum isn’t available from many outlets in the UK and it will cost you around £40 for a bottle.  I’m pretty sure when I picked this up in Spain I paid less than 20 Euro for it.

    This rum is a blend of rums aged up to 8 years.  Information has been hard to come by. As far as I am aware it is a column distilled rum.  Like Diplomatico they make claims that their rums are distilled in Pot Stills but there is precious little evidence of this in the profile of their rums.  Sorry, but I’m pretty sure this is a column distilled rum.

    Cacique as indicated by the Indian Chief picture is an Arawak Tribal Cheiftain.  This rum is the “middle of the road” entry in the Cacique line up which comprises – Anejo, 500 Gran Reserva and Antiguo (which I have not seen in any store as yet).

    With little further information to tell you all it is probably time to crack open the bottle and Cacique 500 Gran Reserva rum review by the fat rum piratstart the review process.

    In the glass you get a very vibrant copper/gold coloured rum.  The nose is quite sweet and very familiar.  Caramel, toffee, some dark chocolate and a touch of coffee come to the fore.  There is an overall light “buttery” element to the rum.  It is quite floral and soft.

    Lacking on the nose is any oak or evidence of ageing.  It is likely the oldest rum in the blend is 8 years but a lot of the rum will be much younger.  Rather than any oak it has quite a heavy hit of tobacco – similar to Havana Club 7.  An aroma which I’m not all that stuck on to be honest.  All in all, it smells a little sickly.

    Sipped it is a very easy going, easy to drink rum.  It is on the sweeter side. Maybe a notch or two higher than Santa Teresa 1796.  It has minimal alcohol burn and once again it shows little signs of oak ageing.  Not a very spicy rum – I’m not getting much feeling of interaction between the rum and the oak barrels it was matured in.  None at all to be honest.

    It tastes a little like milky coffee and dark chocolate mixed.  For me it’s just to smooth. It doesn’t really do much in the mouth.  The whole experience is a little muted.  The finish is mostly just bitter with only a little spice.  It’s not really all that terrible because as finishes go it is very brief.

    There is not much unpleasant about this rum.  I’m pleased that the sickly tobacco notes on the nose have not followed into the sip.  Sadly, it is quite bland and kind of generic and very typical of the style.Cacique 500 rum review by the fat rum pirat

    Much like Santa Teresas Linaje (similar packaging as well) this is just very average.  You would probably find yourself mixing this as much as you would sip.  It makes passable if forgettable rum and cokes.  I can’t really imagine it excelling in any kind of mix as it is so light.

    It’s better than the sugar heavy DRE but there is just so much competition at its price point. I can’t really think of an argument to buy another bottle, other than it being extremely cheap when in Spain.

    Easy going, easy drinking but at the same time safe and a little boring.