J Gow Hidden Depths Vol 3. Big claims are coming with this particular bottling from Collin at J Gow. “Our first and the UKs first ever 8 year old rum” the website proclaims.

I’ve been running this website since late 2014 and had an interest in rum from I woud say around 2011. I can’t recall seeing any “aged” rum actually produced here in the UK being as old as this particular bottling. In fact nothing really close. So I think Collin is likely 100% correct with is claim. Pretty remarkable really especially bearing in mind just how far North Orkney is. Its certainly not the Caribbean.

I recently reviewed another aged rum from Scotland – Ninefold Scottish Oak Aged 3 Years. So Kit and his team have some catching up to do with Collin regarding age statements, at least.

So what is the specifics of this bottling? Well I will start with what is readily available on the J Gow website.

Single cask release, only 255 hand numbered bottles. Aged 8 years in an ex Orkney bere whisky/port style wine cask. Bottled at cask strength 50.1% 70cl. Each bottle is presented in a black printed cloth bag with conger eel image.

However, I did ask Collin for some more details as I know some of you really like to geek out about things. I’ll quote him verbatim, as most of this goes right over my non-Geeky head…….

“Production wise it was an 11 day fermentation with Lallemand RM Yeast. No backset in the wash but a wee bit of aged dunder in the spirit run. It was my 15th spirit run ever. The cask is what really makes it interesting, I think. Originally used for Orkney Bere barley whisky from Arran. That my dad then used for his “Black Portent” Blackcurrant Port style Wine for a number of years, before we filled it with rum. Entry ABV of the cask was super low hence the lower “Cask Strength” finished product. We played about with entry ABV’s for a while before deciding on the way we do it now”

So there we go. Should you wish to purchase a bottle they are available from J Gow directly via this link.

If you have missed or wish to re-visit the other Hidden Depths Vol 1 and 2 then you can also buy a set of 5cl miniatures which also includes this rum. So you can try the rum at age 3,5 and 8 years old.

I must confess that I think I missed Vol 2 so I will endeavour to correct that!

So thats all the geekiness done with and I’ve exhausted my information…..so lets wet our whistles………..

In the glass J Gow Hidden Depths Vol 3 is a golden to dark brown colour. Classically aged rum if you like.

On the nose you get strong wafts of rich, dark treacly molasses to begin with. Beneath this is a sweet fruit note – strawberries and raspberries.

Vanilla Ice Cream and creme fraiche come through next – there is a really creamy note on the nose thats for sure.

There is a hint of tobacco smoke and some peppery notes coming in to the mix as well. All in all its warming up very nicely……….

The sip is less sweet than the nose had suggested. There is a slightly sour/bitter sweet note of red wine – its a bit tannic to beging with.

Leather,smoke and tobacco all put in an appearance early on, with the first sip.

Further sips reveal more of the nose – the sweetness from the wine cask evolves giving a nice sweetness to the heavy molasses flavour.

It’s fiery and has a real punch. It’s a slow sipper which reveals itself slowly.

The mid palate brings out more of the creamy notes of the nose couple with some heat and some black pepper. There is a good mix of flavours going on and it gets more and more complex.

As we move into the finish J Gow Hidden Depths Vol 3 seems to get a touch smokier, a little peaty even.It’s long and the molasses notes remain giving it a sweetness which is rich and very warming. The sweet fruits return a little but they are taking on a more bitter slightly sour note.

It is really interesting to see this marque of rum evolve over time and it is getting better. Richer, more complex, more rounded than Vol 1. Which was to be fair no slouch itself.

Highly recommended. A really remarkable achievement from J Gow. Big claims certainly backed up!