Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre

Bythefatrumpirate

Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre Rum Review by the fat rum pirateJamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre. You might be forgiven for thinking I have already reviewed this. I haven’t the rum I reviewed very recently with a very similar title was JMM rather than JMH. The JMM and JMH I am now assuming to mean JaMaica Monymusk and JaMaica Hampden. As this particular single cask bottling hails from the Hampden Estate, Trelawny, Jamaica.

There has been no shortage of continentally aged Hampden Estate available for a number of years. In fact until very recently Hampden Estate had never released an aged product. Sounds mad when you think about it but it’s true. Until very recently the only official Hampden Estate release was Rum Fire. An unaged Jamaican Overproof rum.

The reputation of Hampden Estate rum was built very much on the numerous bottlings sold by various (largely) European based Independent bottlers. Thompson Bros have come slightly late to this particular party but in fairness it’s looking like this could be a week long rave………The appetite for aged Hampden Estate rum, particularly single casks, seems to have no sign of abating.

I am sure official distillery bottles such as The Great House and collaborations with Habitation Velier sell very well. However, there is still a great deal of kudos to be earned in certain rum circles from owning more exclusive “single cask” bottlings. Some people try to obtain every release. I’ve tried my fair share of Hampden over the years. I like it without question. However like all other rums I’ve never felt the need to go chasing down individuals casks (often from the same batch).  The differences in the overall experience just wouldn’t merit engaging in such a task.

Anyway that all went a little of piste but to be honest having reviewed a few Thompson Bros bottlings. Including one just last week – I find I sometimes need to cover something a little different in these reviews. To keep things interesting – I hope.

Anyhow, we’ll cover the pertinent information for this particular bottling. As mentioned we have a Single Cask Rum from Hampden Estate, Jamaica. It was distilled in 2001, so is likely the Diamond H marque (please note I can’t use the arrows used to denote this by Hampden as WordPress has a hissy fit and it affects all the formatting).

For those who are interested in this sort of thing the Diamond H marque sits at around 900-1000 gr/hl AA or Esters. The Ester count for Hampden rum is anywhere from 40-1600 gr/hl AA. Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre has been bottled at Cask Strength of 61% ABV. The outturn was 271 bottles. It is 100% Pot Still Jamaican Rum and has been aged for 19 years. The exact locations are not revealed.

Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre rum review by the fat rum pirateAs with the previous Jamaican JMM review this is a collaboration between Thompson Bros and Bar Tre, Hiroshima. As a result local Japanese artist Yu Kurahashi. When released (around a week ago) this retailed at around the £140 mark. I’m afraid I can’t find anywhere that still has this for sale. So secondary market again.

I do suspect you will find a few of these pop up at auction. I think a number of Whisky speculators are chancing their arm at rum. Some have little idea what they are doing. I’m not suggesting that is the case here but unless this bottle gets some kind of mythical status very quickly – I honestly cannot see you having to pay much more (if at all) than retail on the secondary market.

In the glass we are presented with a light golden brown spirit a shade darker than straw.

Nosing Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre it has a very sweet fruity aroma to it. Pineapples, banana, some passion fruit, white grapes and some lychees. Beneath this sweetness is a very “gluey” aroma – kind of like that thick white glue you used to use in school. A touch of Pritt Stick is thrown in for good measure.

There are notes of cider vinegar and vinegar soaked newspapers (used for wrapping Fish and Chips here in the UK- well they were once upon a time). There is a nice tingle on the nose of oak and a touch of all spice.

This is a very fruity version of a Hampden and reminds me of Long Pond. Which is no bad thing……..

The initial sip of this rum is very complicated. There is so much going on. Sweet, sour, and savoury all at the same time! It delivers a slightly tart, acidic but yet very sweet mix of citrus fruit and vinegar. Trust me it tastes better than it sounds……

There is more wood and spice on the mid palate and the rum leaves a very unusual mixture of nail varnish remover, Pear Drops (boiled sweets with a

Jamaican Rum JMH Thompson Bros and Bar Tre Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

very distinct taste) and crystallised fruits. It’s slightly musty on the mid palate as well but all these seemingly different flavour sensations someone meld together into a very enjoyable and very funky glass of rum.

This seems to combine elements of young unaged Jamaican rum with more aged and developed notes. It’s really quite an intriguing rum. It’s certainly a little bit out there to say the least.

Finish wise its long and full of all kinds of notes – there is a slightly fermented note which mixes alongside the oak, white pepper and the slightly tart notes of gooseberries and pineapple juice.

This really does offer something a little different. Apologies I couldn’t get a review out before it sold out. I do try my best.

Best of luck at the auctions I guess for this one.

 

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  • Ninefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Ninefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2 rum review by the fat rum pirateNinefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2. We are back in Bonny Scotland and back at Kit Carruthers’ distillery in Dumfries and Galloway. Which is situated just 15 miles from the from the English border. Although it is over the “other side” of the country to myself it might actually be my nearest rum distillery.

    As the title outlines this is Ninefold’s second release of Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum. Well kind of, as they have also released an aged Charity Release for Nith Inshore Rescue.

    The following information is taken direct from the Ninefold website. I’m sure you would rather read the article through rather than jump from one site to another. I’ve taken the pertinent details direct from the notes written by Kit.

    “Our second single cask release, Edition #2 of the Experimental Cask series.

    Following on from the 12 month old Edition #1 released in September 2020, Edition #2 has been bottled from barrel #5 at the distillery.

    The rum itself was 100% distilled from scratch at Ninefold, and is a mix of experimental recipe development spirits distilled from sugar cane molasses in 2019. Cask #5 was a virgin American oak standard barrel (200 litres) that was partially filled in September 2019 (about 50 litres) with these rums. In March 2020, the feints from these experimental rums was redistilled and the resulting spirit used to top up barrel #5. In June 2021 the barrel was re-racked to four ex-Speyside whisky oloroso sherry octaves for finishing, and bottled in January 2022.”

    Non-chill filtered, no added sugar or colouring. Naturally gluten-free & vegan friendly. Only 256 bottles available.

    Each bottle is individually numbered and hand signed by the head distiller and owner, Dr. Kit Carruthers.”

    The first 10 bottles of the rum are available priced at £85 and the remaning bottles numbers 11-256 cost £60. The website notes free shipping in the UK. Shipping outside of the UK can be discussed with Ninefold.

    Presentation is in keeping with Ninefold’s other releases with the company log prominent once again. Information on the juice inside is provided on both the front and rear label. The bottle itself is contoured 3/4 “stubby” style bottle which I really like. The rum is sealed with a chunky cork stopper with the Ninefold logo and a wrap over label (there’s probably a proper term for these type of label/seals but I don’t know it!

    Let me know if you do.

    Ninefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2 rum review by the fat rum pirateAnyway that is pretty much all the information required, so we may as well get on with the fun part. I’ve enjoyed Ninefold unaged and at 12 months so it will be interesting to see how this one goes down. I’m particularly interested to see how the ex-Speyside/Oloroso Sherry finish works and how much impact it has.

     

    In the glass we have a gold/medium dark liquid. It looks as you might expect at this age.

    On the nose, we are getting a lot of sweet caramel, toffee and a back note of aniseed or liquorice. It’s quite molasses-y but not completely dominating the nose.

    The molasses notes are accompanied by a good weight of vanilla, raisin and a hint of blackcurrant. There is a hint of smoky oak but there isn’t a great deal of “spiciness” or obvious oak influence. It’s not at all woody. Probably not much of a surprise as it is still a relatively young rum being aged in a cold climate.

    It’s a nice nose, pleasant and inviting but its perhaps not a million miles away from Ninefold’s Unaged White. It has much the same profile. Not a bad thing per se but it will be interesting to see how much the nose changes over time – in terms of older releases from Ninefold.

    On nosing its difficult to remember that this rum has been bottled at 59.4% ABV. So the first sip is a little spicier than I expected.

    It’s a pleasant surprise though as it shows more of oak ageing and the differing casks used. Quite woody – you can certainly taste the Virgin Oak on the initial sip. It’s a little herbal and there is lots of ginger and a kind of peppery woody note (??).

    A few sips in and I’m getting more accustomed to the woody-ness which has calmed down a little. I’m also getting more of a feel for the rum as I feel it slip down and the mid palate comes in.

    After the initial entry and the spicy/woody-ness the rum does quickly develop with more of the richer notes of toffee and raisin returning to the mix. There is a hint of soured Ninefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2 rum review by the fat rum piratecream and some more ginger and a touch of lime zest.

    As we move towards the finish I begin to get some quite tannic notes of red wine and stewed prunes.

    The finish isn’t particularly long but what is there is a nice mash up of what has preceded it. It fades out quite quickly.

    Ninefold Distillery Barrel Aged Pure Single Rum – Release #2, is overall an intense and very flavourful rum. Perhaps, though lacking the complexity and maybe more so the refined nature of a longer matured rum.

    That said it does still punch well above its weight.

  • Berry’s St Lucia Rum Aged 11 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Berrys St Lucia Rum Review by the fat rum pirateBerry’s Bros & Rudd (BBR for short) is London’s oldest and one of its most respected wine and spirits merchants.  They have traded from the same shop in St James Street since 1698.

    They hold two warrants to supply wines and spirits to the Prince of Wales and the Queen!  So if I don’t give this bottle of rum a good review I might end up in the tower….

    I was fortunate enough to come across a selection of Berry’s rums in own local Wine and Spirit Merchant (Rehills in Jesmond – no royal warrants but they do supply me on a regular basis).  Amongst the selection was this 11 Year Old St Lucia Rum.

    As many of you will know I’m very fond of St Lucian rum, in particular Chairman’s Reserve.  Having been very slightly disappointed in the 1931 offerings and the Forgotten Casks edition of Chairman’s Reserve I jumped at the chance to try a pot still aged St Lucia rum.  Which is what this bottle has afforded me.

    I picked this bottle up for just over £42 which compares favourably with online prices.  The rum comes in the very elegant and very tall traditional BBR spirit bottle. It has a clear glass bottom which adds a touch of class and it has a good weight to it.  The labelling is clear and uncluttered and gives some information on the rum in the bottle though not enough for the likes of me!  It’s all very elegant.  The rum is bottled at 46% ABV. I like the tasting notes on the bottle its nice to know this rum has been tried and tested!

    The rum is a nice golden to red colour suggesting maybe a little of added caramel for colour only.  I suspect it has only been lightly chill filtered.  The nose is immediately reminiscent of the 1931 series of rums.  St Lucia Distillers pot still rums have a very distinctive nose.  A kind of halfway house between Jamaican rum and Scotch Whisky initially.  Given time in the glass the rum begins to show its sweeter side despite its slightly medicinal almost herbal notes.  It is very clean and almost refreshing – perhaps a touch of pine? The sweeter notes are  Banana and Toffee perhaps a little green apple.Berrys St Lucia Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    What I found with the 1931 series was that all the rums were just a little bit too busy for their own good.  The numerous rums in the blend and the different types of casks used to age before the final maturation, made the 1931’s at times a little unwieldy.  Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a complex sipper but it needs balance.  Which is what you get with this rum.

    If this is a rum blended from many casks I will be surprised. It is very well balanced.  Very crisp and clean.  It tastes exactly how it appears. Elegant and not too showy.

    When sipped it has a very herbal and slightly medicinal note to it.  The label notes it as invigorating.  I would liken the taste to trying to eat immediately after brushing your teeth or eating chewing gum.  You can taste the flavours but they are masked by an almost minty, refreshing note.

    There are also notes of almost Jamaican pot still rum and dare I say it Scotch Whisky.  Despite its ABV the rum exhibits very little burn even on the finish.  It is spicy but not at all rough.  It’s a dry rum which you could compare to R L Seale’s 10 Year Old.

    The finish is very long lasting and spicy with nice oak notes finally coming into the mix.

    It is a rum which benefits from a second glass. I find that the sweeter notes shine a little more.  They don’t dominate the profile but light honey and a little vanilla do start to show themselves.

    Berrys St Lucia Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    This is very much a sipping rum.  Those who enjoy a drier less fruity experience will particularly enjoy this rum.

    I did however decide to mix this rum with some cola.  Really it was just to see how it faired next one of my favourite mixer’s Chairman’s Reserve.  I found that the extra sophistication this rum has meant that really it was a little wasted as a mixer.  Whilst it made a smoother and equally flavourful rum and cola I felt that it lacked the extra little oak and oomph that Chairman’s gives a rum and cola.  Plus I was paying twice as much for the drink!

    This rum doesn’t quite hit the highest mark on the score front but I have enjoyed it slightly more than the 1931’s overall.  I would say it is pretty much on a par with the 2nd 1931.

    It delivers a very different experience to Admiral Rodney, which is another rum from St Lucia Distillers but is entirely column distilled.  I found the Admiral Rodney to be sweeter, much less dry and very easy to drink.  This is more challenging but well worth the effort.  A real grower.

    4 stars

     

     

  • Mount Gay Silver

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Mount Gay Silver Rum Review by the fat rum pirateMount Gay Silver.  The term “silver” when referring to white rum is not commonly used in releases in the UK and Europe. It seems to be a US thing.  I suppose calling it silver rum makes as much sense as calling it white.  It’s neither after all – clear rum if anything.

    This rum from Mount Gay has proved quite difficult to find.  For some (likely political/territorial) reason whilst Mount Gay’s other entry level rum – the gold Eclipse is widely available in the UK, no white (or silver) bottling is easily found.

    Occasionally a store such as the Whisky Exchange may import a limited amount but it is very infrequent.  In the end I decided to add this bottling onto an order from Excellence Rhum in France.

    It worked out fairly pricey. Just under £30 for a 70cl bottle.  The ABV is 40%.  If it were commercially available here in the UK I would expect it to retail at the same price as the Eclipse. It was previously called Eclipse Silver after all.

    Mount Gay Silver is blend of pot and column distilled spirit.  The Mount Gay website is, sadly lacking any real details. Which is a disappointment.  I presume this has been briefly aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being filtered to make it clear, sorry silver.

    We’ve covered most of Mount Gay’s releases to date – some are to difficult to find like the Origins Series Volume 1 or the old style 100 Eclipse Black.  They have, in my opinion been left behind in terms of innovation and creativity by Foursquare recently.  They still though I suspect shift more units than Foursquare globally. Recent figures show that to be the case.

    With a distinct lack of information or anything of real interest to say about Mount Gay beyond what I’ve said before I may as well get on with it and let you know how I found this white, sorry silver rum.

    In the glass the rum is completely transparent. The nose gives familiar notes of Mount Gay rum – dessicated coconut, hints of banana and wafts of vanilla. It’s light and very approachable. The alcohol is notable by its absence. As is any sense of any real ageing in terms of oaky-ness and spice in the mix. It’s all very light and reminiscent of the central American white rums. Which are often distilled and filtered to within a millimetre of being vodka, some perhaps are.Mount Gay Silver Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Having said that, there is enough in the profile left to reassure me we are dealing with a white rum.

    Sipping the rum is also a very surprisingly easy going experience. I expect a lot more burn and bite from white rums especially at entry level. This is really easy going. Perhaps to easy going, as it doesn’t really produce a great deal of flavour. Vanilla is perhaps most prominent backed up with some of that coconut.

    Mixing it with my usual diet cola it does very little really. It kind of disappears into the cola and doesn’t really offer much flavour. Botran Reserva Blanca and the Real McCoy 3 did a lot more than this. Strangely the alcohol notes seem more prominent giving a bit of a kick but not really anything to get to excited about.

    It works a little better with less demanding mixers such as soda and even lemonade. It probably works nicely in cocktails – the way a more neutral tasting white rum or vodka might.

    I’m not hugely surprised with this one to be honest. It’s rarely spoken of. I’ve never been a big fan of the normal Eclipse. No matter how many times I re-try it. I certainly wouldn’t rush to pay £30 plus for another bottle. £15 it might do okay as a weekend mixer if I was stuck for such a thing. Having said that I could get 1 litre of Supermarket white albeit with a slightly lower ABV for around the same price. In terms of level the rums are strikingly similar.

    Mount Gay Silver Rum Review by the fat rum pirateOverall as a producer I really enjoy their aged line up – Black Barrel and the Extra Old but their entry level stuff leaves me cold. I’m hoping they start innovating with their aged rums in the way Richard Seale has over at Foursquare. Whilst volume wise they are winning they are getting talked about less and less in the more serious rum circles.

    Which is a shame for such a producer but unfortunately they have rather stood still for a bit too long now. Black Barrel was a replacement and whilst the Distillery Collection rums are a nice addition they aren’t pushing things the way other producers are. With Maison Ferrand now having a controlling stake in WIRD Mount Gay might have to adapt and innovate.

    Having said that as long as people buy enough Eclipse maybe they are happy with that? I’m not but hey I’m one person after all, with a very different view of the rum world to most.

    Even still this white rum is all a little bit flat sadly.

     

     

  • The Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    The Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum review by the fat rum pirateThe Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum. The Duchess are back in 2021 with another release in their Tropical Hummingbirds series. These rums got a lot of positive reviews (not just from me) and comments in 2020. Here’s hoping Nils Van Rijn, the man behind the brand can continue his excellent barrel picks!

    Today we have a very old rum from Guyana. This rum is so old in was actually distilled at a different distillery than the Diamond Distillery. Something which as time progresses is going to become increasingly rare. This rum was actually distilled at the now closed Uitvlugt Distillery on their iconic (and still in use) Port Mourant Double Wood Pot Still.

    The Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum was, as mentioned distilled in October 1993 ands bottled in November 2020. Making it a full 27 Years Old (and a bit). It has been bottled at Cask Strength of 50.1% ABV. I do not know how much time it has spent in the tropics vs continental european ageing. It is quite light in colour but the cask number 5, this was drawn from has yielded just 189 70cl bottles. The rum has been aged in an ex-bourbon cask.

    Once again the wonderful Hummingbird artwork is produced by the multi talented Dutch artist Hans Dillesse. As usual the presentation of this bottling is top notch with an attractive wax seal for the cork stopper. If you are interested in this rum and you are in the UK, you are in luck. Despite Brexit, there is stock of this available in the UK as ordering from the destinations within the EU are currently blocked. So you can order here from Edencroft. It is priced at £225. Pricey but what price were you expecting a rum that was distilled, when I was still in school to be?

    Before I start my assessment of this rum it has already been reviewed by Serge over at Whiskyfun who gave it 91/100. So this shouldn’t be too shabby at all. His review and score are all over the online listings, where this rum can be purchased. Maybe one day………..

    Anyway, instead of me dreaming of fame and fortune (and the sackfuls of samples Serge must get sent from all over the world) I’ll get back to the task in hand.The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass we are presented with a light golden brown spirit a shade or two darker than straw/white wine.

    On the nose I agree with what Serge said in so much as getting ” Kerosene, olive brine, liquorice, lime, tar and bergamots”. Apart from the Bergamots but only because I don’t know what they are….I’ve looked it up and yes I do get citrus as well.

    I would say one of the reasons Serge is so keen on this rum, is it’s more savoury, more malty character. If someone nosed this and said they thought it was Scotch Whisky I wouldn’t be surprised. This note is especially noticeable when the rum is freshly poured.

    With time in the glass though, this rum changes quite dramatically. It still retains those savoury whisky-esque notes but the familiar licorice and aniseed notes, of the Port Mourant distillate definitely develop.

    It’s a big rum that also gets sweeter in the glass – there’s also a slightly smoky oily note in there as well. Sultanas and a touch of raisin, nail varnish, floor polish, white pepper, spicy oak, a touch of vanilla……..the kitchen sink. Maybe.

    This really has SO much going on with the nose. It’s so complex and interesting. I’m almost getting different notes depending on which side of my nose I sniff on. Please note at this point I have a deviated septum. So that might just be me and my wonky nose.

    It’s a wonderful nose and one which you can spend ages with just taking in the different aromas.

    But I haven’t got time for that when I have a review to complete and score to hand out.

    Sipping The Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum is a similarly pleasant experience. Now I am not in much doubt that this rum has spent most of its time maturing in Europe. It is also a quite “woody” and very dry rum. It’s been in a barrel for a long time so it has taken on a lot of the wood character.

    That said it is still quite fruity and the wonderful licorice and aniseed notes still prevail and balance this out.

    On the initial entry the rum is spicy but not overpoweringly so. Like the initial nosing it’s quite “whisky-esque” to begin with. There’s a lot of wood and barrel influence here. It’s spicy with notes of black pepper and red chilli.

    The mid palate is much softer however and nicely balanced. Here we get some olives and a kind of salty licorice note. There is a smoky tobacco note – maybe like pipe tobacco. Light citrus fruits as well some sweetish lemon/lime mix.

    The Duchess Guyana 27 Years Old Rum review by the fat rum pirateFinish wise it fades out quite gently. Despite being 50.1% ABV this is a softer rum overall than I was expecting. It’s almost as if all that time resting in the oak has tempered the ABV so it drinks more like a 43% rum rather than something over 50% ABV. It’s slightly floral on the finish with a really pleasant easy going feel to it.

    This is a very complex rum and not one that I would rush. It’s definitely a slow sipper. Something to savour. It’s a great start to 2021 for The Duchess with this bottling.

    If I were more fond of Scotch Whisky than I am Bourbon, I suspect I would enjoy this even more than I have. So that is something to bear in mind.

    It’s a great start to 2021 for The Duchess with this bottling.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Tamosi Kanaima Guyana Versailles Still rum review by the fat rum pirateLevy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima. I’m no stranger to Independently bottled Demerara Rum. Which is what this intriguingly named release actually is.

    I’ve also reviewed two of Levy Lane Rum Co’s more “regular” (ie not Single Cask) releases. Overall, I’ve been quite impressed with both, so I’m looking forward to this review.

    Reading up on “Kanaima” both on Tamosi’s own website and various sources around, it is taken from Caribbean/Guyanese folklore. Kanaimi refers to “the spirit of blood vengeance, when someone dies of suspected foul play”.

    Sounds kind of nice doesn’t it? I don’t think there is much point me going into too much detail about it in a rum review. Especially when I’ll only really be re-writing what is already available. So go look at the links and we’ll stick to the liquid in the bottle.

    Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima was distilled back in 2004, on the iconic Wooden Single Pot Versailles Still. It was bottled in 2020 at 16 years old. Got to say I much prefer when Independent bottlers refer to the rum they are bottling by the name of the still.

    This particular still has been moved from Versailles to Enmore in 1977 and then onto Uitvlugt in 1993 and finally, to what looks to be its final home – Diamond Distillery/Demerara Distillers Limited in 2000.

    There is considerable licence there to have referred to it in a number of different ways. Often Independent bottlers try to match the date of distillation with the estate or just refer to where the still was originally housed. Often it might be just noted as Diamond Distillery. I don’t claim to be a historian and I’m easily confused. The name of the still and the date of distillation is fine with me.

    Prior to being put into barrels the rum was coloured with caramel. Over the past few years Demerara Distillers have given us various reasons for the sweetness and colour of some of their rums. The El Dorado range has been noted, especially with the higher aged expressions, as containing significant amounts of additives. We’ve heard of barrels being coated with caramel/molasses prior to the ageing process. Such is the level of obfuscation around this, speculation will continue.

    Anyway, lets get on with some clearer facts about this particular bottling. Unlike the previous two bottlings in the Tamosi range, this is a Pure Single 100% Pot Still Rum. I’ve been assured that Levy Lane Rum Co have not added anything to the rum and they have been assured that only spirit caramel for colouring was added prior to ageing.

    Levy LanLevy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima rum review by the fat rum piratee Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima has been bottled at Cask Strength of 58.9%. The Hydrometer bobs nicely at around 59% ABV. 275 bottles were available on release. You can pick a bottle up for £120 at The Whisky Exchange. I suspect, as this has been out a couple of months (I go as fast as I can) there won’t be too many bottles available.

    Presentation wise Tamosi have housed this in a “Velier Style” opaque “wine” bottle with a nice contemporary presentation. It doesn’t look home made or a little old fashioned like a lot of Indie bottlers. It’s sleek and modern. The back label contains some information on the Kanaima.

    So I think that covers everything I know about this bottling so I think I’ll pour myself a small glass…….

    In the glass it’s dark. Not quite as dark as as I have seen some Versailles rums but its a mahogany dark brown with an orange/reddish hue.

    The nose is rich and treacly. Molasses, caramel, dark toffee and some light chilli heat. There’s a nice sprinkling of oak, a touch of vanilla and something which smells a little ermmm…..sooty. Interesting and not at all unpleasant.

    Further nosing reveals some raisins, sultanas and some red apple. A bit of green chilli and some dark chocolate.

    When sipped Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima is immediately recognisable as a big, juicy, thick, tarry Demerara rum. Liquorice toffee, roasted banana, plump raisins, juicy sultana and slightly savoury caramel/molasses overtones. It has a hit of spices and a subtle note of musty oak. This is wrapped up in a very intense delivery, especially at the full ABV.

    The mid palate softens up giving some lighter fruitier notes and some tobacco. A touch of olive and green apple, red apple as well. It’s multi layered and very complex. Although I would imagine that has spent some time in Europe it tastes very much like the Tropically Aged stuff from Velier, that sadly is no longer being issued.Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Kanaima rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Even at the full ABV of 58.9% I found it highly drinkable and felt no need to add any water. If you like these dark intense looking Versailles still rums for the fruity and molasses flavours then you’ll really enjoy this.

    The finish is long and well rounded with tobacco, olives, spicy oak and a coating of caramel, molasses and some red grapes. It fades out with some really nice notes of liquorice as well.

    This is a complex full bodied Demerara rum. It’s another winner for the Levy Lane Rum Co and their Tamosi brand.

     

     

  • Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira review by the fat rum pirateCachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira. This Cachaca hails from Linhares in the state of Espirito Santo. Cachaca Princesa Isabel is produced at the Fazenda Tupa on the banks of the River Doce. If you have a look on their Facebook page, you will be able to see the stunning countryside that surround the Fazenda.

    The production process for Cachaça Princesa Isabel begins with the cultivation of the cane varieties RB7515 and RB5453 at the Fazenda. Once grown the sugar cane is manually harvested, without any burning of the cane. The sugarcane is then crushed within 12 hours of being harvested.

    Part of the “bagasse” is used in a boiler to heat the distillery and the rest for the composting and supplementation of feed for the Nellore cattle, from the Fazenda. The “vinasse” resulting from the distillation of Cachaça Princesa Isabel is stored in a waterproof tank. It is later used in the fertilization of the fields at the Fazenda. 

    Cachaca Princesa Isabel is produced on Alambique Copper Pot Stills which were made for the distillery.

    The particular cachaca I am reviewing today is slightly unusual in that the cachaca has been aged in both Balsamo (Balsam) and Jaqueira (Jackfruit) woods. The Jackfruit barrels are coopered from Jackfruit trees grown locally in and around the Fazenda.

    Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira is presented in a tall thin bottle. With a wooden topped cork stopper. The presentation is very modern and would not look out of place in a high class bar or liquor store.  It retails at around R$100 (around £15) for 750ml bottle. Were it to come to the UK I woudn’t expect to see it retail for anything less than £35-50.

    It has been bottled at 42% ABV. It has been aged for a year in Balsamo and a year in Jaqueira. So two years old from what I understand.

    In keeping with their Facebook presence and presentation of their bottlings Cachaca Princesa Isabel, also have a very useful website. So should you want further information then take a look.Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira review by the fat rum pirate

    So lets see how we find this particular cachaca.

    In the glass, we have a straw/white wine coloured spirit. Maybe a shade darker perhaps.

    Nosing Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira , it has a lovely hit of sweet sugar cane. It’s quite fruity with notes of pear, white grape and a touch of mango. A little time in the glass allows some slightly soapy notes to come out which are pleasant and delicately floral.

    The nose is nicely balanced and very inviting.

    Sipped Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira is quite unlike any cachaca I have tried before. The presence of the Jaqueira wood really gives this an unusual flavour.

    Initially it tastes quite like a lot of cachaca, its not as sweet as the nose suggests and the initial entry is a little spicy with notes of white pepper and some oak. There is a nice herbal note to it. It’s got a soapy kind of aftertaste on the palate which might not sound very nice but its actually quite enjoyable.

    The mid palate moves into even more herbaceous notes. Pine cones and some notes of mint and a touch of tree sap.

    Finish wise it isn’t the longest of finishes. The flavours do dissipate quite quickly.

    Cachaca Princesa Isabel Balsamo Jaqueira review by the fat rum pirate

    However, it does leave behind a very refreshing “clean” tingly mouthfeel.

    With so many cachacas, available in the market in Brasil, it is nice to see something a litttle bit out of the box. When I noted what this has been aged in I decided to put it near the top of future cachaca reviews as I was keen to see how it worked out.

    Well I can report that this combination has worked really well. A very nice start for me with Cachaca Princesa Isabel. If you have taken time to look on their website, you will note they have a range of different cachacas available. As luck would have it I think I may have a sample or two of those as well.

    I’ll be looking forward to reviewing my next Cachaca Princesa Isabel. Great start.