Kill Devil Cuba 17 Year Old 1999

Bythefatrumpirate

kill devil cuba santci spiritus rum review by the fat rum pirateKill Devil are and ever increasing range of Independently bottled rums from Whisky bottler Hunter Laing.  Unsurprisingly perhaps Whisky based online retailers such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt have been stocking their rums from the outset.

As a curious rum consumer and a lover of Independent bottlers I’ve found myself with a good few bottles and samples.

Today we have a 17 Year Old Cuban rum from the Sancti Spiritus distillery.  I have tried in vain to find any meaningful information on this distiilery.  It has been in operation since 1946.  It also produced a short lived rum called Paraiso which was intended for the UK market.  As far as I can see it never really caught on.  Other than seeing the name on other Independent bottlers such as WM Cadenheads and Bristol Classic Rum I have drawn a blank.  The name of the distillery doesn’t help much as its the name for a province in Central Cuba.

Kill Devil have released two different casks from the Sancti Spiritus Distillery – both aged 17 years.  This particular rum was distilled in January 1999 (the other was July 1998).  It is one of only 362 bottles from a single cask.  It is bottled at 46% ABV.  It will set you back around £60 in the UK.  For those interested in Kill Devil rums but put off by the ABV i.e. not Cask Strength – they will shortly be releasing some Cask Strength rum as well.

My experience with Cuban rum has increased recently with a visit to Spain.  Where it is very popular and inexpensive.  I also have past experience of a 10 Year Old Sancti Spiritus rum from Bristol Classic Rum.

Kill-Devil-Cuba-Sancti-Spiritus-17-Jahre-Single-Cask-Rum-tube-510x767

The presentation of the rum I like.  It’s consistent with their others offerings and its always nice to get a good quality cylinder to store your rum.  Information regarding the bottling is also a bonus.  Something which should be done a lot more in my opinion.

In the glass the rum is a very light straw like colour.  As with most “ron” the rum is produced on multi column stills.

It doesn’t appear to have been coloured in anyway though it may have been lightly filtered.

The nose is the first surprise for me.  It’s quite aggressive.  It is not as sweet as most Cuban rum I have tried.  It is not as clean and grassy as the Bristol 10 Year Old I reviewed earlier this year.

Predominantly it has a tarry note.  There is a little sweetness – almost citrus like.  It is quite an oaked rum.  Unlike many Cuban rums this oak isn’t charred though. It’s quite clean and very woody.  Vanilla wafts in and out of the mix.

Sipped it is very spicy.  Quite heated initially.  This fades quite quickly though.  There is a decent amount of flavour in the mid palate – it’s a pretty dry oaked rum.  It leaves behind a good hit of oak and smoky notes.  The finish isn’t long but it is pleasant.

It is not a rum that I would pick out as being a Cuban rum.  It is not representative of the that style.  At least not the style which is commercially popular.  Much like the Kill Devil Guatemala – it offers a very different perspective on what can come out of certain countries.

Being single cask it hasn’t benefitted from any blending.  As a result it does have a few rough edges.  It comes close to having the balance of a Bajan but it has an extra bite to it.  The tar or spice puts it a little of balance.  It is perhaps just a touch too dry for my palate.  Maybe it strays to close to whisky for my liking.

What shouldn’t be ignored though is how good the spirit is.  It’s punchy.  It’s certainly not a light Cuban style “ron”.  Maybe an almost Caroni like note to it -slightly industrial.

Another positive addition to the Kill Devil range.  If you want to try a Cuban rum stripped bare (rumour has it wine and vermouth is often added to the aguardientes) this is certainly a good place to start.

3.5 stars

 

 

 

 

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    Bythefatrumpirate

    Foursquare 2009 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateFoursquare 2009. After a brief protest caused by an unfortunate lapse into something approaching O.C.D, I have decided to no longer add the “Rum Distillery” part to my reviews.

    Foursquare themselves removed that part from the Exceptional Cask Series title a good while back. I think, possibly Foursquare 2007 was the first to do so. Though don’t quote me on that.

    Foursquare 2009 is the 17th release in the Exceptional Cask Series. It is the younger brother of the 2004,2005, 2007 and 2008. I assume a 2006 ECS was not released as a rum named as such was already released in conjunction with Velier.

    The lineage of the “yearly” named/dated ECS Foursquare releases is perhaps the most simple of the rums in the line up. They are a blend of Pot/Column still rums aged for around 11/12 years in ex-bourbon casks. The 2004 was the first in the ECS series to be issued at “Cask Strength”.

    Although this was fairly recent, it was still quite a daring move by Foursquare. Although Independent Rum and Scotch Whisky bottlers based in Europe had been releasing “Cask Strength” rum for a number of years – traditional Caribbean Distilleries rarely did so.

    I would imagine a lot of you reading this review will be aware of the recent issues with obtaining ECS rum, particularly in the UK. This is partly due to the increase in popularity of the brand (sadly not always popular for the right reasons), Brexit (in the UK) and of course the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The luxury of being able to pick up bottles of ECS weeks and even months after their release has long since gone. I remember picking up a third bottle of 2004 around 12 months after it was initially released. Maybe more actually.

    I’m in an extremely fortunate position in that I do receive advance samples of the ECS. So far I have been able to also buy a bottle of all but the initial 1998 – which was before my time. Well my time in the rum world anyway.

    Foursquare 2009 as mentioned already, is a blend of Pot/Column distilled rum. The rums have been aged in ex-bourbon casks and the final output has been bottled at 60% ABV. I’m noticing the ABV of the yearly dated ECS are slowly creeping up…….

    Foursquare 2009 retailed at around the £70 mark. RRP was set at £69.95. Most stores that kept close to the RRP have long since sold their allocation. The Whisky Exchange are conducted a ballot for previous customers.

    Presentation wise Foursquare 2009 comes in the stubby ECS bottle with the usual colour scheme used for such releases. The front and back label concentrate on giving you the facts about the rum in the bottle. Not fairy tales.

    Foursquare 2009 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateNow I tend not to compare previous ECS marques when I conduct my reviews. This is largely because I rarely have the liquid to compare. I drink what I buy. I don’t have a huge collection of opened bottles.

    So I’ll just let you know how I found this at the time of the review.

    Well thats the pre-amble sorted so lets get down to the fun part and try this rum.

    In the glass there are few surprises a dark/golden brown with a slightly orange hue. As the rum is at 60% and non-chill filtered there is a slight cloudiness and you might notice some floaters in the rum. This is nothing any should worry about as it all adds to the flavour………

    On the nose Foursquare 2009 is immediately familiar (a word I use a lot in Foursquare reviews but its no bad thing!). It’s quite woody and oaky with very well defined wafts of vanilla and stoned fruits. Plum, raisin and even some softer notes of peach and apricot. Some black cherry as well.

    12 years in an ex-bourbon barrel do impart a bourbon influence on this rum. That said I always feel rum has an extra “dimension” to bourbon and has more depth overall.

    Further nosing reveals some sweet strawberry and some ginger. The oak notes are nicely integrating and giving this nose a wonderfully warming depth.

    Is the nose perfect? Well the balance is exceptional and for a rum aged purely in ex-bourbon casks I can’t think of anything much better. From memory it seems a little sweeter than previous releases (2004,2005 etc) but that might be my palate altering over time.

    Sipped Foursquare 2009 is initially quite oaky but not woody it has, once again a really nice balance and depth to the “woody” notes. It’s mildly spicy with a hint of ginger and some white pepper but its mostly vanilla, oak and some dark fruits.

    It has a really lovely mouthfeel, even a full strength. It is a very rich and warming rum with a wonderful depth of complexity straight of the bat.

    The rum flows and grows through to the mid palate with a lovely hit of fruity red wine, plums and no shortage of warming oak notes and a little spiciness.

    There is more fruitiness and richness than you might expect from solely ex-bourbon casks. The rum seem a little less “dry” than previous releases in this series as well.

    Did I day I wouldn’t be comparing to previous relelases? Oh well…….

    Foursquare 2009 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateFinish wise Foursquare 2009 has a really nice length and flavour on the finish. The fruity notes and the oak notes fade out gently with minimal real “burn” and whilst there is a little burst of spicy ginger at the very tip of the finish – it all works beautifully.

    Once again this is a top tier example of traditional Pot/Column blended rum. There’s not really much else to say. If you can find a bottle anywhere near original retail price then buy one.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Woods Navy Rum Review DemeraraYet another Demerara rum with a very British twist to it. Along with brands such as Lambs, OVD and Skipper us Brit’s certainly do seem to enjoy importing dark Guyanese rums and bottling them up for public consumption.

    The rum comes in normal bar style bottle with a label which is old fashioned and in similar ilk to that of Skipper. The makers of these rum’s certainly don’t seem to be going for the younger sexy end of the market.

    As with a lot of imported dark Demerara rums this is quite readily available in UK supermarkets. It was in one such establishment (Morrisons this time) that I purchased a bottle for £18.99. Yes you’ve guessed it once I again I was seduced by the £5 discount. At around the £25 mark for a 70cl bottle this is quite expensive when you consider you can get a litre of OVD for around the same price and a litre of Lambs for about £20. Even Skipper is available for around £20 for a 70cl. However, the label on the Wood’s bottle reveals you are in fact getting an overproof rum for your money. At 57% ABV this is quite potent stuff. Stronger even than Pussers 54.5% ABV. Its actually pretty cheap for an Overproof rum.

    As mentioned already the rum is a thick dark almost treacly style of Demerara. It is a navy rum in the style of Lambs. However the extra potency gives the rum a bit more of a kick. The rum is still quite sweet and is very similar in taste to Skipper and Lambs. Its probably between the two in terms of sweetness. The extra alcohol does give it a little bitterness.

    The rum is a very “English” style of Demerara. El Dorado or Banks it certainly isn’t. Nor is it (in my opinion) a substitute for Pussers. It has little in common with these rums other than demographic.

    If you’re after a Lambs style navy rum with a bit extra oomph then Woods will fit the bill. However, if you are after a cheaper substitute for Pussers then I would look elsewhere (if you find one let me know!).

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  • Ron de Jeremy Reserva

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Ron de Jeremy Reserva Rum Review by the fat rum pirateRon de Jeremy Reserva is the flagship rum of One Eyed Spirit’s Ron de Jeremy portfolio.  It has been widely available for a number of years. It’s success is down to a mixture of clever (if slightly smutty) marketing and a respectable product.

    For those who don’t know, Ron Jeremy is an adult film star – the hardest working man on the planet. As a result the marketing of this rum is full of puns and double entendres.  The name of the rum is a play on the Spanish word for rum – “ron”. No matter what you might think about marketing a rum with a short, fat ugly pornstar as its figurehead. It certainly seems to be working!

    Originally (if online research is to be believed) Ron de Jeremy Reserva was a 7 year old Panamanian rum blended by master blender “Don Pancho” Fernandez.  Such a busy man!  From the information contained on my bottle, that is no longer the case. The rum is a completely different beast nowadays.

    Ron de Jeremy comes in a very good quality stubby bottle.  Presentation wise it is slightly muted and not to OTT.  If you didn’t know who Ron Jeremy was you might not realise the joke.  Reading the notes on the bottle though, will reveal to all but the most naïve people.

    The rum ticks a lot of boxes in the “Premium Rum” category – nice synthetic cork enclosure and some very nice solid branding throughout.  Ron de Jeremy Reserva is bottled at 40% ABV and is firmly placed in the “premium” market.  Novelty value alone ensures this rum will sell.  The price point of £30-35 means it is keenly priced.  I would imagine a lot of rum lovers get this as a Christmas gift.

    Reading between the lines Ron de Jeremy Reserva is a custom blendRon de Jeremy Reserva rum review by the fat rum pirate of rums from the Dutch Rum brokers E.A Scheer.  The bottle denotes that rums from Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana are blended, to produce this no age statement Reserva rum.

    Unlike the revolting XO this rum actually passes the Hydrometer Test.  Though I do detect a hint of some kind of artificial sweetener.  Nothing overpowering though.  Helpfully the rum has a warning that it includes caramel colouring.

    In the glass Ron de Jeremy is a very vivid light to golden brown with little flashes of red.  The nose is pretty sweet.  Big hits of brown sugar, butterscotch some cashew nuts. Younger notes of sweet alcohol, carried along with a little honey.  The nose is a little too sickly sweet for me.

    Sipping this rum, its difficult to really pin point quite how the different rums are complementing one another.  A lot of the the flavour seems to come from the Trinidad rum which seems to be quite sweet and have an almost “supermarket” rum feel to it.  I’m getting none of the Jamaican element to this blend.  It must be a very inoffensive Jamaican.  I get some light Bajan notes such as vanilla and light oak.  Unfortunately, it all comes over as a just a touch too sweet.  Maybe the Demerara which I felt was fairly present on the nose, is coming into to play and supplying these sweet flavours.  Though I suspect it may be something else sadly.

    Ron de Jeremy Reserva Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAll in all its not really a great sipper.  It’s certainly not a particularly complex one.  It does display some aged notes and genuine rum spirit but it has a honey-ed like flavour. It leaves the drink a little one dimensional.  It is also a very short drink with little taste after the initial burst of sweetness.  It very quickly moves into a spicy heat which quickly fades leaving little behind at all.  The aftertaste is strangely bitter and slightly astringent.

    Mixing the Reserva seems to suit it better. It goes okay with cola giving a sweet mixed drink.  Sadly it doesn’t really offer any oak or “rummy” bite.  The honeyed notes are back again becoming almost cloying.  The drink is too smooth and it lacks any real character.

    It probably isn’t worth the £30-35 – the novelty aspect is adding around £15 onto the price of this rum.  I don’t think it is a particularly long aged blend of rums.  If it is then they aren’t the best rums in the world!

    Not the worst rum in the world and much better than the horrendous XO.  Even saying that without the novelty value I doubt this alone would sell very well – not at this price.

    2 stars

     

     

  • Santiago de Cuba 12 Anos Extra Anejo

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Ron Santiago de Cuba 12 Anos Extra Anejo Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSantiago de Cuba 12 Anos Extra Anejo is rumoured to have been Fidel Castro’s favourite rum. Which is interesting. A lot of the reasons why researching Cuban rum can be so complex is down to him and his revolution!

    Which is about as political as I am ever likely to get on this blog.  Whether this was Castro’s favourite rum is an interesting aside but nothing more.  I dare say if I was the President I would have wanted something more luxurious. Maybe he just liked this one the best.

    This “ron” is produced at the distillery there the Bacardi family fled during the Cuban Revolution.  The brand Ron Santiago de Cuba is controlled by the Cuban Rum Company and in turn the Cuban Government.  The Cuban Government oversee all rum production in Cuba.

    Santiago de Cuba 12 Anos is produced in the typical Cuban style. The rums from Santiago de Cuba distillery are known as being from “the Cradle of Light Rum”.  That is light in terms of style, not colour necessarily.

    Cuban Rum production is quite a complicated matter. Like Martinique and the AOC they have their own regulations on what can be called Cuban Rum.  The “DOP” Denominación de Origen Protegida (in English, “Protected Designation of Origin”).  So in short we have a DOP Cuba which recognises Cuban Rum.  In addition to this you will also notice green stamp like stickers on bottles of Cuban Rum.  This denominates a “Guarantia” that the rum is official Cuban Rum.

    Ron Santiago de Cuba 12 Anos is a column distilled rum produced on a multi column still.  In Cuba, rum must be aged a minimum of 2 years. Any age statement on the bottle must represent the youngest rum contained in the blend.  Much like Jamaica.

    However, with Cuban rums being much lighter and lower in esters that is perhaps where the likeness to Jamaican rum ends.  Cuban rums are very, very different.

    In the glass Santiago de Cuba 12 is a deep, reddish brown.  The nose is typically Cuban.  There is a initial sweetness mixed with smoke and tobacco.  A touch of leather.  The sweetness is very apparent and is a little like candy or boiled sweets.  Very sugary.

    There are notes of raisin, banana, a hint of coconut and a caramelised note.  There is a hint of oak and spiciness but it is slightly overwhelmed by the sweeter notes.

    Sipped the rum takes on an a much different character.  The initial sip is nowhere near as sweet as the nose suggests.  It’s very spicy with a lot of oak and moreish sweet/sour bourbon notes from the oak.  It’s not hugely hot but does have a sprinkling of white pepper and a touch of clove.

    After a couple of sips your palate becomes more accustomed to the spicy, drier notes in this rum and some further complexity comes through.  Some sweeter note of dried fruits and a nice smokiness.

    The finish on the Santiago de Cuba 12 is reasonably long especially in the first few sips.  It’Santiago de Cuba 12 Year Extra Anejo Rum Review by the fat rum pirates quite an oaky and spicy rum.  It is certainly a more authentic take on Cuban rum than some of the more “sugary” Panamanian immitators.  It’s also a fraction of the cost of some of those.  I would say from tasting this the age statement is likely a fair reflection as well.

    If you are looking for a latin style rum that is not as full of additives as some of the “rons” on the market then this might be worth seeking out.  I would also say someone who enjoys drier Bajan rums may also enjoy this rum.  There is quite a lot of interaction with the spirit and the barrel and it makes for a very interesting and pretty complex sipper.

    I didn’t try this with cola as whilst I’m sure it would make a perfectly decent Cuba Libre I would go for the younger Sanitago de Cuba if I wanted that experience.

    Fidel might not have been right about everything but I can certainly see why he enjoyed this rum as much as he did.

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  • Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum review by the fat rum pirate Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum. Top Beverages Limited are a new company set up by entrepeneurs Nick Pullen and Saf Ali. They have released no fewer than nine products, as part of their brand’s Top Beverages launch.

    This Spiced Rum is one of three rum expressions they have released. Now, I will be perfectly honest at this stage that I was extremely sceptical about CBD infused or Hemp rum. The other rums in the series are a White Rum and a Mocha Flavoured Rum.

    Dead Man’s Fingers released a hemp/CBD based rum around six to nine months ago. My cynicism was not tempered by their marketing campaign. I think they may have been fined for it, as it had a heavy “taking drugs and getting stoned” message. Really grown up.

    For anyone unfamiliar with what CBD is, let me explain. CBD (cannabidiol) is an oil that is naturally sourced from hemp plants and is widely used for pain relief by sufferers of many conditions, including arthritis and MS. It is also said to be beneficial in the treatment of many other illnesses and conditions, including Alzheimer’s and anxiety.

    What it doesn’t do despite the name, is get you stoned! At least not when it is regulated and produced, in the manner of the CBD used in this particular product. Which was explained to me by Nick Pullen

    “Our 5% water soluble CBD solution contains 5 mg of CBD and 95 mg of Vegetable Glycerin, SOYA LECITHIN, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Alpha-Pinene, Beta-Pinene, Limonene, Terpinolene, and Citric Acid. The unique combination of CBD, carrier oils, terpenes and phytocannabinoids give our spirits a cloudy appearance, which indicates that CBD is present in each and every spirit we hand bottle.

    Our CBD is sourced from certified hemp farms in Europe and is grown to organic standards and does not use any pesticides. Our CBD meets all relevant EU requirements, including the requirement that it has less than .2% THC. In fact, independent laboratory tests conducted on behalf of Top Beverages cannot detect any THC levels within our CBD.

    Top Beverages has worked with legal counsel and food safety professionals to develop and implement strict testing protocols to guarantee CBD quality, content, integrity and consistency as well as to meet E.U. standards relating to CBD and THC content.”

    So that is the CBD part taken care of. What about the rum that is used in this product? Imported from the Caribbean?

    Actually no, this was one of the first things that surprised me about Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum. The rum is distilled here in the UK in Arbroath. Again Nick was on hand to tell me all about the production

    Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum review by the fat rum pirate“650 litres of molasses and water is fermented for 3 weeks to create around 10% alcohol wash. This is distilled in a 500L and 200L hybrid still, using 3 copper plates to produce around 150L of rum spirit at 50% ABV. The rum spirit is then distilled one more time using the 200L hybrid still with 1 copper plate, specific cuts are made to produce around 65 litres of white rum at 78% ABV, this is left for 3-5 days to mellow and relax. It is then reduced to 60% ABV when the spices are added for 24 hours before being filtered to remove the solids from the spices. The resulting spiced rum is reduced to just above bottling strength.”

    So they are producing their own unaged rum as the base for this Spiced Rum. So what kind of spices are we talking about. Well aside from the 50mg of premium full spectrum CBD they are also using cassia bark, orange peel, ginger and Indian Vanilla pods. No syrups, essences or any synthetic flavourings and no added sugar.

    Top CBD Beverages Spiced Rum is currently available via their website. It retails at £39.95 for a 500ml bottle. However, you are getting a bit more bang for you buck with this Spiced Rum as it is bottled at a whacking 54.5% ABV.

    So we’ve got an unaged Scottish rum, infused with CBD and made with only natural spices, with no added sugar bottled at 54.5% ABV. Captain Morgan’s Spiced this is certainly not……….

    In the glass we are presented with a slightly hazy (due to the CBD) yellow/straw coloured spirit. It certainly does not give the appearance of any added colourings.

    Nose wise you get a lot of orange zest and ginger on the initial nosing. Followed by some sweeter more floral notes from the vanilla and some hot spicy almost Eastern notes of the cassia bark.

    Everything which the producers state has been added to the mix is there. Thankfully and to be honest I really didn’t know quite what to expect flavourwise – I am not getting any Cannabis or Tobacco like notes from the CBD. I did have concerns it might taste a bit like that horrible Tobacco rum, you often find on the Spanish holiday islands.

    All in all it’s a very pleasant and very authentic smelling nose. It’s bright and fresh and nicely balanced. It does however have a lot more body than say something like Sailor Jerry or Old J. The extra ABV is noticeable on the nose. This might not appeal to the more died in the wool vanilla extract flavour Spirit Drink (I won’t say rum as a lot of it isn’t high enough ABV) drinker. But it’s more than okay with me and I really like the menace of the 54.5% ABV spirit which lurks underneath the spices.

    Sipped it is, especially for this time of year very warming. Unsurprisingly! It’s actually very pleasant with some really nice spice notes and a lovely burn of ginger and orange zest. It has a good balance provided by the relative sweetness of the vanilla pods but we are talking here really more of an infused tasting rum than a flavoured/Spiced rum. It has an almost “home made” kind of quality to it.

    It’s great to have in a glass that you can just a very small nip of every now and then. As it is a Spiced Rum then I gave it a good slug of cola and also tried it with some lemonade. It made very punchy, very “grown up” tasting drinks.Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    This is a Spiced Rum which might prove to be a bit marmite-esque. It’s similar to the likes of Spice Hunter from BB&R and to a lesser extent it’s Scottish cousin Dark Matter (this doesn’t have the added sugar).

    I like it, though I will understand why others might not be so keen. I wouldn’t play up any potential health benefits of drinking this, despite the CBD. Top CBD Spirits Spiced Rum is a far better product than I was expecting.

  • S.B.S – Single Barrel Selection Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask

    Bythefatrumpirate

    SBS Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask Rum Review by the fat rum pirateS.B.S – Single Barrel Selection Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask. Single Barrel Selection is part of the 1423 groups output. Formed in 2008 1423 are based in Denmark and are headed up by co-owners Thomas Vogensen, Parminder S Bhatia and Joshua Singh.

    1423 seek out single casks of rum and also bottle blends of rum in their Companera range. Their range has recently become more prominent in the UK thanks to Skylark Spirits who are importing the 1423 rums into the UK. Should you wish to learn more about 1423 they have a very informative website here.

    Single Barrel Selection Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask is a rum which originally hailed from the Foursquare Rum Distillery. Probably the most popular distillery amongst enthusiasts at the moment. With the possible exception of the now defunct Caroni Distillery.

    This rum is from a single barrel which yielded 371 bottles. It was distilled back in 2008 and was bottled in Denmark in 2017. Prior to bottling the rum was aged for 12 months in Denmark in ex-Marsala casks. The Marsala itself was aged for 5 years. It is unclear when the rum was originally brought to Europe, so I don’t know the percentage of Continental European/Tropical ageing.

    The rum is currently available via Amazon priced at £89.99 for a 70cl bottle. The ABV on this one is 55% ABV. I am not sure if this is Cask Strength. I suspect not, it may have had some dilution in Denmark. It is noted as Non-Chill Filtered.

    Presentation wise the design is modern using a short stubby style bottle with a cork stopper. The rum also comes with a card sleeve with a cut out which means you can still read the details on the bottle. Information wise the rum displays number of bottles, year of distillation etc prominently on the front label. The card sleeve helps the bottle stand out a but more – it’s reminiscent of the Compagnie des Indes sleeves. Though the 1423 bottles aren’t quite as colourful and striking.

    In the glass Single Barrel Selection Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask is a dark reddish brown with orange flashes.

    The nose is very inviting with lots of coconut and vanilla present. Further nosing reveals some plum and blackberry. Almost like a Mixed Fruit Jam.The Marsala cask finish is quite evident giving this rum a sweeter nose than you would encounter, in say Foursquare 2005 or Rum Sixty Six. There is a zesty freshness to the end of the nose and a slight spiciness – and a touch of smoke.

    Sipped at the full 55% ABV this is very drinkable and very nicely done. The sip reveals more oak influence from the ex-bourbon maturation. Really nice notes again of the coconut followed by vanilla and some real good lemon zest. Tingly spices from the bourbon cask give this a really nice complex mouthfeel.

    The mid palate is perhaps where the Marsala cask is most noticeable. Once the coconut and vanilla fade we are re-acquainted with the rich fruity notes – plum, tangerine and some blackberries/currants.

    Finish wise it is quite a dry finish. Lots of woody oak notes and some real bourbon like notes. It’s light, refreshing. I like the way the initial sip, mid palate and finish all evolve and move into very different territories. It’s a really complex sip.

    The Marsala cask doesn’t dominate this rum or take away any of the qualities that were present prior to the second maturation. Instead it adds a subtle extra layer of fruitiness which makes this rum different enough to warrant a purchase.

    Price wisSBS Barbados 2008 Marsala Cask Rum Review by the fat rum piratee it is “expensive” should you compare it to Foursquare’s own releases. Ultimately it will depend on how much you need to try every Foursquare around. I would opt for something like this, with a different finish to many of the Indie bottlings currently available.

    Believe me whilst a Indie bottling of Foursquare aged for around 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels is great – I wouldn’t say it is any better than the distilleries own bottlings. Some aren’t quite as good or two, three times the price.

    As Foursquare have released so many of their own bottlings recently, this may only be for the hardcore. That said I have noticed that a number of enthusiasts have still been buying this. I doubt the 371 bottles will last very much longer.

    1423 were responsible for the second maturation of the Worthy Park bottlings. The Marsala and Oloroso finish limited editions. They have also worked with Worthy Park again on their new editions. Stand by for the reviews – they are on the way. So it is safe to say they know what they are doing when it comes to this kind of secondary maturation/finish.

    A slightly different take on classic Foursquare and a very tasty rum to boot. Didn’t even need dilution at 55% ABV.

    Well worth a look.