Kill Devil Guatemala Darsa Distillery Aged 8 Years

Bythefatrumpirate

Kill Devil Guatemala 8 years rum review by the fat rum pirateKill Devil Guatemala Darsa Distillery Aged 8 Years. Kill Devil is an old fashioned term for rum but this is a very new rum brand.  Coming from independent whisky bottler Hunter-Laing.  I came across these distinctive bottlings for the first time on a German website 4finespirits.  I was interested in trying them but importing spirits into the UK can be a bit of minefield (the German’s also have a different rate of VAT which further complicates things) so I passed over buying them straight away.

As luck would happen Master of Malt picked up some very limited stocks of these rums and I was quick enough to snag a few bottles.  The rums are Single Cask Rum and they are limited to approximately 350 bottles per release.  All the rums I have seen have been bottled at 46%.  This might not please everyone (I’m not hugely bothered about higher ABV’s to be honest) but it keeps costs down and these offerings are very competitively priced.

The bottling I am focusing on today is slightly unusual, which is why I picked it up.  This is an 8 year Guatemalan rum from the Darsa Distillery.  Prior to this bottling I had no idea what or where the Darsa Distillery was.  For many, Guatemalan rum begins and ends with the Ron Zacapa range of rums.  Some more knowledgeable rum fans afollow the Ron Botran brand but both come out of the same distillery or group of distillers Industries Licoreras de Guatemala.

With both Zacapa and Botran much is made of the high altitude ageing and use of the “Solera” system.  To be fair amongst rum fanatics Zacapa is seen as a little bit of a marketing myth and the make up of the rum is continually questioned.

In the case of this rum the “solera” ageing is certainly not an issue as this is single cask – so not a blend of old and younger rum.  So that leaves the question where is it aged? At high altitude? The honest answer is I’m not that sure and the information on the Darsa Distillery is a little vague and what exists doesn’t feel me with much hope for this rum.

Darsa should really be printed as D.A.R.S.A it translates into English as the Alcohol and Rum Distillery.  Further information is even more disappointing and is published here.  It sounds pretty industrial.  Certainly not the picture painted by Zacapa and Botran!

The reason I bought this rum was that I wanted to try a rum from Guatemala which does not have any additives.  Zacapa is sugared – amongst other things and Botran has been noted as also having additives.  The only other Guatemalan rum I have seen is from Planatation and again they add sugar.  I basically just want to see what a Guatemalan distillate taste like – is it actually any good?

This Kill Devil offering cost me just over £40 – pretty reasonable for an 8 year old singleKill Devil Guatemala 8 years rum review by the fat rum pirate cask. The presentation I really like.  The slightly macabre “spirit” on the bottle is good instantly giving you the feel of a kind of “Kill Devil” and the labelling is uncluttered and gives you some information on the rum.  Though to be honest not a great deal unfortunately – no information on still used etc.  The back label has a nice story about “Kill Devil”.  I like the opaque squat bottle and it has a very nice synthetic stopper.  You also get a very sturdy cylinder to store your rum in and keep the Kill Devil trapped perhaps!

The back label states that these bottlings are hand selected and them imported and bottled in Scotland.  Which kind of indicates they are aged at source but hey maybe not.  This is one of 333 bottles.

So enough of the pre-amble lets get down to trying this mysterious spirit!

First up in the glass Kill Devil Guatemala Darsa Distillery Aged 8 Years is a fairly standard golden brown. Although no additives in terms of taste are in these rums, I’m pretty sure like most bottlings this has caramel added for colour – which is not something that overly worries me.  I don’t really go with the idea that it has an impact on the flavour.

The nose is quite delicate and fragrant. A nice balance of oak and vanilla are present and a nice delicate almost floral sweetness comes to the fore.  There is a slight oaky char to the rum, which I quite like and seems to open the rum upto some sweet/sour Bourbon like notes.  My thoughts are how nicely balanced this rum seems.  A nice example of a good well aged column distilled rum.

Sipping the rum is quite a spicy experience.  Despite the ageing its pretty hot and there is quite a lot of burn.  Having said that although there is a definite tingle on the tongue its not entirely unpleasant or rough.  The overall hot and spicy feel leaves the sweeter notes that were on the nose almost impossible to detect.  It’s not as balanced as the nose suggested and it has a lot of heat followed by lot of spice and not really a great deal else going.  It leads into a very oaky and long finish with a slight bitterness.

Kill Devil Guatemala 8 years rum review by the fat rum pirateIt’s not a great sipping rum but its not without its merits.  It’s certainly nice to try a Guatemalan rum sans sugar or other additives.  I presume this has been aged solely in ex Bourbon casks maybe a Port or Sherry Finish may add and extra layer of complexity to this.  It’s pretty one dimensional and doesn’t have a great deal of flavours beyond oak and peppery spice.

At £40 its out of my price range in terms of a mixer but I have mixed a little of this rum just to see how it works.

The result is not bad – the cola tones down the spicy pepper and the oak goes nicely with the rum.  The cola however doesn’t really develop the rum in anyway – you don’t get any fruity flavours you sometimes get with rums when mixed.

An interesting rather than a good start to my experiments with the Kill Devil bottlings but I have a couple more reviews coming soon.  I have high hopes for those rums as they are from distilleries which I am more familiar with – so I expect the standard to by high.

2.5 stars

 

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  • Bacardi Superior

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bacardi Superior White rum reviewThere’s probably not a lot to be said about Bacardi that hasn’t been said before.  Probably, on this blog and one of my other Bacardi reviews amongst other places.  It was on completing a review of Lemon Hart White Rum that I realised I hadn’t actually reviewed Bacardi Superior.  I’d had the pictures taken and reviewed a few other of Bacardi products but somehow I’d totally forgotten to review their flagship offering.

    To most people Bacardi (and even rum) begins and ends with this rum.  Ask for a rum and coke and many places won’t even ask what you want and just serve a Bacardi and Coke.  To be honest in some places in the UK you’d be more than glad of a Bacardi!

    Do I need to explain the bottle that Bacardi Superior comes in? Is there anyone on the planet with even the vaguest interest in rum (or just drink in general) who wouldn’t recognise Bacardi?  Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Gold and Bacardi Black all come roughly the same bottle.  I’ve said it before but I do like the way Bacardi presents it products.

    The Bacardi Superior comes in, well a standard Bacardi bottle complete with bat logo, gold medals and the “Case Fundada En Cuba estd 1862” which any Bacardi aficionado will recognise.  The bottle I’m reviewing is 40% ABV and its a 1 litre bottle.

    I made the mistake of trying to sip Lemon Hart White rum (and Wray and Nephew!) I’ve drank more than enough Bacardi Superior to know that sipping is not a good idea.  I sipped it along side the Mastro De Ron when conducting that review.  It’s a mixing rum and any pretence of anything else is frankly just plain stupid.

    Bacardi works well in a classic Cuban Cuba Libre.  It is a mixing rum.  It is a white spirit that has a sweet fruity taste which vodka cannot match.  If you wish to look beyond this spirit and try to make it something else then you are looking at the wrong drink.  Let’s be honest a lot of people who drink Bacardi probably don’t even know its rum they probably just think its well errrm Bacardi!

    A review of Bacardi Superior can be nothing other than brief.  It is a very sweet -apple, banana and a little sweet pear are all in the profile.  I don’t know how much sugar is in this rum but it is very, very sweet.  Being honest it isn’t something any serious “rum” lover is going to get excited about.  It’s probably of more interest to a mixologist or bartender.  I don’t build cocktails but I would imagine there will be times when certain cocktails really benefit from Bacardi Superior.

    I often think of Bacardi Superior as “sweet vodka” a relatively inoffensive yet very sweet mixer.  I think if you knock this you’re kind of missing the point.  There’s plenty room for the rum’s you like alongside this.  Hey sales of this rum might even help subsidise the “better” Bacardi offerings such as 8 anos and Reserva.

    2 stars

     

     

     

     

    This rum is available from

    THEDRINKSHOP

     

     

     

     

  • Hampden Diamond H 2010 7 Year Old

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Velier Hampden H Diamond 2010 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateHampden Diamond H 2010 7 Year Old Velier 70th Anniversary. Quite a mouthful. I have chose to write out the “Diamond” part of the marque rather than as its shown on the bottle as WordPress doesn’t like you using those arrows and it strikes through the rest of the text.

    Enough of my publishing difficulties though. Hampden Diamond H 2010 is as mentioned a 7 Year Old rum. It was released to commemorate the 70th Anniversay of Italian Importer and bottler Velier.

    This is part of the Warren Khong series. Mr Khong designed the bottles – he did not take part in the production of this rum. Which of course took place at Hampden Distillery in Jamaica. This is a 100% Pot Still rum and it is a blend of 5 casks of the Diamond H marque. Yielding 1659 bottles in total. All of which were bottled at a Cask Strength 62% ABV. The ester count for this one comes in at around the 900-1000 g/hlaa – which is pretty high even by Hampden standards. It has been aged for 7 years in Jamaica in ex-bourbon casks. Upon release it was not imported to the UK so finding a bottle in mainland Europe and paying the courier costs to have it mailed would have set you back around £200. Pretty pricy but these things are in high demand. So you pay a premium.

    As with Velier bottlings you get all the information you could need on the bottle so that just leaves me to give my thoughts on this particular rum.

    In the glass the rum is a golden brown colour with a tinge of orange.

    The nose is instantly recognisable as a Jamaican rum – the differences between what I would have previously thought to be a Long Pond distillery rum and a Hampden one are becoming increasingly blurred. Especially as the esther count increases.

    Very sweet concentrated pineapple juice. Maybe slightly fermented but still showing its Velier Hampden H Diamond 2010 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateintense, concentrated sweetness. Black toasted bananas by the bucket full. Vanilla – yes concentrated sweet vanilla pods. Almost extract like its so intense. Mangoes, stewed bitter cooking apples and pears. Brown sugar, a touch of marzipan/almond.

    All housed in a wonderful wrapping of fresh wet nail varnish and a touch of creosote. You could probably put a drop of this into a rum and vodka and have all the Jamaican funk you could ever ask for in such a drink.

    I could nose this all day long.

    Sipped it is slightly bitter at first but quickly rounds out into some intense sweet pineapple juice, stewed almost rotting apples, lemons and some really zesty lime.

    It’s surprisingly spicy. With some allspice and cinnamon notes alongside intense ginger and a hint of chilli pepper. A decent amount of oak spice giving a very moreish mouthfeel. It’s sweet and dry at the same time. There is a lot of complexity going on and a lot to pick out.

    In terms of balance it does tend to come in slightly too bitter for my palate. It is maybe a touch too dry . I prefer it with a couple of spoons of water to temper some of the spice and this also seems to make it less drying.

    Even still its still very spicy and fiery with notes of chilli pepper and jalapeno. A lot of the sweetness on the nose. Unfortunately doesn’t follow through to the sip. The nose is better than the sipping experience.

    The finish is good – nice weight of spices, combined with some of the sweeter elements and a good hit of varnish. Unfortunately it dries up pretty quickly leaving quite a lot of woodiness and funk behind. Compared to the intense taste explosion earlier it feels a little disappointing.

    I like it a lot  I’m being pretty critical of it – I’m aware – but it has so much competition from other Hampden’s. So it won’t be getting a top score from me.Velier Hampden H Diamond 2010 Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    If money isn’t an object then try and get a bottle. If not the Habitation Velier HLCF and LROK (and the combined offering) are available for less money. There are also some really good Hampden’s out there from the likes of Kill Devil. Also some banging Long Pond Jamaicans from Duncan Taylor.

    This is probably best served up in a blend (with other marques). Rather than an individual marque. I’m being pretty finickity – its really good stuff. If you like your rums on the more brutal side you may find this more to your tastes than a fruitier Jamaican.

  • Rum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Rum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant Rum Review by the fat rum pirateRum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant. Rum Exchange are a importer of fine spirits and are now an independent bottler of rum. This is their fourth release, following on from some very impressive rums from Jamaica and Belize. Today we are in familiar territory with an independently bottled Port Mourant rum from Guyana.

    For those of you that are not aware Port Mourant is the name given to the Double Wooden Pot Still which is housed at Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) in Guyana. The still is used in a number of the El Dorado range as well as Pussers and numerous over “Navy” style rums and blends.

    Today we are reviewing a 2008 vintage which was bottled in 2019 after 11 years of maturation. I am unaware what percentage of this is tropical/continental. Rum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant is presented at Cask Strength 58.3% ABV. It is 100% Pot Still rum. In Europe it retails at around the €85 mark.  It is a single cask rum and only 280 bottles are available worldwide, with only 30 being in the UK.

    Presentation wise Rum Exchange seem to have settled on a more branded affair with this and the Belize offering. The small square stubby bottle is nicely finished off with a good wooden topped stopper. The card sleeve to house the rum is also a bonus as is the information about the rum on both the bottle and the sleeve. It all looks very modern and is certainly something you would notice on the shelf.

    Rum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass we have a very light spirit for 11 years old. It is a very light brown bordering on being yellow. The nose is big and sharp with a big hit of banana bread and roasted pineapple. It smells more like a Worthy Park rum than a Port Mourant.

    Further nosing reveals more Port Mourant character with a nice hit of aniseed and a big waft of almost whisky like maltiness. There is a peppery spice lingering in the background alongside some prunes and dates adding a bit of fruitiness.

    Sipped, initially it is very peppery with lots of savoury notes and a big hit of very whisky like notes. Further sips reveal a slight sweetness with notes of dark licorice and some molasses but overall this is a very woody and very spicy spirit.

    There is nothing unfamiliar about this Port Mourant but it is not one that I am finding entirely to my liking. This is a very good rum but I would prefer just a bit more sweetness to go with the more savoury “malty” notes. It’s a very dry style of rum and not one which people used to adulterated rum would appreciate.

    Fortunately, after a few sips your taste buds adjust to the spiciness of the rum and the sweetness comes out more and more. Time in the glass also helps this rum to develop. Now I am enjoying it more as the mid palate gives me a hit of raisin and currant to mix with the spicy woody heat and the savoury notes which are a little like Weetabix.

    Rum Exchange Guyana Port Mourant Rum Review by the fat rum pirateThis is a complex rum and one worth spending time with. Don’t rush this one it is a rum where small sips are required. The finish is a reasonable length but does seem to fade out rather quicker than I would usually expect. It leaves the malty savoury taste behind in the mouth. The aniseed burn as it fades out is pleasant alongside the spicy slightly tannic wood.

    Overall this is a quality rum, which might not suit all palates but those that enjoy a Port Mourant which is on the drier side will certainly appreciate this one. It’s not my favourite ever Port Mourant but it is till a very tasty drop. The price is pretty good as well. Some bottlers are charging a lot more for a lot less!

  • Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola

    ByMrs Fatrumpirate

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirate Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola. Today I’m continuing my journey into what our Mexican friends call Charanda. For those unaware about Charanda, it is a alcoholic spirit which derives from sugar cane. This particular brand Uruapan, is also one the biggest cities in the state of Michoacan, were Charanda is exclusively produced.

    Charanda is protected and recognised by a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). Charanda is produced through the distillation and rectification (double distillation) of sugar cane cold-extracted juices. The result is a colorless crystalline spirit. Like rum it is often then aged in oak and other native woods.

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco, may be familiar to you. Particularly if you are in the US, where a Uruapan Charanda Blanco has been available for a few years. However, I am reliably informed that this is not the same spirit that you may have seen in the blue coloured bottle.

    You may note on the front of the bottle to the right it is noted as being a

    Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSingle Blended Rum. Whereas the bottle I have taken my sample from, is noted as being Pure Single Agricola. The “blue bottle” Uruapan Charanda Blanco is produced from both Sugar Cane Juice based distillate and Molasses based distillate. 50/50 I understand.

    The bottle I am reviewing, is produced solely from Sugar Cane Juice. hence the Agricola tagline.

    Both of these Charanda’s have been bottled at 46% ABV. The Charanda I am reviewing today was produced on a Copper Pot Still. It is an unaged Charanda which has only been rested in steel vats before bottling.

    The “blue bottle” Single Blended Uruapan Charanda Blanco is quite easily available in the US. It retails at around the $25-30 mark. It has also received a fair amount of praise and attention in the drinks world.

    This Charanda is more tricky to find for sale. However K&L Wines do seem to be stocking this, though it is more pricy than the Single Blended effort at $39.99. I’ve been unable to find a stockist in the UK or Europe for this Pure Single Agricola but the blue bottle Single Blended Charanda is available here. Though I have never used this online store before.

    The distillery that produces Charanda Uruapan goes by the same name and is one of only 6 or 7 distilleries left. At one point there were hundreds, such has been the decline in the popularity of Charanda. The distillery also produces the Tarasco range of Charanda’s one of which I have reviewed previously.

    So there really is little else to say. Having heard some of the comparisons of this Charanda with the likes of Clairin, Rhum Agricole and even Jamaican Overproof rum I am keen to taste the liquid.Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass Uruapan Charanda Blanco Pure Single Agricola is crystal clear. It looks to all intents and purposes like vodka. However, the pungent aromas coming from the glass give a clear indication that this is far from being a boring, neutral spirit.

    It’s rich and creamy on the nose with layers of double cream and vanilla ice cream.  This is backed up by pungent grassy Rhum Agricole like aromas of freshly cut cane.

    A smoky yet very spicy aroma also comes from the spirit which immediately reminds me of spicy nachos covered in a dusting of peppery spice. Allowed to rest in the glass the nose becomes much more rounded and approachable given around 15 minutes. When initially poured it is much more spicy.

    At 46% ABV sipping this Charanda is a very pleasant experience. It has quite a spicy peppery kick to it particularly on the initial sip. Black Pepper and some chilli oil are the first things I think of. As the initial spicy notes die down the mid palate sees the vanilla and more creamy notes from the nose return. These mingle nicely with some grassy notes.

    Finish wise it is surprisingly light much of the spicy notes are contained in the initial entry and this Charanda flows nicely into what is quite a short finish. If I saw this predominantly as a sipper this might be a fault. However, it would be unfair to rate this Charanda as a sipper. Clearly it is more for mixed drinks. That said what is there on the finish is nice and gentle and it fades out nicely without any rough edges.

    This is Uruapan Charanda Blanco Rum Review by the fat rum piratedefinitely something quite different from most white “rums”. That is because whilst this is similar to rum, in that it is derived from Sugar Cane – it is a spirit very reliant on its terroir. For once that is not some marketing bullshit. Charanda is only produced in a very small part of the a state in Mexico. So the soil the cane is grown in has very distinct characteristics of its environment. You might not even identify this as being a “rum”, if you tasted it blind.

    It is mixed where this Charanda really comes out to play. In mixed drinks such as a Caiprinha it gets to show both its lighter vanilla/creamy side. It is also able to show its “funkier” side with a nice range of banana and fruity flavours. The 46% ABV certainly works well in mixed drinks and cocktails giving the drink just a little bit extra oomph.

    This is certainly worth keeping an eye out for – if you do see it for sale at around the £40 mark or less then I wouldn’t hesitate in picking up a bottle. Especially, if you are seeking out something a little different.

     

  • Manchester Rum Festival 1st June 2018

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Manchester Rum Festival 2018 the fat rum piratMANCHESTER RUM FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS SECOND YEAR

    Manchester Rum Festival to host round two at Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Rum Festival, the cities only official festival of its kind for the rum category, is returning Friday 1st June 2018, heading to the iconic Manchester Cathedral.

    With the 2017 launch of Manchester’s first dedicated rum festival turning out to be a sell-out success, organizer and owner Dave Marsland of Drinks Enthusiast has turned to the historic venue to house over 75 brands of rum from all over the world, a dedicated cocktail bar for classic signature serves, and the chance to purchase via local independent retailer Riddles Emporium’s on-site shop.

    Tickets for the festival go on sale Tuesday 28th November at 9am, priced at £20 for the full session, and will be available via the official Manchester Rum Festival website.

    The festival will be a weekend long affair, with the main festival positioned on the Friday 1st, whilst the Saturday and Sunday will offer up a host of rum focused events, tastings and cocktail specials. The return of the rum brunches will see city centre venues collaborate with the likes of Chairman’s Reserve from St Lucia, whilst the cities tiki bars and cocktail haunts will work their Caribbean magic by putting on festival special menus for the weekend.

    New Polynesian venue Mahiki will be hosting the official Manchester Rum Festival after-party on the Friday evening, kick-starting what Dave hopes to be a weekend of rum interaction between novices and enthusiasts across the city.

    For more information on the current exhibitors and extra events, please visit www.manchesterumfestival.com

    Manchester Rum Festival can be followed on Twitter @McrRumFestival,

    Facebook and Instagram at /ManchesterRumFestival

    Last years event was excellent at Revolucion de Cuba so we are expecting more of the same from Dave and the crew this year!

  • Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji Rum reivew by the fat rum piratePlantation Rum Isle of Fiji. This rum represents the latest rum to be added to the Plantation Signature Blends range, the first since Xaymaca in 2018. The Signature Blends are continuous releases with rums from the likes of Barbados and Jamaica featuring.

    Plantation have long been bottling rum from Fiji as part of their Vintages range and also some Single Cask offerings. For more details on the full Plantation range please visit their site, which gives a lot of information on their various ranges.

    Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji is presented in the Signature Blend’s familiar stubby bottle with the bulbous neck. The straw wrap is again present and the rum is sealed with a good quality synthetic stopper. In the UK a 70cl bottle will set you back around £32. It has been bottled at 40% ABV. The usual stockists apply in the UK. If you are in Germany Rum & Co are currently stocking this as well.

    So what do we know about the actual rum in the bottle? Well Plantation offer a lot of information on their website, so lets piece it all together.

    The rum comes from the only distillery currently operating on Fiji which is owned by the Fiji Rum Company. It is produced using molasses from native sugar cane. A 4-5 day fermentation is followed by distilliation. Some of the rum in the blend is from a Pot Still and some is Column distilled. I am not sure of the exact ratio.

    The rum is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 2-3 years in Fiji. It is then moved to Maison Ferrand in France, where it is aged for a further year in Ferrand Cognac casks. Planation have noted 16g/L of additives (their aged sugar syrup) on the website and bottle. They also note E150 (Caramel colouring) may be added for colour regulation. We can’t grumble about their transparency on this occasion.

    Now my experience of Fijian rum has been quite mixed. The rums do have a very Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji Rum reivew by the fat rum piratedistinctive character but I have noticed huge shifts in profile depending on how long the rum has been aged. To describe Fijian rum I would say it is pretty funky and is a heady mix of Jamaican Pot Still rum, heavy tarry Caroni and a touch of Saint Lucian pine-cone notes. What proportion of each of these you get seems to depend from rum to rum. They are certainly very interesting rums, if not always to my taste.

    To be honest when I heard Plantation were releasing a fairly young Fijian rum as part of their Signature Blend range, I was quite surprised.

    So let’s move and get this evaluated….

    In the glass the spirit is a little lighter than I might have expected. It’s a light golden brown. a shade or two darker than straw/white wine. The nose is quite punchy for 40% ABV. Lots and lots of dark treacly molasses notes jump straight out at you. Fijian rum is often not for the light hearted.

    There is a sweeter more perfumed note but it’s little fierce as well, nail varnish?. Again it’s pretty intense stuff. After a little time in the glass I’m getting some fruitier notes – touch of passion fruit. ripe pears, touch of plum and some currants. There is a smokiness as well..

    All in all the nose is impressive, nicely defined and balanced. It’s a good start.

    Sipped, the rum is not as flavourful as the nose suggested. The fruitier notes have diminished. It has a bitter/sweet note saccharin like note (similar to their Barbados 5 Year Old) which I am not overly keen on. That seems to be taking away some of the other flavours.

    It starts to develop on the mid palate a bit more, with some punchy notes of burnt banana, ginger and a touch of honey. Unfortunatley, something seems to cut all this all a little short. Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji Rum reivew by the fat rum pirate

    Finish wise it isn’t the longest. It fades quicker than I might have hoped. That said it’s not unpleasant and it’s not a bad rum by any stretch of the imagination. There is a fair bit of complexity and flavour I would have just liked a bit more of a development and not to have it had the saccharin note.

    This is noted being best enjoyed as a sipper. Again something which is quite daring to state for a young rum.

    All in all this is quite a pleasant rum. A little more “punchy” than some of the Plantation range.

    It just feels like Plantation Rum Isle of Fiji, has had it’s wings clipped a little to accomodate the average Plantation drinker. That said there really aren’t many examples of young-ish reasonably priced Fijian rum available in the UK. So this isn’t a bad start if you were looking to try some Fijian rum, without breaking the bank. Those IB’s can be expensive and Bounty is not always easy to find or cheap.

    If I am looking for a Fijian rum then I want something a little more robust than this. I’ve already been down the Fijian rum route though, so this is probably a good start.

    Whether it’s the dosage, Ferrand finish or just the age of the rums in the blend after such a promising nose, it fell just a little short.  It’s still quite good though and I wouldn’t refuse a glass if offered.

    And I never even mentioned the GI’s………