Ron Cartavio Anejo

Bythefatrumpirate

Ron Cartavio Anejo Rum Review by the fat rum pirateRon Cartavio Anejo. I picked this bottling from Peruvian rum producer Cartavio up in Mallorca. Hence the more “exotic” looking photo. This photo was definitely not taken in sunny Sunderland!

Ron Cartavio Anejo is the entry level aged rum in the Cartavio line up. This was quite an old dusty bottle and it set me back the princely sum of 10 Euros.  In the UK a bottle of this would set me back around £22-25 for a 70cl.  It is bottled at a fairly uninspiring 38% ABV.

From what I can gather this rum has been re-branded with new packaging (the picture below shows the upated look).  It is now the Ron Cartavio 1929 Ron Anejo Reserva.  There have been a lot of changes to the Cartavio range over the past 10 years.  A lot of different expressions and information is pretty hard to find.  For instance I can’t seem to find an English language Ron Cartavio site.  Bearing in mind the Cartavio XO is marketed a a “Premium” rum and has quite a following stateside I’m quite surprised by this.

As far as I am aware Ron Cartavion Anejo is/was a blend of column distilled rums aged for up to 3 years and aged in ex-bourbon barrels.  I’ve not been able to find out too much else to be honest. If anyone does have more information please let me know.

I’m not really sure this rum is still available.  I am assuming the Cartavio 1929 Ron Anejo Reserva is a renaming of it but I could be entirely wrong.

Nevertheless, I’ve always said I’d review pretty much anything I come across in the hope it will come in useful to someone, someday.

So with little else to say, I may as well get on with giving you my impressions on this rum.

The nose is best described as confected. Strong notes of Pear Drops, vanilla and Candy Rock. Beneath this are hints at vanilla and a mild spice from the oak. Very little can penetrate through the sweetness. It’s very sweet and light. In all honesty its not unpleasant as such but its not very “rummy”.

Predominantly a mixer Ron Cartavio Anejo isn’t terrible as a sipper but only in the sense that it is light, sweet and inoffensive. It shows little real rum character with only minimal alcohol burn. A lot of the confected sweet shop notes that were present on the nose transfer straight across to the sip. You get a little bit of bite in the mid palate and the finish gives a very slight burn but it quickly fades away.

Quite what Cartavio add to their rums I am not 100% sure. As a mixer this works Ron Cartavio Anejo Rum Review by the fat rum piratereasonably well. For the price I paid in Mallorca I wasn’t expecting anything much. However its price in the UK means it is extremely unlikely I will be buying it again. I won’t.

It doesn’t so much as add “rummyness” to mixed drinks as just add a touch of sweetness and a smoothness which just feels entirely unnatural. There is something synthetic about this rum – its a crowd pleaser and people will think its great because its “sweet and smooth”. It’s too light and flowery for my palate. I really don’t like all the synthetic tasting additives that have went into this.

The reality is that Cartavio produced unremarkable column distilled rum. They then tart it up to appeal to the mass market with additives. Not for me. I’d like to try a Peruvian rum without all the additives.

 

 

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  • Havana Club Maximo

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Havana Club Maximo Rum Review by the fat rum pirateHavana Club Maximo.  Not a rum I ever envisaged reviewing on the site.  Please note the image to the left is taken from the Whisky Exchange blog and is not my photograph.  It is purely for illustrative purposes.

    I recently got involved in a Twitter Tasting with Havana Club rum.  As part of this process I was sent 50ml samples of the four more exclusive/expensive rums in the brands portfolio.  Seleccion de Maestros, 15 Year Old, Union and this, the Maximo.

    As you can see from the photo the Maximo is high end stuff.  Top of the line.  It comes in a beautiful silk lined wooden box and is housed in a hand blown individually labelled glass decanter.  The reason that this would never have been reviewed on the site – the price tag.  This rum costs over £1000 for a 50cl bottle bottled at 40% ABV.  Out of my price range and in reality out of a price I would even contemplate paying for rum.

    The Twitter Tasting was quite hectic and on a school night. I made tasting notes at the time and I was able to squirrel away a small sample of the rum(s) to re-visit.  My usual practice is to review full bottles or at least 20cl bottles.  Still I figured a review of this rum from someone independent would be of interest.  Whilst this is a sample it wasn’t given to me by Havana Club direct in return for a glowing “freebie” review.

    Havana Club Maximo Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAs you can see from the picture to the right the sample I received wasn’t quite in the same league presentation wise as the retail bottle!

    Still it was a nicely put together little package and I’ll always be grateful to Peter from TheFloatingRumShack for getting me involved.  I owe that man a drink (well actually 4 doubles!).

    I can’t really assess the presentation of the Maximo as I don’t physically have access to a full size bottle.  At the price though the presentation should be excellent.  Reading around it is noted that Maximo is limited to only 1,000 bottles worldwide.  I don’t know if that is it or if that was the first batch etc.  It’s unclear.  I suspect it is per year or per release.  Either way bottles of the Maximo are still available from a few online sellers here in the UK.

    Also unclear is the exact age of the rums in the blend.  All I can find that it is a blend of the oldest and rarest rums in the companies reserves.  It is crafted by Maestro Ronero Don Jose Navarro.

    So on with the review of the most expensive rum I’m ever likely to try……….

    In the glass the rum is a nice rich copper colour with flashes of red and orange.  On the nose Maximo exhibits that familiar petrol/tobacco Havana Club nose. It is unmistakably a Havana Club product.  However, it has complexity beyond this.  It is deep and rich.  There is a lot intensity and fruit in the nose.  The nose is full to bursting with aromas.  Despite this it is still balanced, not overpowering or cloying.  No one note dominates.  This is very much a nosing rum as well as a sipping rum.  Chocolate, coffee and a little citrus.  Well aged oak and spice comes through clearly as well.  This rum certainly smells like it has a lot going on.

    Havana Club MaximoTaken neat (there is no way this should be mixed) the rum is initially sweet, once again very intense.  It is citrusy. The mouth feel is rich and smooth.  The rum can be left in the mouth and swirled around.  It coats the taste buds beautifully.  There is minimal burn on the finish.  The finish is very long and very intense.  It is spicy but is layered with tropical fruits and rich dark cocoa notes.

    Without question this is an outstanding rum and one which if you get the chance you definitely should try.  Whether it is “worth” over £1000 depends on your viewpoint and being honest, how much money you have!

    In my world I couldn’t justify paying this much for a rum but someone will and they will thoroughly enjoy every drop of this excellent rum.  It’s certainly up there with the very best rums I have tried but I cannot give it a perfect score as it is still not the perfect rum I am seeking……..

    You see, despite how good this rum is it is off the radar in terms of a price I could ever justify a lottery win aside and sadly it also shows added sugar when put to the Hydrometer Test at 12 g/L.  Sadly, this will be smoothing out the rum out and I would have preferred to have tried it with a bit more of a kick in the finish.

    4.5 stars

     

  • Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask Rum Review by the fat rum pirateRum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask. I’ve covered a bottling from Rum & Cane Merchants previously. If memory serves me correctly that was an offering from Worthy Park Distillery in Jamaica.

    The brand seem to cross over between being called West Indies Rum & Cane Merchants and just Rum & Cane Merchants. I fancy with all the cultural appropriation backlash, they may be looking to phase out the West Indies part in time. The brand is based in London but the parent group Crucial Drinks are based in Scotland. So not very West Indian in terms of location certainly.

    The brand first came to my attention a few years back. As well as releasing Single Cask bottlings they have also released regional blends from around the globe. For the next couple of months I will be reviewing a series of their recent Single Cask offerings.

    I am starting the series today with a bottling from Mauritus and the La Bourdonnaiss distillery. In 2006 Rhumerie des Mascereignes was built at the Domaine de Labourdonnais Estate. In 2014 the name as changed to La Bourdonnais. They produce a number of rhums under the La Bourdonnais brand such as Classic Gold, Spiced Gold and more premium offerings such as XO Vintage 2010. They have a website which covers the whole estate’s activities which is well worth a look.

    The rum today is made Sugar Cane Juice made with Sugar Cane grown at La Bourdonaiss estate. In some of the information on their website they mention it is a “blend” of Cane Juice and Molasses. Either way it is distilled on a Coffey Column still. The rum has been aged in a refill Ex-PX Sherry butt. There are 481 bottles available.

    Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask has been bottled at 46% ABV. It is 100% natural with no colourings or flavouring and is non-chill filtered. You can always tell when a whisky background is present in the rum world. They love saying stuff is non-chill filtered………

    The rum comes in what is termed an “onion style” decanter and I can certainly see why. The rum comes complete with a sturdy circular tin for storage – which is a nice touch. In the UK the rum is available via Amazon and also direct from Crucial Drinks. It retails at £64.95.

    Now before I begin my tasting I’ll just point out a couple of things which might hold this rum back and make people opt for something else…….

    In the world of Independent bottlings and Single Cask releases – the age statement is absolutely key. With so many bottlings and choice even from smaller distilleries such as La Bourdonaiss, not having a clear age statement could lead to sales going elsewhere. Despite a lot of information about the cask used, distillation etc – their is no age statement beyond “XO”.

    In the rum world doesn’t mean a lot unfortunately. However in the “rhum” world X.O. (Extra Old) refers to a rhum which is at least 6 years old. As such, I can’t really comment on how good value this rum may or may not be. Not that you should judge a rum by its age. That said age is a consideration for many, when buying these types of rums.

    Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAnother and personally this is not so much of an issue, is the ABV. A lot of the time when people buy Single Cask rum they like to feel they are getting it direct from the Cask, with no further interference. For some even the addition of water will lead them to seek out a Cask Strength alternative.

    Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask Rum Review by the fat rum pirateAnyway,  enough of my jabberings. Lets get on a see how this rum goes down.

    In the glass Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask is a reassuring medium-dark brown colour with a yellow to orange hue. As it is non-chill filtered it is slightly cloudy but that is certainly not an issue – that cloudiness adds flavour!

    The nose is sweet. It’s slightly vegetal with some nice sweet sugar cane notes. It is certainly at least partially – if not entirely a Sugar Cane Juice r(h)um. It is reminding me very much of aged Agricole Rhum especially the Saint James line up.

    Despite being aged in an ex-sherry butt it is still full of vanilla and caramel sauce. I’m getting a fruitiness as well – Apple turnover, hints of raisins, cherries and a slightly peppery spicy note making its self noticed.

    It’s a complex and very moreish kind of nose. It’s the kind of rum you will leave in the glass for a long time – just nosing it. Not because it doesn’t seem very inviting, far from it. Just because it’s so very pleasant and so wonderfully balanced and aromatic.

    Sipped Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask is sweeter than the nose suggests. The initial entry is very sweet with a fair hit of sweet sherry like notes and fresh sugar cane juice.

    It’s very fruity with lots of stewed dark fruits, Apple Crumble, Stewed Plums and rich tart Gooseberries. Alongside this sweetness is a very gluey kind of note which might sound unpleasant but is actually quite interesting!

    The mid palate moves the rum in a spicier more oak influenced direction. It becomes less sweet and drier and spicier on the palate. It has a real spicy tang. I’m getting what I can only describe as a very spicy chilli like heat – which reminds me of Thai curry or a spicy Pad Thai. This really is quite a spicy rum!

    The finish remains quite fiery with the spicy chilli and the oaky spices leading the way. The initial sweetness of PX Sherry has all but disappeared and as the finish fades out you are left with lingering notes of Sugar Cane and a fading chilli/pepper heat.

    The length of the finish is just right and it begins to fade at just the right time.

    This is a really interesting bottling. It’s best described as aged Rhum Agricole with a drop or two of Tabasco towards the end. It combines everything you want and enjoy in aged Agricole Rhum with spicy twist at the end.

    Considering the price of your average aged Rhum Agricole (and bear in mind many “brands” are bottled at 40-46% ABV anyway) – I don’t think anyone who is a fan of such rums would feel robbed by this bottling.

    I do think this has got a good age to it and even if it hasn’t I’ve really enjoyed this bottling.

    Equal parts familiar and equal parts different.

     

     

     

  • Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum review by the fat rum piratePrivateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum. Thanks to increased distribution in Europe and very generous samples from rum fans around the world, I’m beginning to build up a nice set of Privateer Rum reviews.

    In this instance huge thanks to the person who sent me this particular sample of Overproof Rum. Very much appreciated. I often think I should thank people personally but I worry I may embarrass some. I could ask in advance I suppose…..

    Anyway, what we have here is another Single Barrel release in the Distillers Drawer series of rums being released by Privateer International. So the rum comes in the familiar tall thin Privateer bar style bottle with a cork enclosure and a wooden stopper.

    The front label details some information regarding the contents of the bottle. The handwritten style will be familiar to those who have had the Distillers Drawer series in the past. I like the presentation and the detail that is contained on the label.

    So I have release no#107 from Privateer, they release a lot of single barrels. Hand Selected by P. Newsom which has been matured in “Neutral Vessel”. It is not at 126 proof or 63% ABV. 420 bottles in total were produced. The retail price was $35. Unsurprisingly this particular barrel is now sold out.

    Further information on the Privateer website, reveals it was actually rested in a single stainless steel cask. On March 12th 2020 Kate Perry who works for Velier (who distribute Privateer in Europe) as a Brand Manager visited the distillery and helped with the production of this particular rum. She was also asked to select the final bottling proof. The rum was released as a homage to that particular day.

    In the glass the spirit is unsurprisingly, crystal clear. Stainless Steel should impart no colour unlike a wooden barrel.

    Privateer International Letter of Marque Sisters in Arms rum review by the fat rum pirateThe nose is surprisingly creamy and quite soft after a little time in the glass. A quick swirl brings some fruitiness to the fore. Gooseberries, lime, some red apple and a touch of lychee. It shows its teeth a little more now!

    There’s a peppery note as well dancing over the top of the fruitiness. There’s also a strong note of molasses and what I can only describe as booze!

    Moving into the sip, Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum is quite sharp and very spicy. Lots of dark pepper, chilli like heat and some strong notes of caramel and molasses. At the full ABV it’s certainly a bit of an assault on the senses.

    Luckily a couple of sips in and my palate is adjusting to the alcohol. Which is good because beneath that is a really nice balance of dark fruits, vanilla and some punchy molasses. I’m getting some tangy fruit notes – lemon/lime, sour grapefruit and those little Haribo “Tangfastic” sweets. (I’ll have to pinch a packet off the bairns after this)

    The mid palate develops into a sweet caramel and almost honeyed sweetness. Then just as you think it’s mellowing out a little – it starts to heat up again. There’s also a big sweet/sour bourbon mash type vanilla flavour going on. As the heat builds you realise you are working towards the finish.

    Whilst the rum finish isn’t long per se it is still very enjoyable. It builds into a fiery heat of chilli and black pepper and dark treacle – more intense than the molasses previou

    Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum

    sly. Due to the proof the “buzz” remains in your mouth for sometime but the overall flavour and heat fade quite quickly.

    Trying to compare this to other Overproof White Rums in the mould of the traditional Jamaican rums. It’s just not like that at all. It nods more towards a Demerara Overproof but again – no not really. Closest thing to this I can think of taste wise would probably be Habitation Velier Foursquare 2015, which was also limited to around 400 bottles. I prefer this bottling to be honest.

    In terms of mixing this – I did try it with a little cola and it did pretty much blow my socks off. In a good way. So probably a handy rum to have around for a bartender or mixologist.

    Were we to see a Overproof White from Privateer become more commercially available and for sub £50 over here, I’d be buying one.

    I certainly feel like I’ve put a few hairs on my chest today……..

  • Watson’s Trawler Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Watson's Trawler Rum review by the fat rum pirateWatson’s Trawler Rum is another dark navy style rum from “up north”.  Scotland has a real tradition when it comes to rum.  Many famous Independent bottlers such as obvious ones like Cadenhead’s and Duncan Taylor age their rums in Scotland.  Surprisingly for some, Italian bottlers such as Samaroli and Silver Seal also age their rums up there.

    Scotland also has quite a fondness for dark rum.  Brands such as Woods, Skipper and Lambs are all popular and mostly drank with coke or blackcurrant cordial or even peppermint cordial.  Rum n’ Black and Rum n’ Pep.

    Watson’s Trawler Rum is produced by Ian MacLeod Distillers who can count Glengoyne and Sheep Dip (whiskies) in their portfolio.  Trawler rum is a blend of Demerara and Bajan rum.  For a £20 bottle it is refreshing to see it bottled at a respectable 40% ABV.

    The information on the rear label states that both the Demerara and Bajan rums in the blend are matured in the tropics and then brought to the UK to be blended together.  Watson’s is quite an old brand and has been in production for over 100 years.

    Presentation wise its unlikely Trawler Rum will win any awards but I kind of like its cheap retro feel.  Particularly the blue screw cap – no idea why really.  It’s a little dated but there is a certain fondness I feel when I see bottles like this.

    I reviewed a bottle of Watson’s Demerara Rum a couple of years ago.  I think at the time I was also samplIng a bottle of El Dorado Eight Year old.  in comparison Watson’s Demerara being “so-so” – with a bit too much bitterness

    As a result it has took me a while to buy a bottle of Trawler Rum.  Again a “bargain” price – £16 on Amazon made me make the plunge.

    As already touched upon there is a great variety of Dark Navy Style rums available in the UK.  Personally (and its a review I really need to update) Woods 100 is my usual go to Navy rum nowadays.  It is more expensive but the ABV of 57% me

    Watson's Trawler Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    ans you can get more out of the bottle – if you are careful with your pours.

    As regular readers will know I am not adverse to drinking rum and cola.  I’m really not expecting a complex sipping experience when I’m spending less than £20.

    In the glass Watson’s Trawler Rum is a very dark (undoubtedly coloured at some point) brown with reddish streaks in it.  Its close to actually being black.

    The nose is very fruity.  It is full of familiar Demerara raisin and currant notes.  There is a treacly hit to it but not a dark almost aniseed-y molasses more of a sugary syrup.

    It’s rich, familiar and “warming” – a cold weather drink if you like.  Which is good because I’m used to that!

    Extensive nosing with this one doesn’t really deliver much else.  It’s a rich, sweet straight forward Demerara rum.  The Bajan rum I would not even guess was in this blend.  I do note though that this rum does not have any of the bitterness of Watson’s Demerara rum.  So maybe the Bajan rum is making some subtle adjustments to the rums profile.

    Taking a sip of this rum is a warm, fruity experience.  I would hazard a guess that the rums in this blend are a little more than 2 years old.  Which does make it a little rough and ready.  It isn’t a terrible sipper but it is a little too sweet.  It’s also too young so you get a contrast of sweetness and a strong hit of alcohol.  Particularly when swallowing this rum.

    But I don’t believe this rum is really intended as a sipper.  So we’ll set about trying it in a couple of “traditional” Scottish/Northern drinks.

    First up is a simple mix of Trawler rum and Blackcurrant cordial.  It doesn’t have to be anything special just something cheap you would find in a local bar.  How much you add is your preference I usually add around 25ml to 50ml of rum – roughly half.

    Watson's Trawler Rum review by the fat rum pirateDue to the sweet nature of Trawler rum this makes for quite a sickly drink.  I’ve found rum and black works with less sweet rums – say Pussers Gunpowder for instance.  You couldn’t drink too many of these.

    Next up I tried it with my old favourite – cola and a generous amount of ice and a twist of lime in a long pint sized drink.  With a generous pour of Trawler rum thrown in.

    Watson’s Trawler Rum is one of those rums (I’ve only experienced with Demerara rums) which “froths” up when mixed with cola – so be careful when pouring.

    As far as a simple rum and cola goes Watson’s Trawler Rum does a really good job.  I have to say I was really surprised how much I enjoyed the rum in this way.  I honestly didn’t really have very high hopes for Trawler Rum when I bought it.  Mostly just sheer curiosity!

    As the website has progressed I have always kept up the ethos that I don’t want to just review so called “sipping rums” or top end stuff.  I’ve had a few disagreements with people over “mixing rums” – many think there are good rums (sippers) and bad rums – ones which can only be used as mixers.  I personally believe that some rums don’t work as sippers but can really brighten up drinks as mixers. But hey thats just my opinion.

    For those into the Cocktail scene I would imagine Trawler rum could be a handy asset to have on the back bar.  It could also be used as a lower ABV rum to stop things getting out of hand.  I’m sure I’m not the first person to over do it on rums such as Woods or Pussers Gunpowder.

    Watson’s Trawler rum adds a really nice traditional Demerara fruitiness to drinks – its very strongly flavoured and doesn’t really have any “downsides” to its profile.  It may on occassion be a little too sweet but its certainly not a rum I would class as cloying.

    This was a really pleasant surprise and a bit of trip down memory lane for me.  A bit like going back to where it all started.

     

  • Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum review by the fat rum pirateAngostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum. Angostura is a distillery with a long, storied history in the rum world. Founded in 1824 in Trinidad, it’s best known for its aromatic bitters but it also produces a range of rums that span from entry-level mixers to aged spirits. Blends such as its flagship 1919 and 1824.

    Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum is one of the more curious expressions in the line up. It’s a three-year-old rum distilled from molasses using Angostura’s five-column still, then aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. Before being stripped of all colour through charcoal filtration. This leaves a spirit that’s technically aged but also white/silver in appearance.

    A bottle in the UK will usually set you back around £22-25 it is bottled at a rather measly 37.5% ABV. Which in all honesty in todays market I only really expect from Supermarket Own Brand releases.

    The rum has had a good few makeovers the past few years until recently it was the “Reserva White Rum”. The bottle I actually bought online was advertised as such with old bottle styling as well.

    There really isn’t a great deal to say beyond this. I’ve not been commenting much on bottle presentation of late but as this has been updated……Yeah it looks pretty cool to be fair especially the screw cap and the shiny gold emblem. Nice and modern.

    Doesn’t really matter though if the liquid isn’t up to scratch though does it?

    Lets find out.

    First up in the glass despite the filtration much like Doorly’s 3 Year Old there is still a slight “yellow” tinge to the rum. So its not totally 100% clear.

    On the nose its quite ethanol heavy and smells very young. Not an issue if there is something else to back it up. Sadly there isn’t. What might be an attempt at subtlety isn’t working for me. Traces of milk/cream a tiny touch of very diluted spearmint and fainter vanilla. That’s about it. Quite what the ageing has done is beyond me. The filtration appears to have stripped any character which might have built up.

    It smells like Supermarket White Rum. Most of which are sourced from unaged Trinidad rum. If you’re looking for richness, depth, or anything approaching the warmth and complexity you get from a proper agedAngostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum review by the fat rum pirate rum, you’ll be disappointed. Yes its a white rum but it does call itself “Superior” and it does highlight its aged. So I will pull it up for that.

    Sipped, beyond the sweet nasty ethanol boozy note it’s mildly herbal and frankly just forgettable. The mid palate and further sips are just as uninspiring. It’s just really a boozy driven faintly molasses tasting sweet spirit. Any nuances or anything like vanilla, chocolate etc just don’t register.

    There’s no weight, no backbone just a not to polite hit of sweetness which is just cheap and nasty

    The finish is almost non-existent. There’s a whisper of vanilla and then it’s gone. In all honesty thank god.

    I didn’t expect it to work as a sipper of course I didn’t. I was expecting a bit of character though or something, anything!

    Does this 37.5% ABV European bottling pale in comparison to the 40% ABV bottling available elsewhere? Personally I very much doubt it. Though it probably hasn’t helped its cause much.

    As a mixer (do I really have to?) Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum disappears in cocktails in much the same way as any cheap generic Supermarket white rum would. Thing is this is meant to be coming from a renowned and respected Caribbean heritage distillery, not Aldi. Its around a tenner more expensive than Aldi as well.

    A daiquiri made with it will be borderline okay but swap in any other low-end white rum and the difference will be negligible. It’s competent but it adds nothing distinctive. It’s the kind of rum you use when the goal is simply “rum in a cocktail,” not “rum that makes a cocktail shine.”

    That’s the heart of the issue. Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum is bland. Everything about it is restrained to the point of anonymity. If you’re seeking a rum that shows off the effects of barrel aging, you won’t find it here.Angostura Aged 3 Years Superior White Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The filtration and low proof strip away the very soul of what could have been something decent. Take Chairman’s Reserve White Label or Doorly’s 3 Year Old as examples of how this kind of thing can be done very well.

    Even Captain Morgan White Rum is better than this and yes I am being deadly serious not sarcastic.

    For those who are used to the stripped-down, neutral style of mass-market white rums, they may feel slightly elevated if only because of the fancy bottle but that’s a generous assessment.

    What you get is serviceable, fleeting, and forgettable.

    And very, very boring.

    A distillery with this type of heritage really should be doing much better than this in 2026. It is no wonder Angostura are rarely if ever mentioned by Rum Enthusiasts beyond their famous bitters.

    1 star

  • Old Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirateOld Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum. Old Brigand Barbados Rum is synonymous with the island of Barbados. Originally Alleyne Arthur’s Old Brigand Barbados Rum, it is now called R.L Seale’s Old Brigand. It is produced at the Foursquare Rum Distillery. This is the older brother of that rum.

    The “regular” Old Brigand is commonly known as One Eyed Man .or Pirate on the island. As you can see from the photo he doesn’t need an eye patch for this bottling. Presumably as this is a more refined rum the picture has been modified to show a less aggressive brigand.

    The rum is available on Barbados and parts of the US. It seems to retail at around $15 so its pretty inexpensive much like its younger brother. Presentation is a little “eighties” it kind of reminds me of the old 80’s style Captain Morgan bottles albeit in a much stubbier rounder form. Despite the use of a seal on the lid it is a screw cap underneath rather than a cork. Overall its quite “old school” but it has a certain charm and simplicity.

    As with most (if not all) Foursquare products it is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rums. Percentage wise I am not sure the ratio. It is aged for more than 5 years – again not sure of the exact variables, in ex-bourbon barrels. There is no age statement much like Mount Gay Eclipse or Black Barrel, as it is a continuously available product. As a result the same age of rums in the blend, might not give the flavour profile sought by the blender over time.

    Old Brigand were historically distributed by Alleyne Arthur, when the company ceased trading in 1993 R.L Seale and Foursquare Rum Distillery bought the rights to the brand.

    Despite this being the “older” of the two Old Brigand Rums this is the one that seems the least talked about. I’m not sure I had heard of it until a friend bought a bottle back for me from Barbados. Thanks very much Mr Murray. I have been unable to find any reviews on this rum other than on Rum Ratings. No reviewer seems to have reviewed this rum or if they have its not showing in a Google search. Diffords Guide provided some basic information.

    So with little else to say lets see how this “staple” Foursquare rum compares to the recent competition……Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass we have a vivid golden brown rum with orange/red around the edges of the glass.

    Nosing Old Brigand Black Label is a very familiar and very pleasant experience. A classic Barbados rum. In fact I would go as far as to say that is what an classic aged rum should nose like. This is rum!

    Light vanilla and toffee notes mingle alongside a slightly charred oak spice and some spicy ginger. There are no tricks involved in this rum, no extra maturation it has been matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and that is all that is needed.

    As a sipper it is certainly smoother and less rough around the edges than it’s younger brother. The lower ABV may play it’s part as well in making this easier to sip. The initial entry is quite oaked with a fair amount of barrel char and spice.

    Touches of black pepper. The mid palate reveals some fruity notes of raisin and a touch of slightly tart raspberry. Milk chocolate and toffee develop as you go building into the finish which is a lot smoother than I was expecting. The rum despite its quite oaky profile, has a little bit of honey in and around the mid palate and the finish.

    The finish is a good length and once the milk and dark chocolate notes begin to fade you are left with a very nice oak spice which stays with you for a long time. Gently burning the throat (in a very pleasant way).

    Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirateAs is to be expected, this rum is another classic style Barbados Rum from Foursquare Distillery. There are no faults. Personally, I do not think a much higher ABV would be to this rums benefit. It might be a touch too woody, if it were noticeably higher. Though 43% or 46% ABV might work nicely.

    An easy drinking, fairly uncomplicated rum. An everyday sipper or mixer. It’s a shame this rum isn’t available more widely. That said I can’t really complain about the Foursquare rums available here in the UK.

    A definite purchase should you visit Barbados. Along with everything else……….

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