Rum of the Year 2019 – Winner

Bythefatrumpirate

Rum of the Year 2019 by the fat rum pirate reviewRum of the Year 2019 – Winner. No doubt the brands/producers shortlisted for this most prestigious award have been waiting with baited breath for this announcement. Winning this award must truly be the pinnacle of any rum producers career. After all you get absolutely nothing other than a pat on the back from me. Not even a fancy awards ceremony to ponce around at.

That said it doesn’t cost anything to enter this award. In fact you don’t actually get to choose whether you enter the award in the first place…….

It’s hard to believe that this is the 5th time I have sat down to write up Rum of the Year. For the first 3 years Foursquare Rum Distillery ran away with the crown and last year a collaboration between Worthy Park and Velier was crowned Rum of the Year.

This year the shortlist was down to 5 candidates. Not, I would say because I have had a “worse” year in terms of my rum journey. A lot of rums achieved 4.5 stars, so just missed out on possible selection for Rum of the Year. I still had a very enjoyable time reviewing all the rum and cachaca that came my way in 2019.

When I compiled my shortlist, I knew that at least two of the entries were definite outsiders. Not in terms of quality but in terms of the criteria I have used to select previous winners.

As a result it is unfortunate that I must discount the wonderful Velier Skeldon 1973 Full Proof Old Demerara Rum. Not, I must add due to any issues with the quality of the rum. The issue being is that it was released a long, long time ago and is no longer available unless you are willing to splash a good few thousand pounds on the secondary market. I think to name a rum – Rum of the Year around 10 years after it was released would be a touch pointless.Rum of the Year 2019 by the fat rum pirate review

The next rum which I discounted was for a similar reason. Whilst this rum is still available it is extremely limited and expensive. I would much prefer people who wish to take my recommendation for Rum of the Year go out and buy something affordable. Many people will baulk at a £700 price tag, regardless of how good the juice is. So I’m sorry Kill Devil/Hunter Laing but this year is not your year.  Out goes the 35 Year Old Kill Devil from Hampden Estate Jamaica.

So we are down to the last 3 contenders. This is where things begin to get very tricky.

All these rums are still available to buy. Admittedly they are all “limited” in one way or another. That said you should still be able to pick these up.

Pusser’s Rum has been a long standing favourite and near constant in my rum collection for a number of years. The new blend 15 Year Old which was released last in 2018 was a great addition/replacement to the range. Way better than the previous incarnation. At the London Rumfest I noticed an almost all black stubby Pusser’s bottle. I went over eager to try this new juice and/or to find out what it was.

Pusser's Rum 50th Anniversary Rum review by the fat rum pirateUnfortunately it was a plastic mock up bottle and no liquid was available to try. I did however learn that the bottle would be housing the Pusser’s Rum 50th Anniversary Rum Blend. This is an older version of their 54.5% ABV Gunpowder Blend. It’s a fantastic rum but it perhaps doesn’t sip quite as well as the other two remaining on the list. We really are splitting hairs now.

So we are down to the final 2 rums in the countdown. At this stage the only sure thing is that Foursquare Rum Distillery will be winning back their crown.

I’m torn and I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. One of these rums is a sure fire favourite. The other seemed to divide opinion a lot more.

Okay I’ll make that decision here is the final running order

5. Velier Skeldon 1973 Old Demerara Rum

4. Kill Devil Hampden Estate 35 Year Old

3. Pusser’s Rum 50th Anniversary Rum Blend

2. Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007

1. Foursquare Rum Distillery HereditasHereditas Foursquare Rum Distillery rum review by the fat rum pirate

In the end I opted for Hereditas because of the Sherry maturation. Which is the element which pretty much caused the split in opinion. I’ve not seen many people say Hereditas is bad but a lot would have preferred less Sherry.

Foursquare Rum Distillery 2007, is a fantastic rum there is no doubt about that but I feel Hereditas offers something slightly different.

I thought the Sherry element was just right and I found this to be ridiculously drinkable, even at the full ABV of 56%.

That being said do not think that this is Sherry heavy or a one trick pony. It is a far more complex and rewarding rum, than I think many people have given credit for.

As I said in the original review – Sweet but not Sweetened Rum and a worthy winner of Rum of the Year for 2019.

The crown is returned.

 

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  • 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!

  • That Boutique-y Rum Company Diamond Distillery (Versailles Still) 13 Year Old

    Bythefatrumpirate

    That Boutique-y Rum Company Diamond Distillery (Versailles Still) 13 Year Old rum review by the fat rum pirateThat Boutique-y Rum Company Diamond Dsitillery (Versailles Still) 13 Year Old. This particular bottling, was one of the first releases by the Boutique-y Rum Company. As a result I am quite surprised that it is still available. Maybe this review might help sell the last few bottles? If it’s positive, of course and if anyone listens to me…….

    This rum was distilled on the Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still, which has been housed at Versailles, Enmore and Uitvlugt distilleries in its time, before finally settling at Diamond Distillery aka Demerara Distillers Limited. If you wish to read a little more information on the various stills at DLL try this. It’s pretty brief but gives a nice overview.

    This rum was distilled back in July 2004. It was aged initially in refill rum casks until 2011, when it was re-casked in more ex-rum casks. I am unsure whether this indicates the point at which tropical ageing was replaced by continental ageing, though it seems logical. I’m unsure how much aged rum DDL ship out. It has been bottled at 56.1% ABV it is a single cask and 439 bottles are available It is worth noting the bottle size is 50cl so slightly smaller than the usual 70cl bottle. The rum is available via Master of Malt and retails at £64.95.

    The wacky design on the bottle is provided by Jim’ll Paint It who is known for his bizarre Microsoft paint drawings requested by his fans on Facebook. The design is described as such

    “Here we can see Pete Holland from The Floating Rum Shack dismayed at the fire underneath the wooden pot still. So dismayed in fact that he seems to have taken leave of his senses and is simultaneously using a chocolate teapot and a glass hammer while playing darts on an inflatable board. Excellent multitasking but perhaps it’s time to rethink those purchases Pete…”

    Yes, quite I have no idea what this is all about to be honest so we best just move onto the rum review.

    In the glass we are presented with a straw/golden brown coloured spirit. Lighter than a lot of the aged rum I have seen from the Versailles still. Admittedly a lot of those rums have caramel added as a colourant. Unlike this it would appear.

    The nose is more familiar. Sweet notes of raisin and some light sugar cane. Toffee and a note of vanilla. More savoury spicy woody oak and some very light vanilla.

    Hazelnuts and mixed peel also arrive on the nose and a touch of star anise. A slightly malty note is present throughout, giving it a slightly whisky like feel. It’s nice and familiar and more balanced than some Versailles rum, which are overladen with too much caramel colouring/added molasses giving a slightly bitter note at times. It’s fresh smelling and slightly zesty. Not as woody and oak heavy as some Demerara’s and it is a touch musty on the nose.

    Sipped That Boutique-y Rum Company Diamond Distillery. is initially quite spicy and quite dry. There isn’t a great deal fo sweetness to this. It’s certainly not an El Dorado style Demerara. Woody oaky spice and some ginger greet the taste buds along with some savoury and slightly malty notes. Freshly sanded wood and some saw dust alongside some malted barley and some very medicinal notes of cough mixture. Calpol/paracetamol like flavours.

    It’s a very complex rum, with a lot going on in the mix. As a sipper it is not the easiest to drink. It’s a rum you will enjoy when you have time on your hands, to really spend time with it. It’s not for chugging back or for mixing.

    Once you get past the initial sip the mid palate really develops into a very intense spicy experience. This is quite a dry rum but it is full of different spices and nuances. One minute you are getting Christmas cake the next you are getting pencils shavings.

    Finish wise it is of reasonable length and it has a nice balance to it. Personally, I prefer a slightly sweeter take on Demerara but this is still a nicely balanced and well aged drop of rum.

     

  • Lamb’s Navy Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Lambs Navy Rum ReviewLamb’s Navy Rum is seen in just about every Supermarket off-license, public house and Working Mens Club (WMC) the length and breadth of England (and quite possible Scotland and Wales too).

    Originally created in 1849 from a blend of new fewer than 18 rums from Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana by Alfred Lamb.  The rum has been available in the UK pretty much unbroken since 1872.  The rum was originally stored in the famous West India Dock Warehouse just off the Thames.  The rum was then aged for 4 years.  For more information please see the Lamb’s Navy Rum site.

    For a few years now Lamb’s have been trying to appeal to a younger audience.  The explosion of Spiced Rum in the UK in the noughties saw Lamb’s release their own Spiced expression.  They have a Cherry Spiced Rum as well which they have recently brought to the market with other spiced and limited edition offerings set to follow in 2015.  The website also has a “True British Character” section which again is trying to appeal to a younger audience.

    Lamb’s Navy Rum the company’s flagship offering is the companies bread and butter.  Unchanged in years it is a staple and for many people the only Navy Rum they are aware of.  Which is one of the curious things I find about this rum.  Despite deploying the English/British Flag on the front and exclaiming to be Genuine Navy Rum I can find no record of when this particular blend was given to the British Navy.  Or any other Navy for that matter.  If you know differently (and can link me to a good source) then please let me know.  The actual rum itself has little in common with Pusser’s or the Ancient Mariner.  One of which (Pusser’s) is based on the original recipe and the other is  a rum which was deliberately sourced because it matched (as closely as possible) to the Black Tot rum.  The Black Tot was a rum released which was bottled using rum which was left over from prior to Black Tot day.Lamb's Navy Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Lamb’s is available in most supermarkets in both 70cl and 1 litre bottles.  The rum is around £15-18 for the 70cl and £20-24 for the 1 litre bottle.  The rum is bottled at 40% ABV.

    The presentation of Lamb’s NavyRum has been the same for many years.  In my 20 years drinking in pubs I cannot remember it being any different.  The presentation is clear and unfussy.  The bottle is a very unusual hexagonal shape which can make it a little tricky at times to handle and can be slightly hard to get it into an optic as it is pretty wide.

    One of my first introductions to Lamb’s Navy Rum was following a shift washing pots in a small market town pub.  Having had a few pints (and with little time for many more) it was suggested to me by one of the old regulars to try a “rum and black”.  Shortly after 11.30pm I began the 15 minute walk home, which was all downhill.  At 1.20am  I eventually arrived home, in clothes which were a lot dirtier than when I had left the pub and with little recollection of the previous 2 hours.

    So with that little anecdote of teenage drunken stupidity out-of-the-way we’ll continue with the serious stuff.  The review.

    Nosing the rum the first thing that hits you is the Demerara influence in the blend.  It is very fruity, almost like liquid Christmas cake.  Raisins, currants, banana and orange peel all jump out at you.  It is very sweet.

    Of all the Navy Rums I have tried Lamb’s is perhaps the most forgiving.  The most initially approachable one.  Even the 40% ABV Pusser’s warns you off and the likes of Ancient Mariner and Woods 100 aren’t even that polite.  Lamb’s displays none of the rough edges displayed by the others (admittedly most are 54% and above).  By Navy Rum standards Lamb’s is a bit on the girly side.

    Lamb's Navy Rum review by the fat rum pirateYou can sip Lamb’s neat (or add a little blackcurrant cordial and roll all the way home).  There is a little burn, but nothing that can’t easily be handled.  The rum is very sweet.  It is one of the sweetest rums I have tried.  It becomes pretty cloying when sipped neat.  I managed a few sips before mixing it with cola.

    Fortunately I drink diet cola as regular cola is too sweet for me.  The diet cola tempers the Lamb’s very slightly.  The flavours are the same as the nose.  It’s a very rich, sweet, fruity rum.  Whilst I really like the El Dorado range I think Lamb’s is just to sweet.

    After a night on the lager or beer a couple of Lamb’s and cola will taste great.  It’s fairly smooth and pretty drinkable. For a little time.  However it soon becomes cloying.  It’s my least favourite of all the Navy Rums I have tried.  Everything Lamb’s offers or tries to offer I can get from other rum’s.  If I want a sweet fruity rum then I can get El Dorado.  If it’s a Navy Rum then Pusser’s, Wood’s and Ancient Mariner all out rank Lamb’s.

    Overall this isn’t a bad tasting rum but it doesn’t offer much beyond sweet flavours.  There is no complexity like Pussers or El Dorado (even the 5-year-old offers more than Lamb’s in terms of overall profile)

    This is a pretty disappointing rum to be honest

    1.5 stars

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years Rum review by the fat rum pirate Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years. Sadly the review of this particular rum is not as a result of a trip to Cuba. Nor is it even the result of a brief sojourn to Europe. It is in fact due to a visit to the Lidl Supermarket on Roker Avenue……..

    I appreciate that those of you familiar with this site will be surprised to see someone as sophisticated and refined as myself shopping in a discount German Supermarket. Especially those who have met me. This bottling was of course purchased for me by my domestic help on their weekly shop.

    Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years comes with the familiar green “Republica de Cuba Garantia” which is the Cuban Governments Warranty for Cuban Rum. I’m not sure how far I would “trust” anything coming out of Cuba. That said, this green label is an indicator that the rum has been produced in Cuba, inline with the islands own “rules and regulations” on rum production.

    So I know that this rum is produced in Cuba and is a true Cuban rum. So which distillery produces this? Well it is produced at the world famous Bimmerle Private Distillery which is in the Cuban city of Achern-Mösbach, Germany. Which of course also produces Cuban favourites such as Finton’s Pink Gin and Ignis Raspberry French Grain Vodka…..

    Yes the Bimmerle Private Distillery is the “heart” of Lidl’s European distribution. From this operation they supply their supermarkets with a variety of wines, spirits and Ready to Drink options. Whether it does “distil” anything is questionable. For the purposes of this review Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years is imported to Germany for bottling/labelling having been distilled and aged in Cuba.

    Unfortunately despite my best efforts (and ignoring some speculation I found online) I do not have any reliable information on which Cuban Rum Distillery produces this. Volume wise it must be one of the island’s bigger hitters. That doesn’t really cut things down that much though as the islands distilleries are all government controlled and capable of pumping out a fair amount of rum.Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    So what do I know about Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years? Well, I assume it is a rum made from a molasses base, which is column distilled (multi column) in the Cuban style and then aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 7 years in Cuba. It is then shipped to Germany for distribution in Lidl supermarkets in Europe (and possibly further afield).

    Oh it is also bottled at a rather stingy 38% ABV. I don’t normally object to rum being bottled at 37.5/38% ABV as it is usually only the very bottom tier of supermarket spirits that get such treatment. Due to the cost and expectation of such spirits I can tolerate it. For a 7 year old rum to be bottled at 38% ABV I feel is a bit of a stretch.

    Should you wish to purchase a 70cl bottle of this it will set you back £17.99. It is only available in Lidl, though oddly enough the odd bottle has come up on Rum Auction sites. Presumably by enthusiasts/scalpers of other spirits (Scotch Whisky) thinking they could make a quick buck on some Cuban Rum. Maybe in the US but not here lads and lasses……

    Anyway I’m quite pleased to see I’ve got the word count up over 500 words before I’ve even started commenting on the actual rum! Not bad considering I know sweet FA about this rum!

    Presentation wise as you can see it comes in a standard short necked bar style bottle with a good quality well threaded screw cap with Aged 7 Years written on the cap in similar style to Havana Club 7. As with a lot of Lidl’s offerings the presentation is a gentle reminder of other “Premium” brands it has in its sights. Hoping the penny pinching consumer will give their cheaper offering ago.

    So enough of my prattling lets get on with the review.

    In the glass Ron Rumbera Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years is a golden/dark brown colouredRon Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years Rum review by the fat rum pirate spirit. The “brown spirit” colour you will find in nearly all continuous aged releases. Nothing remarkable a little orange/yellow hue around the edges. I would suggest that there is a little caramel colouring (as there is in most continuous releases). However the German market usually notes when colouring has been added whether Lidl have opted to remove this from the UK release I’m not sure. The back label is a UK only label as it has the HMRC purple excise sticker.

    Anyway its not really much of a point anyway. The colour isn’t the important thing. I’m already pretty low on information on this rum so ruminating over the addition of caramel or not seems a bit moot at this point. There are however around 8g/l of additives in this bottling.

    On the nose its light and sweet. Quite tropical in fact. Getting some notes of Pineapple, Grapefruit and even some Passion Fruit! It has a little smoke and some more aged/oaked notes but not as much as I might have hoped for. The overall aroma on the sip is definitely at the sweeter end of the spectrum. Toffee and Caramel mingle with the fruitier notes.

    All in all it feels a little muted and clipped. Homogenised as if the profile has been made to suit most people rather than really be enjoyed by a Cuban rum lover. The low ABV probably doesn’t help but its just a bit thin and to light on the nose for me. It is doesn’t smell old enough……..

    On the sip it is a little punchier than the nose, which is not really saying much if I am being honest. There is an initial burst of spice and some fruity notes – note as fruity as the nose – we are talking more smoke and oakiness here so the fruitiness is more stoned fruits for me. A little bit of Peach but more overwhelming is the Dark Plum notes. Almost moving into the realms of Prunes and Dates.

    It is for me like a sweeter Havana Club 7 at this point. Much less smoke, cigar and oak. So it feels less complex.

    Even as a first drink this is overall very short. The initial entry is easy going, quite sweet and basically pretty agreeable. It’s not “bad” in anyway. At the same time its a bit meh. This probably wouldn’t be an issue if the mid palate and finish had something to say.

    Sadly it all just kind of falls apart. The mid palate is a rather meek hint of oak and wood spice that just very quickly dries out. Into the finish……….

    Which just doesn’t. There is virtually no finish. It just ends. No real flavour, no mouthfeel no nothing. I’m left with a flavourless buzz in my mouth.

    Being fair though I am sipping an £18 38% ABV bottling of what is already a fairly light style of rum. Was I expecting anything else? The answer is no as a sipper probably not in all honesty.

    It would only seem fair at this point to give this a go as a mixer as I’m pretty sure the rest of this bottle will end up in a few weekend rum and colas.Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Ron Rumbero Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years is fine in a rum and cola. Better than average and certainly a step up from the usual supermarket rums. Yes the bar is being set low but it reflects the price.

    It’s not an awful rum though. It is light as is its style. Its not the best example of Cuban rum around.

    Ron Rumbera Cuban Rum Aged 7 Years is bang average overall but at the price point you won’t find a great deal better. Especially not in the Cuban category,.

    That said Sainsburys have Ron de Santiago 8 Year Old in stock for £25 (sometimes cheaper for club card holders) and I’d go for that personally. Obviously you’ll have to get dressed to go to to Sainsbury’s though rather than wearing your Pyjama’s.

     

     

     

  • Bristol Classic Rum Fine Cuban Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bristol Cuban Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCuban Rum has been in the headlines quite a bit lately due to the news of the Cuban/US embargo being at least partially lifted.

    Bristol Classic Rum have also been high on the radar in the Rum World due to a number of new expressions hitting the markets in recent months.  Bristol really seem to be expanding into different countries to increase their repetoir of fine rums.

    Rums from distilleries such as Barbancourt and Foursquare have continued to grow respect and love for Bristol Classic Rum along with their classic Port Morants (sic) and other Demerara Rums.

    The rum under review today is a 10 year old Cuban rum from the Sancti Spiritus Distillery in Central Cuba.  Which has been in operation since 1946.  This rum has recently been re-released with an extra 2 years ageing 2003-2015.  This one is 2003-2013.

    The presentation of the Bristol series of rums is something I really like.  I like the hand made aspect to the stickers on each tube and the consistent choice of bottle and tube.  I don’t know why but I like a consistent brand identity.  This Cuban rum comes with pale blue labelling.  The label gives all the details required regarding the rum.  10 year old rum from the Sancti Spiritus Distillery distilled in 2003 bottled in 2013.  It notes that the rum is column distilled (as with most “ron”).  Matured in charred oak barrels (Bourbon).  It is another rum which the CEO of Bristol Rum John Barrett notes as to “enjoy on the rocks, with your favourite mixer or in good “cocktails”.  This is something many rum snobs should note!

    Overall, I haven’t been that impressed with Cuban rum and “ron” in general.  I find its light style works well when mixed but offers little excitement, on many occasions when aged.  Still there are always rums out there that can surprise.

    A bottle of this rum in the UK will set you back around £40-45 for a 70cl.  It is bottled at 43% ABV.

    Much like Bristol’s Diamond 1998 I find that the nose on this rum is quite “vegetal” with Bristol Cuban rum Review by the fat rum piratesome very grassy like notes and a kind of plant like spiciness.  A further nosing reveals some nice notes of light fruits. Green Apple and a Pears.  Some little oak ageing is also in the mix with some notes of slightly spicy pepper and some light slightly vegetal like woodiness.  It’s very clean and smells almost “fresh” like a freshly mowed field.

    Sipping the rum offers very nice crisp, clean experience.  It’s not a big hitting rum like say a Jamaican or Caroni nor is it similar to the more premium sugary kind of rums.  It does have quite a lot of complexity and flavour but it is subtle.  Again much like the Diamond 1998 – that is not a “full on” Demerara but is good on its own merits.

    It is most like Mezan’s Panama or Barbancourt 8 (without the wine/cognac like notes).  It’s very smooth and easy sipping with a lot of light and vibrant flavours.  Light fruits as mentioned, some very well balanced light oak and a finish which gives a nice peppery flavour, mixed with some charred bourbon sweet/sour like notes.

    As a sipper, I wouldn’t put in the upper tier of but is a very enjoyable easy going drink.

    However, whilst mixing this rum gives good results it’s perhaps at the upper end of most peoples budgets when it comes to mixing drinks.  Maybe adding a bit class to special cocktails is its best use rather than having it as an everyday Rum and Coke mixer.

    It’s not quite as rich and complex as the Mezan Panama.  I suppose many will expect me to compare this to Havana Club rums but it doesn’t display much of the tobacco and petrol notes of the younger Havana Club rums.  It doesn’t have all that much in common with the Seleccion de Maestro offering either.  It’s quite a distinctive rum.

    This rum definitely offers something different and is certainly one I am pleased to have tried.  A hard rum to try and pigeon hole.

    3.5 stars

     

     

     

  • Raising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Raising Glasses Pelée's Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum review by the fat rum pirateRaising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum. A bit of a rarity for me.  In that I am reviewing something from an Independent Bottler from the US.

    It is fair to say that the “Europeans” have quite a monopoly when it comes to Independent bottlings and access to the casks to produce them. The largest rum broker E.A Scheer/The Main Rum Company have their two main warehouses in Amsterdam and Liverpool.

    So US Independent bottlers are less common place than European bottlers. My own access to US Independent bottlings involves the same difficulties had by US citizens trying to get European releases.

    Fortunately i have been sent some samples of Raising Glasses portfolio to review, by a contact I have in the Rum World who is currently working with the brand.

    If you wish to read about the brand then you can see more here on their own website.

    Raising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum is also a bit of a rarity for me in terms of the juice. Once I have looked into the rum I have realised that  it is a rum from Le Galion on Martinique. My initial very quick perusal of the sample had me assuming it has from Savanna Distillery on Reunion Island. They have used the Grand Arôme term with their own releases quite frequently.

    However, releases from Le Galion are less commonplace than from Savanna. It’s commercial operation is really dependent on the production of Sugar. A lot of the rum they do produce is sold in bulk and used in perfume and other “industrial” products rather than for drinking. They aren’t really a very commercially minded rum producer at all.

    You may also note that I have referred to this as rum rather than rhum. The rum is produced on a traditional column style used commonly in the French Islands.

    However, they do not produce Rhum Agricole. The rum is made from the molasses from the sugar production. Again this is likely because rum isn’t their main focus……..

    There aren’t a great deal of reviews of any other Le Galion rums kicking around. I did however find a review from Lance over at The Lone Caner. It was quite interesting to read that he also had similar initial thoughts and confusion when he discovered a Le Galion Grand Arôme Rum. Good to see I’m not the only one that needed to do some research! His review was 7 years ago so I’m well behind in that respect!

    This rum is available direct from Raising Glasses it retails at $40 for a 375ml. So its half the size of a usual 750ml US bottling. A standard UK/Europe bottling is 700ml (or 70cl). Which I think is good value and quite a good idea. I’ve been a fan of “smaller” bottle sizes for quite a while. However having spoken with producers I understand why they are loath to commit smaller bottles.

    Raising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum comes in at hefty 62.5% ABV. It is an unaged mRaising Glasses Pelée's Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum review by the fat rum pirateolasses based rum. The long vinasse-powered fermentation creates prodigious amounts of ester flavor compounds which is why it is labelled as Grand Arôme.

    Raising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum is part of Raising Glasses’ “Folklore” series. The name comes from Mount Pelée. An active volcano on Martinique. In 1902 it erupted violently killing almost 30,000 inhabitants. Almost 15% of the island’s population. Destroying the port of Saint-Pierre.

    Anyway enough of mass destruction my Mother Nature and human tragedy lets take a look at this rum………..

    Raising Glasses Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum is unaged so unsurprisingly the liquid is crystal clear. There has been no cask interaction to alter the colour of this rum.

    Like a Jamaican Overproof you can smell this at twenty paces….from way across the room. Highly pungent and highly aromatic. There is a huge hit of fermenting pineapple and sweet green apples. A touch of mango and some banana. It’s rich and fruity with a huge hit of sweet smelling varnish and a touch of petrol.

    It is also quite “molasses” heavy. I am getting a lot of toffee/caramel on the nose and the familiar rich “Navy Style” you get with those blended Dary Navy Rums.

    There is also a slightly sour cream like note to this rum as well.

    SIpping this at full strength is advised in a gradual manner. The is a lot to take in. The sweetness on the nose is still apparent with a lot of the tropical notes coming through. However, I am getting a saltier more briny rum especially on the intial sip.

    It has a slightly dry acidic mouthfeel which has quite a drying effect on the palate at full strength.

    This however does lead to a lot of “shift” in the flavour profile. As I sip further and move into the mid palate of each sip I’m noticing a lot of black and green olives. Some pencil shavings and something almost nutty creeping into the profile.

    Sweetness is still there with lots of funky pineapple and mango but it is a bit more savoury now. You can certainly tell why this is used more of a flavouring agent it certainly has quite a few similarities with our good friend Mr DOK from Jamaica. Perhaps not quite as pungent overall but certainly in the same ball park.Raising Glasses Pelée's Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    As we move into the finish I’m getting a fair bit of the molasses flavour again with a hit of toffee. I am also getting a mineral(y) note which reminds me of the seaside and getting sand stuck between my toes for some reason.

    This is very intense, very pungent rum. The havoc it will likely wreak (in a very good way) I can only imagine. A rum and coke was certainly a very nice experience.

    As it is unaged the finish isn’t particularly long or comforting it terms of development. The flavour and intensity of this rum certainly stays with you. It doesn’t fade out nicely though or develop much beyond the mid palate.

    As this is completely unaged rum that is to be expected.

    This is a very intense and strangely addictive rum. I will certainly be keeping Le Galion on my radar.