S.B.S – The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Mauritius 2010 The Whisky Exchange Exclusive.

As the title suggests UK retailer The Whisky Exchange have teamed up with Denmark’s 1423 World Class Spirits. For this release we have a Single Barrel rum from Grays Distillery, Mauritius.

Grays Distillery have a number of brands available both domestically and worldwide. They produce the New Grove and Lazy Dodo rum ranges.

I’ve reviewed a few Mauritian rums in the past more I think from Oxenham Distillery than Grays. I’m sure WordPress will work its magic and add a few relevant links to the bottom of this post.

S.B.S – The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Mauritius 2010 The Whisky Exchange Exclusive is a column distilled rum. It was distilled in 2010. It has spent the past two years of its life in an ex-Moscatel wine cask. I assume it’s maturation prior to that was in ex-bourbon casks as there is nothing to suggest otherwise. It is a Single Barrel release and has been bottled at a punchy 52.9% ABV. 305 bottles of this are available only The Whisky Exchange. It is priced at £99.95.

Presentation wise we get the usual S.B.S presentation with the rounded stubby bottle and the “cut out” presentation box. The presentation is modern and focuses on facts around the contents of the bottle. The rum is non-chill filtered and no colouring or additives have been used in its production.

1423 produce a wide variety of products for the Danish and International market. Much like the UK market the Danish market seems to have quite a leaning towards sweetened products. Though perhaps not the obsession with Spiced/Flavoured rum that sadly is taking firm hold in the UK. As a result this selection of rum from them is at the more serious end of things. It’s aimed at people who want facts and a purer example of rum, without all the additives.

For those unfamiliar with Moscatel wine, it is produced from grapes of the same name and is a Sherry Wine. As a result its sweet and very raisin heavy. I’m not a wine expert so I’d suggest doing some further research if you want to know more. For the purpose of a rum review I think we know enough now.

So lets see how this rum goes down.

In the glass I’m presented with a dark brown spirit with a red/orange hue around it. Pretty sure a lot of this colour is as a result of the Moscatel maturation. I have it on good authority, than any “finish” that is in years rather than months should really be referred to as a secondary maturation rather than a finish. So I will endeavour to use this terminology going forward……..

Anyway, I digress so I best stick my beak in and let you all know how it noses. Initially when I poured, it smelled quite sweet but (due to having attend an urgent problem on Animal Crossing with my eldest) it had a fair bit of time in the glass….

By which time it seems to have taken on a spicier turn. Some chilli and black peppercorns. Touch of nutmeg and some cinnamon.

Beneath this are some fruits but not the sweet fruity raisin I was expecting. There are plenty stoned fruits but they are more of a kind of date/prune kind of affair. More savoury and less fruit sweetness. Theres also a hint of menthol there and a kind of medicinal blackcurrant note a bit like cough sweets or Army and Navy tablets. (British boiled sweets – no idea what they are meant to taste of but they have a kind of fruity/musty taste/aroma).

It’s an interesting nose and a quite complex one. It’s rich, warm and inviting but not overly sweet. It will certainly appeal to those who enjoy un-sweetened rum but what something with some level of sweetness, without being cloying or sugary. Natural sweetness maybe?

Sipped the rum is initially quite fruity with more raisin than the nose would suggest. At the ABV of 52.9% it’s very drinkable and whilst I’m not a fan of this term – quite smooth.

Obviously its a column distilled spirit so it won’t have some of the rougher edges of a Pot Still distillate but even still it’s certainly an easy sipper.

That said it is by no means an uncomplicated sip. Just because it goes down, perhaps a little too easily does not mean it isn’t complex.

After the initial sweet raisin entry, the rum quickly shows the spicier elements that were on the nose. So a bit of chilli heat, black pepper and some nutmeg/cinnamon – maybe allspice. It’s an interesting blend of flavours.

It’s not a very woody or oaky spirit. Most of the flavour is coming from the fruity notes which build on the mid palate – raisin and dark plums come through. Again it’s fruitier than the nose suggested for me.

As the mid palate move into the finish I notice a slightly herbal note – slight medicinal hit of Calpol. Nothing overbearing or unpleasant though.

This is a fairly medium bodied rum overall and the finish initially seems to fade a touch too quickly. However, it almost seems to re-build and leaves you with a spicy and dry fruity taste in the mouth long after the final sip.

1423 have quite a name of the Cask Finishes or Secondary maturations having worked already with the likes of Worthy Park. This is another example of their expertise in that area.

This is really good stuff.