The Duchess are a recent addition to the numerous independent bottlers of rum here in Europe. Hailing from the Netherlands they are fronted up by Nils Van Rijn.
Should you wish to learn more about The Duchess ethos and Nils’ views on rum and spirits in general then please read the following interview here.
Kill Devil Hampden Distillery Jamaica Aged 35 Years. Another bottling of Jamaican rum from Kill Devil but this time you can find this particular bottling at a few different online outlets as it isn’t a Whisky Barrel exclusive. Though you can still buy it from them should you wish.
As you can see from the photo the presentation for this one strays from the usual Kill Devil bottle and presentation tube. It perhaps might not surprise you, bearing in mind the age of the spirit in the bottle that the pricing is also significantly different. The most expensive Hampden from Kill Devil before this bottling was £200 for a 24-year-old rum.
That Boutique-y Rum Company Secret Distillery #1 Jamaica. A release from a “Secret Distillery” in Jamaica sounds fantastic doesn’t it? Just imagine that The Boutique-y Rum Company have access to an as yet unknown Jamaican rum distillery. Is this a new start up or is it a tiny distiller who has been making their own moonshine for centuries?
Worthy Park Special Cask Release Madeira. This rum is noted as being number 4 in the Worthy Park run of Cask Selection releases.
Unlike the Port Cask rum this is a vintage from 2013 – like the Oloroso and Marsala casks that preceded it. The price of this is reflected, as it cheaper than the 2008 Port Cask release. I also have the Sherry Cask release to review. The Virgin Oak edition I tried at London Rumfest in October has yet to surface in retail……..
Velier National Rums of Jamaica Ltd Long Pond TECC 2007. I’ve got all four of these Jamaican Rums to review, from the series issued last year by Velier. I am starting with this bottling because it is the youngest. So we’ll do them in “age order” and see how we get on.
These rums were undoubtedly another highlight of 2018, along with the official Hampden releases and yet more excellent Jamaican rum from the likes of Worthy Park and Appleton Estate. 2018 was a very good year for Jamaican rum.
Berry Bros & Rudd Hampden 17 Year Old TWB Exclusive Cask #27. The Whisky Barrel (TWB) certainly seem to like their Hampden rums! This is the one of their latest and one of two rums available that were bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd.
This particular bottling is a single cask (cask #27). It was distilled way back in 2000 and bottled in 2018. It is noted as being 17 Years Old. The rum is 100% Pot Still. As the rum is from 2000 then it is believed to be a Diamond H marque (I can’t use the arrow keys on WordPress documents as it goes a bit crazy). So the ester count on this one is fairly “low” 200-400 g/hlaa on the scale. it is bottled at 57.2% ABV. Which will either be Cask Strength or very close to it. When this went to retail only 194 bottles were available. I am unsure of the percentage of Continental (European) and Tropical ageing but I assume the vast majority of this rums life was spent in Europe.
Rum of the Year 2018 – Winner
It was quite a surprise when compiling the contenders for Rum of the Year, to see which rums didn’t make the grade.
As I only pick one rum from the 100 or so I review in a year, it comes down to the very best of the best. So a lot of excellent (and highly recommended) rums fall by the wayside.
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