That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela

Bythefatrumpirate

That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela rum review by the fat rum pirateThat Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela. This South American country is perhaps not the first location you might conjure up when thinking about rum producing countries but there is little doubt that it shifts a fair amount of the noble spirit.

Brands such as Pampero, Cacique and Santa Teresa have long been staples in many bars the world over. As I was beginning my Rum Journey early in the last decade it was frequently noted that Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, was the “best” or one of the best rums in the world. Whilst that opinion may have shifted in more serious rum circles it is still a very high selling brand.

That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela is produced at Corporation Alcoholes del Caraibe S.A. Rums from this distillery are often noted as being from C.A.C.D. or C.A.D.C by independent bottlers. There are quite a few different bottlings around at the moment. The distillery is based in San Felipe, Yaracuy state. Apparently, the first mixing of Angostura’s formula for bitters was mixed here. The distillery produces the Cacique brand, amongst others.

C.A.C.D is essentially an alcohol plant rather than a more traditional distillery you might fine on some sunny Caribbean island. As a result the rum in my glass today is produced on a multi column still, which is capable of producing a range of rum and other alcoholic spirits

This rum is noted as being a MVCDF marque – I cannot find an explanation of what this means. Unlike many rums from this part of the world it has not been coloured or adulterated in anyway with sweeteners etc. Unlike many of the more famous Venezuelan rum brands. C.A

That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezeula has been aged for 15 years. I assume partly continentally aged but I don’t know for certain. This is the first batch of Venezuelan C.A.C.D rum to be bottled by The Boutique-y Rum Company and there are 259 50cl bottles of this liquid available at Master of Malt (and other Independent retailers) for £54.95. When you consider the price you pay for distillery owned bottles from Venezuela aged for considerably less than 15 years – this is a pretty good price. You also know you are trying something without any nasties added.

Presentation we are seeing a view from an aeroplane featuring Mount Roraima which serves as the tripoint of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. The artwork is taken of by the very talented Jim’ll Paint It.

So there we have it. Thats as much information as I have at present. So why don’t I get my nose into a glass and give my tonsils a tickle?

Indeed, in the glass That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela presents itself as a dark brown with a reddish/orange hue.

The extra ABV over most distillery bottlings from Venezuela certainly gives the nose a lot more body. It’s full of leather arm chairs, peppery spice and tobacco. It has a rich smoky aroma as well. Milk chocolate, cocoa and some “buttery” aromas mingle alongside the tobacco and leather notes to complete a very pleasant and nicely balanced nose.

It’s inviting and quite approachable without being too straightforward. It’s as complex as it gets really when it comes to multi column unsweetened rum.

It reminds me a little of the hard to find 1938 Anejo Seleccion from Pampero. I quite like Pampero so that is no bad thing. More time in the glass reveals more of the “buttery” nature of this rum and the sweeter notes come out more. Some fruity notes with a lot of red berries coming out now.

Sipped again the ABV adds a lot more body and gives this a much more rummy experience than many 40% (and below) rums from this part of the world. It’s quite “meaty” and substantial.

The initial sip is smoky with a fair hit of tobacco and cocoa. There is a good weight of spiciness to this rum. It reminds me a little of Flor de Cana in how barrel driven this spirit is. The time in the cask has really made its mark on this light column distillate.

The mid palate has a slight licorice note to it alongside the spicy oak and dark chocolate notes. Coffee adds to the mix as does a burst of dark juicy fruit – raisin and some plums.

There is a good deal of balance and complexity with this rum. It’s dry but has a light sweetness to it as well. I like the barrel influence and this is certainly one of the better rums from this part of the world. Which just shows what a difference additives are making to rum. Not for the good either.

The finish is long and fades out nicely with notes of dark chocolate, oak spice and a slightly buttery/nutty note. The tobacco notes remain throughout this rum making it a bit of a “cigar rum”. That said unlike some Cuban rums for example the Tobacco is not overbearing.That Boutique-y Rum Company C.A.C.D Venezuela rum review by the fat rum pirate

This is a rum which I think will grown on you. That’s not to say it isn’t very pleasant to begin with but its the type of rum you will come back to every now and again and really savour. It’s the type of rum to start the night with and maybe have one or two glasses. Best taken slowly in a comfy armchair.

Looking back I have always had a bit of soft spot/guilty pleasure relationship with Venezuelan rum. I still enjoy Pampero and Cacique – I will often be found drinking Cacique when on holiday in Spain. I’ve never been quite so stuck on Diplomatico though. Santa Teresa 1796 is still a solid sipper as well, even with a touch of additives.

I really enjoyed this. I think someone who likes Pampero Aniversario Exclusiva and wants to try something at a higher ABV (and more flavour) would really get a lot out of this bottling. As I think would any Flor de Cana fans.

If all you can appreciate is Cask Strength Caroni and Double Strength DOK then avoid……..

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Cane Island Barbados Rum Aged 8 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Cane Island Rum Barbados 8 Years Old rum review by the fat rum piratCane Island are a relative newcomer to the market.  Last year they released a range of aged rums from Cuba, Barbados and Jamaica.  These were blends of rums from two different distilleries from each location.

    This year they have followed those releases up with three more rums.  This time though they are all given definitive age statements on the bottles.  The rums hail from Barbados, Dominican Republic and Trinidad.

    As well as age disclosure they also give details of which distillery each rum is made at.  You also get information on the method of production pot or column/blended rum.

    These rums are currently only available in mainland Europe.  Well actually mainly just the Netherlands – Amsterdam in particular  This bottling is an eight year old rum from Foursquare Distillery. Bottled at a respectable 43% ABV.  There are no details about out turn in terms of numbers of bottles/casks.  So my guess is that they have a reasonably large run/number of casks.  Usually when an Independent bottler releases a rum which is from just one cask they let you know.  As it gives the rum a USP.  The rum retails at around the 45 Euro mark.  I’d imagine if this rum was released in the UK it would likely retail at around the same price in pounds once taxes and duty are taken into account.

    Which when you consider you can get nearly all the Foursquare range for £35 or less, is something to consider if you are thinking of buying this bottling.

    Cane Island Rum are owned by Infinity Spirits from what I can see they are currently the spirit groups only brand.  The Cane Island website is nicely laid out and gives most of the key information you would require regarding the rums.  It is refreshingly clear of any marketing bullshit.

    I like the design of the Cane Island range and the releases all have a very clear brand identity.  The stubby bottle I like and the design is uncluttered and the front label has pertinent information regarding what is in the bottle.  A cork stopper completes the look.

    So lets move onto the rum.  The website notes that this is a bleCane Island Barbados 8 Years Old rum review by the fat rum piratend of pot/column rum that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels.  I am not sure how much time this has spent maturing in the Tropics or Europe in total.  The colour of the rum gives few clues as it is a standard caramel coloured golden brown.

    The nose is familiar (I must have reviewed over 20 aged Foursquare rums by now) straight away I am getting the spices and the sweet/sour bourbon tones from the casks.  It’s quite a strong nose and I am getting a fair bit of alcohol as well.  It’s not unbalanced or unpleasant in anyway but it does have a slight sharpness.

    It is pretty heavy on the Bourbons spices and its quite dry.  There isn’t a great deal of sweetness.  I am getting more of a vanilla sweet note rather than any toffee or caramel.  It isn’t as dry as R L Seales 10 but it is noticeably less fruity than Rum Sixty Six or Doorly’s XO.  It is pretty much in keeping with Doorly’s 8 but I think it may be a touch spicier.  Maybe a little more of an edge to it.

    There may be a slight char or maybe just a bit more of a barrel influence on this rum than some other Foursquare offerings I have had.  It reminds me most of Doorly’s 12.

    It has a very slight herbal note to it.  The finish is good and of reasonable length.  It has a nice spicy oaky char.  The finish and the mouthfeel of the rum are nowhere near as “boozy” as I first detected on the nose.  

    All in all this is yet another high quality, well balanced and well made rum from Foursquare.  Comparable to their own releases.  Yet another example of how good rum can be when it is not being messed around with.

    Well worth seeking out if you need more Foursquare……..Can you ever have enough?

     

     

     

     

  • Jack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Jack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997 rum review by the fat rum pirateJack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997. Alongside the mythical Velier Demerara bottlings and the more recent Foursquare Velier/ECS releases – Caroni has remained high on the agenda of many rum collectors and enthusiasts.

    The fact that the distillery has been closed since the turn of the century, really hasn’t seem to have restricted the availability of the rum from Caroni. A lot of this has been bottled by the likes of Velier, Bristol Spirits and Cadenhead’s. Newer bottlers such as The Colours of Rum and Jack Tar are also increasingly getting in on the act.

    Quite how many Caroni bottlings are actually drunk is a question for debate. The “lost” distillery is increasingly marketed towards investors and people seeking to own something rare/unique. Prices have increased and as the stocks will eventually run down they are only likely to increase even further over the coming years.

    Much of the releases from Independents other than Velier will come from the Main Rum Company in Liverpool and E A Scheer in Amsterdam. As a result they are not fully 100% Tropically Aged. Indeed even a lot of the 100% Tropically Aged Caroni has not been aged at source i.e Trinidad. The Velier stock in particular was partly aged in Guyana.

    So as you can imagine Caroni bottlings are not cheap. Around 7 or 8 years ago I was fortunate enough to pick up a bottle of 12 Year Old Caroni by Velier for around £50. Those days are long gone.

    Jack Tar La Soleil and La Lune (The Sun and the Moon) appear to have been released as a set. I can’t currently find any for sale at retail. So the secondary market will be your best bet to pick these up. I fancy you’ll have to buy the set – I’ve not seen them being sold seperately.  A recent sale at auction saw the set fetch £520. Which is pretty much in keeping with the prices Caroni is fetching nowadays.

    Jack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997 is a Single Cask rum. It is noted as being cask number #84. The rum was distilled in 1997 and bottled in March 2021. So by my calculations it is 23 or 24 years old. Most likely 23 and a bit…..

    As the rum is from Caroni and from 1997 it was distilled on a column still. Any Pot Stills were long out of operation by 1997 at Caroni. It was also made with Trinidad rather than imported molasses. It has been bottled at 61.3% ABV which is either Cask Strength or very close to it. No colourings or additives. There are 225 bottles. Which is curious as there are only 221 of the Le Soleil. So maybe you can pick the bottlings up individually. Or maybe with 4 bottles “spare” thats why my sample comes from the La Lune cask…………

    Yes I am reviewing from a sample. In all honesty if you do see any reviews of Caroni in the future then they are increasingly likely to be as a result of a sample. Either in this case from the bottler or a fellow enthusiast/friend. I’ve tasted enough Caroni and whilst I do enjoy the rum from the distillery, I don’t really feel compelled in anyway to be paying £300 plus for bottles. I don’t think reviewing loads of similar vintage casks makes for a particularly interesting site either.

    Presentation wise Jack Tar have opted for an opaque “Velier” style bottle. It’s worth noting that I think the actual bottle may be slightly “stubbier” than the first image on this review. It was about the only one I could find with just the La Lune and not La Soleil in the picture. In terms of the label and cardboard sleeve it depictJack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997 rum review by the fat rum pirates a lunar scene in keeping with the name. The Caroni name is very prominent on the label. This is something which has caused consternation amongst some distillers when their “trademark” (Distillery name) is used so prominently. Suggesting in their view that is may be an “official” bottling.

    As Caroni is now a closed distillery I don’t think there are any issues being raised with the use of the Caroni name in this way. Not that I am aware of anyway.

    The presentation is good – as should perhaps be expected at the price point. It nods towards Velier, Samaroli etc style in some ways but also has a more modern “Premium” feel.

    I’ve not touched upon the Jack Tar name as I have another couple of rums to review from them so I will go in to more detail on the name in one of those reviews.  I always like to keep something back to talk about to try and keep the reviews all a decent length and interesting.

    So lets get on with a little tasting of this late nineties Caroni rum……..

    In the glass Jack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997 is a dark reddish brown – mahogany in colour. This suggests long ageing and also a fair chunk of tropical ageing. It will be interesting to see how this transfers to the nose/taste. Appearances in the rum world can often be deceptive!

    The nose is your typical Caroni – burnt rubber, some heavy oily petrol notes and smoky almost peaty quite savoury notes.

    Beneath this further nosing reveals more richness with some richer notes of stewed banana, dark chocolate and cough mixture.

    Caroni are famed for their “Heavy” rum and this certainly falls into that category. Time in the glass reveals some ginger and some more delicate slightly herbal oaked spice. It has an intriguing “floral” yet quite industrial note running over the top which reminds me a little of hair spray.

    Sipped it is pretty smoky and has an astringent bitterness to it. At 61.3% ABV it is of course no shrinking violet but it’s pretty heavy going stuff. Especially the first couple of sips.

    That said there is still a kind of almost burnt/smoky kind of sweetness going on. Flambed Banana’s and some burnt toast with a touch of marmalade. Cremated Christmas Cake or overdone Christmas Pudding.

    The mid palate moves on past this into more extr

    eme notes of charcoal and a nice hit of bitter Valencia oranges, blood orange and some white pepper notes.

    The finish is very tangy again with a real hit of the orange/marmalade notes. There is a real mixture of bitter/sweet notes and the smoky petrol like notes. Finish wise it is very long as the flavours are so intense. Spill any of this

    Jack Tar La Lune Cosmic Series Distilled at Caroni 1997 rum review by the fat rum pirate

    rum on your clothing and you’ll basically smell like a distillery for the rest of the day.

    It’s worth noting at this point I am writing about Caroni rum. So the tasting notes above may not seem your typical fare. They probably don’t sound all that enticing. Much like more extreme heavily Peated Whisky, this is very much an acquired taste.

    I don’t say that to be at all snobbish or suggest some kind of superiority because I can enjoy a glass or two of this. If you do not like Caroni rum – there is no shame in recognising that.

    If you a Caroni buff then this is a bottling which is well worth seeking out. I do fancy from the profile that it does have a good chunk of tropical ageing. Which for me adds a bit value/quality.

     

     

  • El Dorado Rare Collection Skeldon 2000

    Bythefatrumpirate

    El Dorado Rare Collection Skeldon 2000El Dorado Rare Collection Skeldon 2000. The only rums I have seen in my rum “career” that denote Skeldon are the Velier 1973 and 1978 releases. Which are long gone except for those with very deep pockets. As any rum blogger will attest researching Demerara Rums is on the most complicated and time-consuming pursuits. Excellent work by the likes of Marco Freyr of Barrel Aged Mind have helped with this. I will once again recommend reading his huge article on The Demerara Distillieries.

    You won’t see many Demerara rums denoting Skeldon for a few reasons. Firstly the actual Skeldon Distillery closed way back in 1960. Unlike the likes of Uitvlugt and Enmore none of the stills were moved onto other distilleries upon the sites closure.

    As a result, even the older 1973 and 1978 Velier Skeldon releases, weren’t produced on one of the original 4 Column Coffey Stills, which stood at Skeldon. They were produced on another Metal Coffey Still to replicate the rum marque SWR (Sir William Ross – the original founder of the Skeldon Estate).

    Like the previous Rare Collection bottlings Skeldon 2000 comes in a stubby opaque bottle with a cork stopper and a card cut out sleeve. I like the presentation it is a step up from the regular El Dorado range. As it should be really. This 70cl bottling will set you back around £/€220-250. Information on the bottle is factual and again, nice to see.

    El Dorado Rare Collection Skeldon 2000 has been produced on a Continuous Blair Still – I am not sure what still this actually is to be honest. This is just information I have found on the internet. So please correct me if it’s not right! It has been aged for 18 years 2000 to 2018 in Guyana and has been bottled at Cask Strength of 58.3% ABV. I can’t find any information on the number of bottles and I do not believe this is a single cask release. It is un-chill filtered.

    In the glass the Skeldon 2000 is a dark brown with a striking reddish hue around the edges. It looks 18 years old – even if it is likely to have had some caramel added at some point. The Hydrometer shows this to be without additives – which is what the enthusiast will want at this kind of price.

    On the nose you get wafts of treacle toffee, juicy raisins and some notes of dried apricot and some canned peaches. Further nosing reveal deeper notes of redcurrant and bitter blackcurrants, port and some slight smoky but nicely intergrated oak and light vanilla.

    Overall the nose is quite sweet on this one and it reminds me more of El Dorado 21 Year Old than the Versailles 1973 I recently reviewed. For some this may be a bad thing but I thoroughly enjoyed both rums. This has a sweeter edge to it which I quite enjoy.

    Sipped at the full ABV, you get a lot more of the oak and spice from the wood than the fruity nose might have suggested. The initial sip is woody and like the 1973 Skeldon slightly “musty”. That said it is considerably less “old” tasting than that bottling. This still has a slightly fruitier, sweeter edge.

    Further sips see the palate adjust and you note a bit more of the fruitier notes. Plums, raisins and some Port. These notes move nicely along into the mid palate.

    On the mid palate you get a lot of oak spice – ginger, oak and some faint traces of cinnamon. Marmalade and some notes of leather and Merlot move in and out of the mix.

    The finish is long, rich and pretty spicy with a fruity kick to the end. Sultanas, satsumas and some Chocolate covered raisins.

    This is all at full ABV. If you prefer a slightly less “heated” affair a couple of dEl Dorado Rare Collection Skeldon 2000rops of water would be recommended. A couple of drops does bring out a bit more of the fruitier notes and does temper some of the spicier elements of this rum.

    As far as Demerara rums this is one of the few examples of 100% Tropically Aged Demerara you will find on the market. These El Dorado rums have effectively replaced the old Velier bottlings. If you are wanting Tropically aged as opposed to European aged – even only partly then El Dorado is your port of call for the foreseeable future.

    I think El Dorado have been a bit canny in calling their most recent Rare Collection rums Albion (I will review soon) and Skeldon. They know the Velier releases are now only available on the secondary market and they know the name alone will sell a few bottles. I do think sales of their original 2 “batches” or Rare Collection were hindered a little by the price tag and competition from European bottlings with similar monikers.

    I like this rum a lot – it’s a really top example of a Tropically aged Demerara. The Skeldon 1973 had perhaps the slight nod over it but this easily stands amongst the Velier Demerara bottlings I have tried to date.

    That is perhaps the only reason I’ll stop short of giving it the full 5 stars. That 1973……..

    Please someone send me a 1978 sample.

  • Skotlander Handcrafted Rum V 1,400 SØMIL

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Skotlander Handcrafted Rum V 1,400 SØMILSkotlander Handcrafted Rum V 1,400 SØMIL is perhaps the most bizarrely named rum I have reviewed so far.  The strange name owes mostly to the way it has been aged.  When translated into English and the story is told it does make a lot more sense.  Even if the way the rum has been aged is a little baffling…….

    Skotlander Spirits hail from Denmark.  Not Scotland as some have commented on Social Media.  Believe it or not but some people have suggested the name is confusing. A simple Google search would easily dismiss any misconceptions.  This seems beyond some.

    Skotlander’s website asks you immediately on visiting if you wish to translate it into English.  It is currently available in English and Danish.  It’s really well done and has a great deal of information on the rums.  You can also buy their range online via the site.

    The rum up for review is their most recent release.  Translated into English the 1,400 refers to Nautical Miles.  As I mentioned the rum has been aged in a rather unique way.  The rear label of the bottle gives us the backstory.

    As you can see the rum has been aged in PX Sherry Casks and aged onboard Anders Skotlander’s Schooner Mira.  The rum was bottled at Cask Strength after being aged for 1400 Nautical miles around the Danish coast.

    Skotlander Handcrafted Rum V is packaged in a modern stubby style bottle with a wooden topped synthetic cork stopper.  The presentation is very sleek and clean.  It’ a very modern looking package.  Included with my two rums came a booklet on Skotlander’s rums and a Cocktail booklet with a number of cocktail and syrup recipes.  The rum also came with a white cloth bag with the Skotlander hog/pig logo.  All in all a very classy package.Skotlander Handcrafted Rum V 1,400 SØMIL

    The 50cl bottle has been released at Cask Strength of 61.6% ABV.  It is a limited edition of 704 bottles.  My bottle is number 415.  The rum retails at around the 200 Euro mark. The rum is small batch, pot distilled it has no additives, no chill filtration and is a natural colour.  It is not cheap but Skotlander ensure their customers that the rum is made using the finest grade sugarcane molasses in the world.

    In the glass the rum is very vibrant reddish brown.  I don’t know how long aged 1400 Nautical Miles is but it seems there has been quite a lot of interaction with the PX Sherry Cask to get this colour.

    The nose is sweet – there are some quite strong scents of sweet “booze”.  Beneath these quite strong fumes you also get a nice toffee aroma.  There are notes of what I would recognise as port or sherry – rich deep wine like scents.

    Further nosing reveals a slightly vegetal note – reminiscent of young Jamaican Overproofs.  It also reminds me of a small batch Pot Still rum from England called Old Salt Rum.  However these notes are only slightly detectable.  There is on occasion a little flash of varnish.

    All in all at full ABV it is a very complex smelling rum.  It is quite menacing and certainly a rum which you should approach with respect.

    Sipped at full strength it is initially sweet as the nose promises.  Skotlander Handcrafted Rum V 1,400 SØMILYou get a really nice fruity burst – redcurrants and blackberries.  Then the toffee notes arrive, they quickly fade into quite a sharp bittersweet melding of spices and smokiness.  Despite its sweetness it is quite a heavy and very rich rum.  Kind of like a mix of
    Pussers and Caroni in many ways.  The nearest I have tasted in terms of intensity of flavour has been the Foursquare 2013 Habitation Velier release.  They are very similar in a lot of ways.

    Taken down a notch or two with a drop of water the rum is a little lighter to sip.  You don’t lose any of the intense flavours but I can certainly taste a lot more oak which for me gives it a little bit more balance.  Initially I felt this was a better option but over time I have developed quite a taste for the rum at the higher ABV.  Albeit in much smaller sips.

    It’s expensive.  Both to the consumer and for the producer.  It is not something being done on the cheap, by a company looking to make a quick buck.  They want this rum to be the best it can be and they have also produced something, which is very distinctive.

     

  • Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira rum review by the fat rum pirateMaria Joao Cachaca Brasileira Amburana. This cachaca producer hails from Santa Rosa in Rio Grande du Sol state.

    Maria Joao cachaca is named rather simply after the owner Joao and his wife Maria. The brand was introduced in order to make the family farm ran by João Adalberto dos Santos, more profitable and less reliant on the local markets.

    Joao looked at various different ventures but eventially decided he would produce an 100% natural artisanal cachaca on a Copper Alembic Pot Stills. Feasability studies on the property began in 2011. The first harvest of sugar cane for the cachaca took place in 2013 following two years of intensive training on how to distill and produce a quality cachaca.

    Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira is one of the three cachacas currently in the Maria Joao portfolio. As well as a white cachaca they also have a Ouro cachaca, which like this expression is aged in native Amburana wood often called Brasilian Oak. It also goes by a great variety of other names in its native Brasil. Cachaca producers have largely stuck on Amburana as the spelling.

    Maria Joao is a family run business with 6 members of the Adalberto dos Santos family working for the brand – Joao and his wife Maria along with their daughters Vanessa and Fernanda with their husbands Rodrigo and Vinícius respectively.

    Information (which is sadly cannot date) notes that Maria Joao is produced from just 2 hectares of sugar cane with around 100 litres of cachaca produced per day. Sales are mostly to the south and south east of Brasil.

    Maria Joao Cachaca Brasileira Premium is distilled in small batches on a Copper Alembic Pot Still, it is then rested for 1 year in stainless steel vats. The cachaca is then aged for 2 years in Amburana casks. It is bottled in a stubby 700ml sized bottle at 40% ABV.

    Presentation is modern particularly the stubby bottle and the card sleeve for the cachaca. It’s clean and nicely done without any of the usual “flair” associated with some cachaca. It’s far from being gaudy or over the top. Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira retails at R$147 (£23), which is fairly pricy. It would cost a fair bit more than £23 were it to come to the UK and Europe. The Real McCoy Aged 10 Years Limited Edition Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Maria Joao have a website but it doesn’t show this particular cachaca. A little bit more infromation on the production of their cachaca would be welcome but it’s not a badly presented site at all. Likewise with their Facebook page – it all looks very modern and professional. They also have a few different videos on Youtube. Sadly, all in Portuguese so no use to ignoramuses like me. That said the area this cachaca is situated in looks very nice!

    In the glass the Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira is a golden/dark brown colour. The nose is pretty strong for a spirit at just 40% ABV. Quite heavy. The Amburana influence is immediately apparent. There is a soapy/pine aroma coming from very prominently from the glass. It smells a little like disinfectant.

    This I admit probably doesn’t sound to inviting but it is balanced by a creamy, milky note along with some nicely intergrated ginger and some less sharp herbal notes – pine cone and a touch of Pot Pourri. A slightly perfumed note that ensures this has balance to it’s heavier elements.

    This is heavier and more intense than a lot of cachaca at this age.

    Sipped Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira is much fruitier than I expected. Quite a lof of citrus zest on the initial couple of sips. Especially on the initial entry. The mid palate quicky evolves into more of the notes I got when nosing. Ginger comes through pretty quickly, along with the pine and a touch of carbolic soap. Again this might not sound to pleasant but once you acquire the taste for Amburana aged cachaca, it becomes something you enjoy about them.Maria Joao Premium Cachaca Brasileira rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Despite the quite “fiery” and intense nature of the nose the cachaca makes a lighter sipper than I expected. The finish is nicely done and beautifully balanced with vanilla and ginger balancing the notes of citrus, soap and pine cones. It is pretty long and the burn is just right.

    As a sipping cachaca this is really pretty good. As long as you like Amburana aged cachaca. Price wise it’s certainly pretty expensive if you look at it solely on its age.

    I enjoyed this and didn’t mix any of my sample.

     

     

  • Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium rum review by the fat rum pirateLevy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium. A return for the Levy Lane Rum Co today, with their most recent releases of independently bottled rum.

    Today we are focusing on their Sawaku Bielle Premium release. Produced at the Bielle Distillery on the island of Marie-Galante, which is situated closely to Guadeloupe.

    Bielle Distillery operate a dual distillation for their rhum agricole which isn’t all that common amongst agricole rhum producers. The rum is distilled initially on a Alembic Copper Pot still before being distilled again on one of the distilleries Traditional Savalle Column Stills.

    Prior to this the rhum is produced from local sugar cane on the island of Marie Galante. The sugar cane is freshly pressed at the distillery and fermented in large open vats for a period of 36-48 hours using bakers yeast.

    This particular bottling was aged for 3 years in small white oak casks before being “rested” for 7 and a half years in a large oak “foudre”. For those unfamiliar with the term “foudre” it is basically a large wooden vat which can hold over 1,000 litres of spirit/wine.

    As with other releases from Tamosi the “Sawaku” is another representation of Caribbean culture/folklore. More information on the Sawaku (essentially a Heron like creature, who marks the beginning of hurricane season) can be found on the Tamosi Rum website here.

    Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium has been bottled at 52.5% ABV. There were 279 bottles available at the time of release. I currently cannot find a UK retailer but it is available at Zeewijck in the Netherlands priced at €135. From what I can gather all the ageing/resting has taken place in Marie Galante.

    Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium rum review by the fat rum pirateThe rum comes in the familiar opaque wine/Velier style bottle with a short neck and a tapered body. The presentation is clear and uncluttered with information around the bottling on the front label, along with an illustration of the Sawaku. The rear label gives more background regarding the Sawaku myth/story. It’s nicely packaged and done in way familiar with most Independent Rum collectors/afficionados.

    I’m not sure I’ve reviewed a rhum from the Bielle Distillery before (I do have a few samples in addition to this one I need to get around to reviewing). So without further ado why don’t we see what this rhum is like?

    In the glass we have a dark brown liquid with a reddish/orange hue. It’s quite dark for 10 (and a bit) year rhum, which confirms tropical ageing pretty much.

    The nose is very perfumed. There is a lot sweet sugar cane but its not particularly grassy. It’s lighter and sweeter with more notes of tropical fruits, peach and some rose petals. Yes perfumed and slightly flowery…….sounds a bit soft doesn’t it?

    It’s definitely quite a light profile but that doesn’t mean it lacks complexity or depth. Beneath the sweet perfumed notes lays a nice hit of ginger, lemongrass and some oak and spice. Vanilla wafts in and out amongst the notes of oak and touches of cinnamon. There is a hint of herbal tree bark and a trace of something a little “nutty”. Hazelnut spread perhaps.

    Sipped at the full ABV it is very drinkable. The initial sip is sweet and like the nose quite perfumed. It’s rich and fruity with lots of raisin and a real weight of juicy plump peach and apricots. Complexity is added by a herbal, peppery hit of a more “grassy” agricole like note of fresh sugar cane – but not overly sweet. It adds a nice extra layer which progresses nicely down into the mid palate.

    The mid palate really adds the wood influence. That said its a soft, elegant mix of vanilla,

    Levy Lane Rum Co Tamosi Sawaku Bielle Premium rum review by the fat rum pirate

    peach, oak and some very light spices. The overall balance of this rhum is outstanding and it is incredibly moreish and dangerously drinkable!

    The finish is a decent length with a nice fade out of the oak and spice. Fruity tropical notes of Mango, Papaya and some more conventional white grape remain in the mouth long after you have sipped.

    As drinkable as this rhum is, it really is one you should try and savour and take time between each sip. The initial sweet entry of this rhum make it easy to reach quickly for another sip. Thing is you are best taking your time with this to really appreciate it.

    On the evidence of this bottling I think my other samples from the Bielle Distillery might be getting opened sooner……….rather than later.

    This is a really good example of Rhum Agricole. It is quite light but it does have a great complexity and balance.

    Very elegant. Great stuff again from Levy Lane Rum Co.