Velho Alambique Cabreuva

Bythefatrumpirate

Velho Alambique Carbreuva cachaca rum review by the fat rum pirateVelho Alambique Cabreuva. We have covered Velho Alambique’s cachaça previously on the site. I reviewed the brands Ouro cachaça which was aged in a blend of native Brasilian woods and American oak. For more information the review is here.

This particular cachaça is noted as being in Cabreuva. Which is the name of a tree which is commonly found in Central and South America. The Cabrueva tree has also given its name to a city in Brasil.

Velho Alambique cachaça hails from Santa Tereza in in Rio Grande do Sol. Their cachaça have the Producto do Organico designation, which means they are produced in an organic manner without the use of pesticides etc.

Velho Alambique is a traditional style distillery so the cachaça is produced in small batches on pot stills. This cachaça has been bottled at 40% ABV. For more information you can try their website but it didn’t have this cachaça listed.

The design for this is different to the other Velho Alambique cachacas. My sample bottle is actually in the style of bottle used by the Ouro but online I cannot find such an image. My sample is only a miniature and the “Cabreuva” part has been stuck on with an extra sticker. So it may be the full size 700ml bottles have never been produced in the old style. In Brasil a bottle of Velho Alambique Cabreuva will set you back around R$ 54 – which is around £11.50 in sterling. Were this to arrive in the UK I wouldn’t expect to pay any less than £30 for a bottle.

Presentation wise this cachaça looks more modern and stylish than the more traditional bottles used by the Ouro. The design in particular is a big update and could easily be seen on European shelves. They just need to work on those screw caps now……..

As is often the case with these cachaça reviews I am a little hampered by the language barrier so we may as well just move along and see how this cachaça tastes.

In the glass we have a medium dark brown spirit with a yellow tinge. The nose is quite strong. I am unsure how long this was aged (I’m guessing around 2-3 years) but this seems to have had a real integration with the Cabreuva. From what I understand Cabreuva is a very hard wood so I am a little surprised how much wood and spice is on the nose.

NB I have been given some further information the cachaça is aged for 1 year in Cabreuva. It is aged in small 700 litre barrels so there is more interaction with the wood. All of the cachaça in Velho Alambique Cabreuva is aged for 1 year. It is not “cut” with unaged cachaça as happens quite frequently in the cachaça world. This is a topic I am seeking to learn more about and understand better.

Not that I am complaining as it is very impressive. Nice notes of ginger and pencil shavings mingle alongside some sweet/sour almost oak like spice. This is complimented by a nice buttery note – baking spices, shortbread and some notes of white wine. Slightly acidic but it all balances very nicely.

Further nosing reveals a richness to the spices – a touch of milk chocolate and some sweet cloves.

Sipped this is quite a smoky cachaça. Especially on the initial sip and entry. There is a great burst of spices which is accompanied by some smoky almost sooty like notes. These notes are followed by some sweet fruits – peach and some white grapes, which build into a very satisfying and spicy mid palate. White pepper and ginger mingle alongside some woody notes, which have a touch of bitterness but nothing which affects the overall balance of the spirit.Velho Alambique Carbreuva cachaca rum review by the fat rum pirate

This is a cachaça which has a lot of familiar notes but it also has a slightly savoury almost meaty note to it especially towards the finish. Also the more I sip the more I notice an almost herbal note – which again just adds more complexity to this cachaça. There is a slightly soapy note as well but it all just integrates so well.

Velho Alambique Cabreuva is a very interesting cachaça to try. I’ll be curious to try some more cachaça aged in this type of wood. This particular spirit is very good. A really nicely balanced spirit. The finish is long and satisfying without ever becoming to much. It fades nicely and you find yourself taking a little time between each sip to enjoy the complexity of the finish.

At the price (in Brasil at least) it would make an excellent “premium” mixer. To be perfectly honest, I’ve enjoyed this one neat I never got around to mixing it

No need.

 

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  • Elements Eight – Fine Aged Vendome

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Elements Eight Vendome Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirateElements Eight Rum Company was founded back in 2006.  We recently conducted an interview with Carl Stephenson the owner of Elements Eight.  As a result of this we have been able to gain a lot of insight and information on Elements Eights rums.

    Early in my own “Rum Journey” my wife bought me a bottle of Elements Eight Gold Rum.  I actually reviewed it a couple of years ago for the site.  As part of a re-branding Elements Eight have opted to rename their Gold Rum to something more distinctive and meaningful.  So it has been re-named Vendome.  I’m re-reviewing this as I’m curious to see if my opinion has changed much.  I’m assured by Carl that the rum is the same now as it was then.  I do know that my taste had changed slightly and my awareness has improved vastly since those days!

    Vendome is the name of a Copper and Brass Works in Louisville Kentucky.  I’m sure from this introduction many will guess then what Vendome may relate to.

    Vendome is a Pot Still which is more often used in the production of Bourbon and American Whiskey.  St Lucia Distillers have a Vendome Pot Still.  This Vendome Pot Still is used to produce Elements Eight Vendome.

    Elements Eight Vendome is a blend of eight rums from St Lucia Distillers.   The rums are small batch and chill fermented using three unique yeast strains.  Like all the rums in the Elements Eight range it is three times distilled in Pot Still, Column Still and finally the Kentucky Vendome Pot Still.  The rums in this particular blend are aged up to six years.  The Vendome is aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels.Elements Eight Vendome Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Elements Eight are very proud of the rums they produce and on the rear label state that this is “unadulterated, pure” rum.  The Hydrometer confirms such claims and the taste test gives me no reason at all for any suspicions.

    A bottle of Elements Eight Vendome rum will set you back around £30 in the UK.  Bottled at 40% they now come in very attractive stubby 70cl bottles.  To be fair Elements Eights presentation was never a problem. Storing the huge bottles was though…….

    In the bottle the rum is a dark brown/gold but when poured in the glass it is a very nice golden to straw colour.

    Nosing the rum is a familiar experience.  Like Bajan and Jamaican rums – the rums from St Lucia Distillers have a very distinctive nose.  Instantly recognisable once you have become acquainted with them.  In many ways St Lucian rums offers many facets of both those styles.

    With the Elements Eight Vendome, you get a very clean balanced nose.  Vanilla is prominent along with light caramel and a little toffee.  You then get that St Lucian “twang”.  The rum is very much influenced by the Vendome still and the bourbon barrel ageing.  You get an almost salty herbal hit of Pot Still rum.  It is this element which gives the rum its extra depth and complexity.  Despite this hit of Pot Still action the rum is still quite light in its overall profile.  It’s not an overpowering nose.

    Elements Eight Vendome Gold Rum Review by the fat rum pirateMoving onto sipping.  The rum is initially quite herbal – pine and some nice notes of oak and that sour/mash bourbon feel.  This isa pretty dry rum.  I mentioned earlier that it is unadulterated.  It is clear that a lot of the rums character comes from the ageing and interaction with the oak – not additives!

    Luckily this works really well and the rum is very smooth despite being relatively young.  Further sips reveal more flavour, more sweetness coming through a little dark chocolate.  Nice spicy notes of Ginger which make the rum very refreshing and clean tasting.

    I’m a big fan of complex, clean tasting St Lucia rums.  This is fresh and vibrant.  The balance is nigh on perfect.  You might think that the distinctive Pot Still notes might overpower but the blending is spot on.

    It’s clear from really sitting down with this rum just how much more I appreciate these styles of rums than when I first tried this around 4 years ago.

    In mixed drinks a rum of this quality works really nicely.  A Rum and Cola is a very smooth but very tasty experience.  Very little of the flavour when sipped is lost in the mix.  It’s depth of flavour will ensure it shines in most cocktails.

    Another great St Lucia rum!

    4 stars

     

     

     

     

  • Saint James Rhum Vieux 7 Year Old

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Saint James Rhum Vieux 7 Year Old Rum Review by the fat rum pirateSaint James Rhum Vieux 7 Year Old. Saint James are a Rhum Agricole producer from the island of Martinique. Back in 2014 they revamped and released a range of specific age statement rhums. A 7,12 and 15 year old made up the range. Today we will be looking at the youngest of those rhums.

    Saint James have featured on the site before. I reviewed their Saint James Heritage rum which was a puzzling blend of caribbean rums and their own agricole rhum. I also reviewed their more regarded Rhum Ambre. This is a review I need to re-visit as my appreciation of Rhum Agricole has risen considerably since I wrote that back in 2013/4.

    In the UK, Saint James seem to suffer from distribution issues. We were inundated with the Heritage and Reserve blends but we don’t seem to regularly get what is regarded as their good stuff. I’ve never seen them present at a UK Rum Festival. They have a confusing array of rums on offer. Admittedly I’ve only dipped my toe into exploring the brand.

    Should you find a bottle of this in the UK expect to pay upwards of £50. The rum comes in the familiar square tall embossed Saint James bottle. A cork stopper and a wooden display box complete the look. Saint James do have consistent branding on their bottles.Saint James Rhum Vieux 7 Year Old is aged for a minimum of 7 years in small oak casks. It is bottled at 43%.

    In the glass the Saint James Rhum Vieux 7 Year Old is dark golden brown the red flashes.

    The nose is quite puzzling – its very fruity – pineapple, melon and some red apple. There are next to no signs of the grassier style of agricole rhum I was expecting There is a strange kind of mustiness a little bit like ash running through the nose. It’s not a particular big nose but you get enough spice and fruitness to make it pleasant enough and nicely balanced. It’s light and sweet.

    Sipped the rum is very approachable and easy to get along with. Again its quite fruity with white fleshy fruits such as red and green apple and honeydew melon. There is a really nice array of fruity zest and spice from the oak barrels which really makes this quite a complex little sipper. Vanilla, allspice, ginger and lemon all float in an out of the mix.

    It’s a really easy going and nicely balanced rum which floats along nicely the more you sip the more you note. It has a really nice almost toffee and chocolate note on the initial entry which runs through the rum to the finish.Saint James 7 Year old Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The finish is quite good as well. Not overly spicy but enough of a finish to satisfy. It’s a medium length which fades nicely in time for another sip. It is very similar to a Bajan style rum in terms of balance and the elements which display a healthy interaction with the oak barrel. It has however enough vibrancy and freshness to remind you it is a Cane Juice product. It’s fresh rather than overly grassy and its a really good rhum.

    I’m very fond of this particular Agricole Rhum and I think it is a very good example of the style.

    Really impressive.

  • English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish

    Bythefatrumpirate

    English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish. English Harbour are a rum brand from Antigua, an island in the West Indies. They are pretty much famous for their signature English Harbour 5 Year Old and frankly not a lot else really.

    Domestically they produce Cavalier Gold and White rum and Koko Caribe Coconut Rum. Rarely, if ever have I seen these rums for sale outside of Antigua. The rum is produced at Antigua Distillery Limited. Which is the islands only active distillery.

    Until a vintage 25 year old “1981”  bottling was released in 2006, the only way to try some output from the Antigua Distillery in the UK, was to get a bottle of English Harbour Aged 5 Years.  To be honest I didn’t think either bottling was great. Solid, but nothing spectacular. In all honesty I felt some of the fanfare English Harbour were getting was a little outdated compared to some of the more recent rums I had tried.

    However, over the past few years Antigua Distillery seem to be moving a little with the times. They have begun introducing “Cask Finish” rums similar to the likes of Foursquare. Whilst a secondary maturation period does probably explain Foursquare’s recent output a “Finish” is probably more suited to these offerings from English Harbour.

    They also had a well received collaboration with Velier as part of Velier’s 70th Anniversary and I reviewed the cheaper offering of that rum only recently. I partly reviewed that one as I new I had acquired this more recently and wanted to get both reviews published.

    So what do we have here then? Well a lot of information is provided on the bottle and box the rum is housed in. This is a small batch, non chill filtered rum. It is a limited release of 5 Year Old rum finished in Port Cask.

    The Port Casks in question are 200 year old Port Barrels from the Royal Oporto Company of Porto, Portugal.

    English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish is English Harbour’s standard 5 Year Old aged in ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 46% ABV and finished for six months in a Port Cask.

    As it is the “standard” English Harbour 5 Year Old it is a blend of rums distilled on the 5 Column Still at Antigua Distillery. Curiously, although the 5 Year Old showed up some additives on a Hydrometer Tests, this one did not. Change in formulation?

    Presentation wise we get the standard shape English Harbour bottle but the glass is clear and the colour scheme has been modified to yellow/cream and Purple. It looks a little dated but it’s still quite nicely presented. The card sleeve is strong and sturdy and the plastic topped real cork stopper completes the look. In the UK you can pick up a bottle of this for around £39 at the usual suspects.

    My bottle as you can see from the photos is from Batch Number 002. Although there is a space noting the bottle number it has not been completed. Other information on the bottle notes that this is a Small Batch rum. Which doesn’t tell us much to be fair! That said I think I have given you as much detail on this rum as I can find. So lets move on and see how I find this.

    The nose is quite sweet (as expected) but not overly so. Dark Fruits, Blackcurrant Jam, a tiny hint of liquorice. There are some baking spices and some lighter notes of sponge cake and shortbread biscuits as well.

    Red Wine and some slight traces of ginger complete the nose. English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish has a pleasant, gentle/easy going approach. Similar (I know people are going to want to know this) in many ways to Foursquare Port Cask Finish.

    English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish Rum Review by the fat rum pirateI would say this has less coconut and vanilla than that rum and is every so slightly heavier on the Port on the nose. This is more “old” Port where Foursquare’s Port Cask Finish seemed a little “younger”. This is just a touch or two less vibrant. Less well defined.

    Sipping English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish is as easy as falling asleep (apologies out there to any Insomniacs). The 46% ABV is a really good point to appreciate this rum at I feel. I can’t say its the best because I can only really dilute it down not up but it works very well.

    The initial sip is rich and warming with lots of red wine notes and some lighter berried sweetness. Raspberry Compote, Blackcurrant Jam even a Touch of Black Forest Gateaux.

    The mid palate evolves into an array of well balanced and defined spices and oaky overtones. These nestle wonderfully alongside the fruitier notes. Ginger, baking spices and a touch of chilli pepper heat and a layer of complexity.

    The finish is perhaps the spiciest and most challenging part of this rum but even then it’s still not a difficult or demanding rum. It has all the necessary oak and spice to give a very warming and very satisfying burn. It’s very easy going and easy to drink. Do not however think it lacks complexity or flavour. It doesn’t it’s just a lighter more balanced style of rum than say a funk heavy Jamaican or a burnt tyre Caroni. Think more the Barbados style. English Harbour is very much in keeping with that style of rum.

    English Harbour Antigua Rum Port Cask Finish Rum Review by the fat rum pirateComparisons with the Foursquare Port Cask Finish will be inevitable. No, it is not as good as that in my opinion. That however does not mean this is not a very good rum in it’s own right.

    If you want a glass of something with a little sweetness (I think we know by now that when I say this, I am not talking “sweetened” rums) this is something light and easy going which will give you that.

    At under £40 I think it is well placed. If you like something like Doorly’s XO on a regular basis, you could do worse than swap out a bottle for this. Just for a change. They also have some Sherry and Oloroso finished rums as well. Lance over at The Lone Caner reviewed a Sherry Finish way back in 2017. On this evidence I need to up my English Harbour game!

    I think you might quite like it. It’s really good value as well.

     

     

  • 1931 St Lucia Distillers – Chairman’s Reserve

    Bythefatrumpirate

    1931 St Lucia Distillers - Chairman's Reserve rum review by the fat rum pirate1931 St Lucia Distillers – Chairman’s Reserve. This is a rum which is both new and familiar. Iterations of “1931” have been available since 2011. The rum was originally released to celebrate 80 years of rum production on St Lucia. For 6 years a different blend of rums were put together to commemorate another year of rum production on the island.

    The blends became increasingly complex and increasingly popular. It is sad but not entirely surprising to learn that the only rum St Lucia Distillers “adultered” with added sugar in this series was also the biggest seller! The third edition whilst still a good rum was in my opinion, not as complex as the others.

    In 2017/18 St Lucia Distillers re-branded and revitalised their whole range of rums. Bounty Rum became available in various different guises and was distributed far wider than before. Admiral Rodney became a range of rums rather than a standalone product and it was decided that 1931 would become a more defined product under the popular Charman’s Reserve banner.

    So rather than a limited edition once a year release 1931 St Lucia Distillers Chairman’s Reserve, is now a continuous release. It is still a very complex blend of Pot and Column distilled rums but the formula is one which can be produced on a regular basis. So the 1931 you buy this year will be pretty much the same as next years. Unlike the previous very differing 1931’s that were released each year.

    The bottle i am reviewing is from 2017 and I have bottle number 4128 it is a blend of both Column and Pot distilled rum. There are no fewer than 14 different distillates in this blend. From 4 seperate stills at SLD. These stills consist of 2 John Dore stills, one Vendome still and a Coffey still. There is also a agricole style rum produced from estate grown sugar cane.

    The rums have all been aged seperately in ex-bourbon or ex-port barrels for a period between 6 and 15 years. The final blend is lightly filtered and then bottled at 46% ABV.

    Presentation wise SLD have kept the lovely decanter style bottles with the huge chunky wooden stoppers they have adopted the Chairman’s Reserve logo and went for a khaki green, gold and off white colour scheme. It looks very impressive particularly the bottle.

    In the UK a 70cl of St Lucia Distiller’s 1931 – Chairman’s Reserve will cost around £75 the usual stockists apply. You can read a little more about SLD on their website, though I warn you now it could do with a bit of an update.

    I’ve always had a soft spot for St Lucia Distillers and Chairman’s Reserve. It was a bottle of Chairm1931 St Lucia Distillers - Chairman's Reserve rum review by the fat rum piratean’s Reserve that first made me appreciate something a little more “Premium” than Supermarket swill. It was also the first rum event that I ever attended in person. A Chairman’s Reserve Master Class with Dave Marsland aka Drinks Enthusiast. As well as being the Brand Ambassador for Chairman’s Reserve Dave has also been running the Manchester Rum Festival, which unfortunately has had to be postponed this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    On a lighter note lets see how this compares to the previous 1931’s.

    In the glass the rum is a very dark brown with an orange hue. The nose is familiar and welcoming. Pine cones and forests in full bloom, mingle alongside a slightly briny note. Further aromas of dark chocolate, coffee and caramel put in an appearance as the complexity builds.

    Further nosing reveals a slightly bourbon-esque note of charred wood and vanilla. Peaches and raisins are also coming through the more I nose. There is a slightly sweeter note – which I think may be from the agricole style component. A little hint of grassy freshness is definitely there.

    Sipped, this is a very complex blend of rums. In the past I have suggested that the 1931’s were maybe a little over complicated. This definitely has got the balance right. The flavours are well defined and there is a lot going on but it’s all well balanced and each component really makes its mark.1931 St Lucia Distillers - Chairman's Reserve rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The initial entry is quite herbal with a touch of mintyness. It’s bright, clean and fresh. There is a nice burst of cocoa and a touch of tobacco. This moves onto a mid palate which has a nice oaky char resting alongside banana, dark chocolate and caramel.

    The finish is long with lots of spicy ginger and charred oak. It’s warm and luxourious and you will sip this sparingly to enjoy the long elegant slightly smoky finish.

    This is pretty much near the top for me in terms of the 1931 series. Though I must confess I do prefer the recently released Whisky Exchange Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selection, but only by a very small margin.

    This is still an excellent rum for the money.

  • Sapucaia Real 18 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Sapucaia Real 18 Years Cachaca review by the fat rum pirateSapucaia Real 18 Years. Sapucaia is a brand of cachaça from Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paolo state. The Sapucaia brand began way back in 1933 on the Sapucaia and Coruputuba farms. The farms were run by local entrepreneur Cicero da Silva Prado.

    “Sapucaia” is a majestic tree found in the Mata Atlantica forest in Brasil. “Real” translates to Royal in English. Sapucaia have a range of cachaca’s – this cachaca’s story began in 2007.

    Sapucaia hired a beverage consultancy at Senac Renato Frascino to make an overall assessment in their stocks. Around 500,000 litres of cachaça!  Stored in various tanks, 500 and 250 litre Oak, Peanut and 3o litre Jequitibá-rosa barrels. All holding long aged cachaças. With this review, Sapucaia would make a general balance of stocks and assess the quality of their aged cachaças, aiming to check if we still had the stocks necessary to produce an older cachaça.

    The Sapucaia Real 18 Years that is available today is from stocks of Oak Aged Cachaca from 1990. The cachaça was fermented using maize flavour before being distilled in small batches on Copper Pot Stills.

    You can actually buy a bottle of this cachaça if you are in Europe as The Cachaca Company stock it. The cost is €145. It is bottled at 40% ABV. Presentation wise it’s not bad with a tall long bottle with a very short neck. The label is fairly simple and perhaps not as premium as the price tag might suggest. That said its the contents that really matters.

    Sapucaia have a website which can be translated into English. It’s quite an informative site so should you wish to learn more about the brand I would advise having a little look around the site.

    In the glass Sapucaia Real is a golden to dark brown colour.

    The nose is very much influenced by the oak and the extensive ageing. Vanilla and oak spices fill the nose alongside caramel and toffee notes. A slight milkiness brings things together along with a touch of nutmeg. If I was given this blind I am not entirely sure I would identify it as a cachaça. Maybe an aged Agricole but it does have a lot of similarities with molasses based rums. Which shows just how much influence long ageing in a tropical climate can have on a distillate.

    Such is the sweetness on the nose I was curious to see how it faired with a Hydrometer – it came up clean so no added sugar.

    Sipped you are instantly reminded this is a cachaça and not a molasses rum. The sweetness on the nose is replaced in part by a slightly vegetal note and some very mineral heavy notes. It is nowhere near as sweet as the nose suggested. Big wafts of ginger, nutmeg and a slight peppery heat but for an initial sip it’s very agreeable.

    Further sips reveal more of the complexity and the sweetness of this cachaça. Vanilla and some pineapple juice maybe a little banana. This is a very nicely balanced cachaça and the mid palate and finish flow nicely – really nice balance from the oak spices and the toffee and caramel. The finish is quite long and leaves a nice fade of rich spicy oak.Sapucaia Real 18 Years Cachaca review by the fat rum pirate

    One of the best things about this cachaça is the balance. It’s all just so well put together. As a spirit it could compete with anything. There are no off notes or anything that shouldn’t be there. It keeps it’s identity as a cachaça as well once you begin sipping.

    Further sips reveal more subtle flavours of almond and pecans – a slight nuttiness which mingles nicely with the ginger. It would be very interesting to put this in a flight of aged Agricole or molasses rums and see what people make of it.

    If they know anything about good spirits they will be mightily impressed – cracking stuff.

     

  • Plantation Single Cask Barbados 12 Years Wild Cherry Finish

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Plantation Rum Single Cask Barbados 12 Years - Wild Cherry FinishPlantation Single Cask Barbados 12 Years Wild Cherry Finish is a bottling relelased exclusively for Coq D’Argent. Coq D’Argent is a bar/restaurant in London near the Bank district of the city.

    I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a bottle of this from the Plantation stand that was part of the travelling UK Rum Festivals this year.  It was priced at £35.

    Coming in at 44.1% ABV this rum was aged for 8 years in ex-bourbon casks before being finished for 4 years in Ferrand Wild Cherry casks. I’m not entirely sure what these casks were used for prior to being used in this bottlings.

    My bottle is number 48 from cask 1.  Presentation of Plantation rums is always vibrant and modern.  The black and gold colour scheme of these single cask releases really make them stand out.  Nice sleek bar style bottle with a slightly bulbous neck and a good quality cork stopper.  With the mesh surrounding the bottle it is unmistakably Plantation.

    Now these rums seem to pop up quite a bit and I’ve seen a few of the releases.  They seem to be repeated amongst different bars etc.  You could worry about this but as the rums only cost around £35-40 I don’t think anyone can be expecting to be getting something mega rare.  It’s not badly priced for a 12 Year Old Rum.

    Plantation are one of the brands/companies who get the most flak for adding sugar to their rums.  They actually add an aged sugar syrup to their rums – which on its own makes a very nice liqueuer.  I don’t always think Plantations use of “dosage” works – the Plantation Jamaica I had was awful.

    But I have had some nicer bottlings from Plantation.  This Single Cask rum has also been dosed.  I’m unsure which Bajan distillery the base rum comes from.  It is unlikely with the Cherry finish on this one that I will be able to identify that even on tasting.

    In the glass the rum is a reddish/golden brown colour.  Classic aged spirit colour if you like.

    On the nose the Plantation Barbados Aged 12 Years offers little evidence of any additional finish or maturation.  It really is a classic Bajan rum nose.  Nicely balanced, oaky and slightly spicy.  It is a bit like a more muted Mount Gay XO.  The added sugar has probably dulled (or rounded) the more spicy notes a little I feel.

    Research would suggest that this rum will be from Foursquare despite it being more akin to the Mount Gay XO on the nose.  If anyone has any information which can confirm this isn’t Foursquare please let me know.

    When sipped the rum reveals more of the finish (more an additional maturation really at 4 years).   It’s not hugely sweet or really big on the cherry flavour but there is certainly a touch of sweet dark cherries.  Other than that the Plantation Barbados Wild Cherry finish really plays out like a very nice Bajan rum.  Despite the nose being a little on the light side the rum is spicy and quite robust.  There is a lot of influence left from the 8 years in ex-bourbon.  This gives the rum a wonderful spicy and slightly tangy note.  Nice oak, vanilla mixed alongside tart citrus fruits and a very moreish sweet/sour spicy note.

    The finish is quite nice as well – plenty of spicy oak and a nice sweetness which flows right through the rum.  It is unfortunately a little on the short side and fades quite quickly.

    As a result you may find you sip this quite quickly.  It’s very agreeable.  I quite enjoy the extra sweetness in this rum as it doesn’t go over the top and become cloying.  When Plantation do get the “dosage” right they can produce some very good rums.  They are even now producing rums without dosage.  I think that is a wise move to appeal to the more hardcore rum drinker.

    Plantation XO Aged 12 Years Wild Cherry rum review by the fat rum pirateIn terms of finished Bajan rums this offering from Plantation can certainly hold its own against the Port and ZInfandel Cask rums offered by Foursquare.  It may not be quite as good but its certainly a more than decent alternative.

    I was actually quite surprised to find this rum had double digits in terms of added sugar.  It really doesn’t taste like that.  You still get a lot of “rum” for your money with this one.

    This is a really good Bajan rum with enough of a twist to keep things interesting.  I really enjoyed this one  It’s the best Plantation offering I have had so far.

    If you come across a bottle I’d recommend picking it up.  It really is very good and don’t worry about the Cherry note – we aren’t talking Stiggins’ Fancy level of fruit flavour.  It really is very subtle and nicely done.

     

2 Comments

  1. hey! I’m a Brazilian cachaca lover and I’m quite interested in your reviews of cachacas, since you’re used to another style of sugar cane spirits I don’t know much, other rum styles. It’s very interesting to see how someone used to another style of spirit will review a cachaca, which is just another name for rum of course, but has quite distinct tradition. Tell me if you need help translating some Portuguese labels. I could do it for free, just for the sake of fun.

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