Worthy Park Single Barrel Series Aged 6 Years TWE Exclusive.

Today we are looking at a Jamaican rum from Worthy Park Distillery. A producer which I am rather fond of and have covered pretty extensively, over the years.

I initially  began reviewing Worthy Park when they re-started distribution to the UK back in the late 2010’s. It is nice to see how the brand has grown and evolved since then.

I am looking at a rum from their Single Barrel Series for this review. As noted in the title this is a rum which  has been bottled for and released exclusively by The Whisky
Exchange. Despite the name of this online store it does stock a wide range of non-Whisky items. It has possibly the largest and most varied rum inventory in the UK. They stock everything from the cheapest entry level white rum at £16.50, to bottles of £7,500 25 Year Old Wray and Nephew.

Worthy Park Single Barrel Series Aged 6 Years TWE Exclusive is 100% Pot-Still Distilled Jamaica Rum which has been distilled and aged on the island. (It was likely was bottled there as well but I don’t have definitive proof of that).The rum has been aged for 6 years in ex-Bourbon barrels between 2017 and 2023. So it is a 2017
vintage should you be in the habit, perhaps of comparing different vintages in your rum locker.

Worthy Park Single Barrel Series Aged 6 Years TWE Exclusive has been bottled at Cask Strength of 54% ABV. As with all Worthy Park Single Barrel releases there are no additives or colourings involved. It comes in the usual ¾ stubby/contoured bottle that Worthy Park use for all their more “Premium” releases outside of their core range. It has a nice weighty glass balance which also enhances the aesthetic nature of the bottle.

I’m not sure what the correct term for this? I notice most bottles with thicker glass bottom also seem to have what is termed as a “punt”. Which I understand is an indent made by the glassblower to indicate that the contents of said bottle are of a more “Premium” quality.The bottle is topped of by the “oversized” chunky wooden topped cork stopper that, again Worthy Park use for these types of bottling. A 70cl bottle of this rum retails at £89.95 and is available via this link.

In the glass Worthy Park Single Barrel is a slightly light golden brown colour. Nothing out of the ordinary…….

On the nose I am getting some classic Worthy Park and “rum” notes. The milky tea notes come out initially a classic signature for me from Worthy Park. These work nicely alongside the more traditional Jamaican “funky” notes – stewed Apples and Pineapple alongside a little nail varnish. This is all wrapped up nicely by a good hit of vanilla and sweet caramel from the bourbon casks.

Beneath this I think Worthy Park rum often has a more herbal calming note to it, more so than other Jamaican distilleries. These notes I feel are reminiscent of St Lucian rum in particular the 1931 series of rums. So I am getting some slightly floral/herbal pot pourri like notes in the background.

Nose wise this is very nicely balanced and it has a nice rich, warming welcoming entry……..

Sipped at Cask Strength this is very approachable – yet quite powerful at the same time. There is no lacking flavour and intensity but it never gets too intense. It has a really nice balance between the punchy pot still distillate and the mellowness of the bourbon cask.

It has a very nice sweet caramel like entry on the palate. This flows nicely into the lighter vanilla and oak notes from the bourbon barrel. It’s very drinkable and I am really enjoy this rum. As the rum evolves you notice more of the “tea” like influence and there is a very light herbal note. I would say it is less pronounced however than in other Worthy Park rums.

This isn’t an over complicated rum. The Cask Strength ABV lets it show case its simplicity. It doesn’t need to do anything complicated to make it great. It doesn’t have layers of different flavours or a huge myriad of different elements to it.

In this case is not a bad thing. It is very much like a more straight forward Foursquare rum or in the Scotch Whisky world, a crowd pleasing Speyside Whisky.

The finish on this is long and warming with lots of vanilla and milky tea with a hint of chocolate. It’s fades out nicely and you are often a bit too ready for another pour……

Easy going and easy drinking but not without sufficient depth to impact on the flavourful nature of the rum.

It is very good at what it wants to be!