Whisper Antigua Gold Rum – Review

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Sep 062016
 
Whisper Antigua Gold Rum - Review

A very light and pleasant mixing rum from two French students who decided they wanted to make rums themselves instead of letting English Harbour get all the glory (#300) *** There is probably a lesson in the differences between the new 28 year old Arôme and the Whisper Antigua rum – one was “created” (I use the word loosely) by a member of the 1%, for the 1%, with very little information provided for rabble rousers like us and nothing but disdain for the 99%.  The other is a youngish two-or-so year old rum made by a couple of brash [Click here for the full review…]


La Confrérie du Rhum Millésime 2007 Martinique (HSE) – Review

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Aug 302016
 
La Confrérie du Rhum Millésime 2007 Martinique (HSE) - Review

A lovely, supple rhum from the French island. (#299 / 87/100) *** La Confrérie du Rhum’s Martinique Extra Vieux (as labelled), a 2007 millésime rhum bottled at a forceful 52.2% had darker notes reminding me of the Damoiseau 1989, until it went off on its own path and in its own way, which makes perfect sense since it’s actually from Habitation St Etienne. And while I have not had enough of those to make any kind of statement, after trying this one I bought a few more just to see whether the quality kept pace…because La Confrérie’s rhum was quite [Click here for the full review…]


The Real McCoy 5 Year Old Rum – Review

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Aug 282016
 
The Real McCoy 5 Year Old Rum - Review

Understated five year old mixing material (#298 / 77/100) *** Last time around I looked with admiration at the St. Nicholas Abbey 5 Year old, suggesting that in its unadorned simplicity and firmness lay its strength…it didn’t try to do too much all at the same time and was perfectly content to stay simple. It focused  on its core competencies, in management-speak.  Yet that same day, just minutes apart, I also tried the Real McCoy, another Bajan five year old, and liked it less. Since both rums are from Barbados, both are unadulterated, and both five years old, it must [Click here for the full review…]


St. Nicholas Abbey 5 Year Old Single Cask Rum – Review

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Aug 242016
 
St. Nicholas Abbey 5 Year Old Single Cask Rum - Review

Might be heresy to say so, but I thought it better than the same company’s eight year old. (#297 / 82/100) *** One of the reasons why the St. Nicholas Abbey Five year old gets the full etched-bottle treatment of the 8, 10, 12, 15 and 18 year olds (which are all remarkably good for 40% rums and earned good reviews from across the spectrum, including mine), is because the company is justifiably proud of this being the first rums they made from entirely their own matured stocks.  Previously they were ageing FourSquare rums to make the originals noted above [Click here for the full review…]


Boote Star Demerara Proprietor Reserve 20 Year Old Rum – Review

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Aug 232016
 
Boote Star Demerara Proprietor Reserve 20 Year Old Rum - Review

The finishing regime of this rum may not work for all comers, but does at least create a decent aged product from a well-known still. (#296 / 84/100) *** This is quite an international rum – made in Guyana, shipped to the UK by an Italian importer and bottled by a Dutch company. Boote Star is a Dutch bottler (actually called the Associated Distillers Group), about which there is maddeningly little hard information, aside from the fact that (a) they also have a ten year old, and (b) they appear to have sourced the rum from an Italian distributor and distiller [Click here for the full review…]


Rhum Rhum Libération Vieux Agricole 2012 – Review

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Aug 172016
 
Rhum Rhum Libération Vieux Agricole 2012 - Review

Maybe not quite a second banana to the Integrale from the same year, but not the whole one either. (#295 / 86/100) *** In theory, the only real difference between the Libération Integrale and the one I’m looking at here is the strength (and, if you’re picky about such things, the title).  The Integrale was a quiet stunner of a rhum, one of the best agricoles for its price and age, yet it seems odd to say that its lower strength sibling falls so much shorter of the mark.  Can that really be just about proof?  I tasted them side [Click here for the full review…]


Rhum J.M. 1845 Cuvée du Fondateur – Review

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Aug 132016
 
Rhum J.M. 1845 Cuvée du Fondateur - Review

After a tough day at work, the Cuvée 1845 is a balm to the exhausted mind. (#294 / 88/100) *** Even at 42% ABV, The Rhum J.M. Cuvée makes a statement for agricoles that is worth listening to.  It finds a balance between body, mouthfeel, taste, spiciness and warmth in a way that reminds us that agricoles should not be taken as merely a small subset of the greater rumworld, but should hold a place in the pantheon second to none. While these days my preferences run mostly towards stronger, full proof rums, I must say that there’s nothing about [Click here for the full review…]


Rhum Saint James (Martiniqe 1970s/1980s)

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Aug 072016
 
Rhum Saint James (Martiniqe 1970s/1980s)

Rumanicas Review 024 Like with many old rhums one is sent or which one finds in shadowed corners of sleepy back-alley shops, it’s almost impossible to track down the provenance of rhums like this one.  I mean, do a search on “Rhum St James 47%” and see how far that gets you.  As far I know this is not a millesime (it’s not the superb 1979, or the 1976 for example), not a massively aged old rhum (in fact, its profile suggests the opposite), and was noted simply as being from the 1970s or 1980s.  Not much to be going [Click here for the full review…]


Companie des Indes Caraïbes – Review

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Aug 032016
 
Companie des Indes Caraïbes - Review

Lack of oomph and added sugar make it a good rum for the unadventurous general market. (#293 / 82/100) *** Your appreciation and philosophy of rum can be gauged by your reaction to Compagnie des Indes Caraïbes edition, which was one of the first rums Florent Beuchet made.  It’s still in production, garnering reviews that are across the spectrum – some like it, some don’t. Most agree it’s okay.  I think it’s one of the few missteps CDI ever made, and shows a maker still experimenting, still finding his feet.  Brutally speaking, it’s a fail compared to the glittering panoply [Click here for the full review…]


Nine Leaves “Clear” Rum 2015 – Review

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Aug 032016
 
Nine Leaves "Clear" Rum 2015 - Review

A quite serviceable, unmessed-with white rum from Japan, steering a delicate middle course between sleaze and decorum with less than complete success. (#292 / 84/100) *** Nine Leaves, that always-interesting one man operation out of Japan, doesn’t find much favour with Serge Valentin, who has consistently scored their rums low, but I’ve always kinda liked them myself.  The 2015 edition of the “Clear” is a case in point, and showcases the move of some rum makers into white, unaged, unfiltered, full-proof, pot still products.  The aren’t for everyone, of course, and may never find broad acceptance, since they always feel [Click here for the full review…]


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