
March 19, 2017

Keep on rumming with Demerara

Yeah, not particularly proud of that one either. Anyway, let’s fly to Guyana today…

Wood’s ‘100 Old Navy Rum’ (57%, OB, Demerara, +/-2015)

Some Guyanese blend that’s not often to be seen on this side of the Pond. Please note that it was bottled at ‘export strength’. Let’s only hope it’s not as sweetish as many an El Dorado. Colour: red coffee. Nose: heavy molasses and an even heavier chocolate, plus prunes and then more and more coffee. With water: some soy sauce and cigars, walnut stain, cloves, liquorice… Rather monolithic. Mouth (neat): a little hard, very molassy and caramelly, and really biting and raw. Perhaps not some sipping rum? I’m feeling the need to pour it onto some vanilla ice cream, to tell you the truth. With water: not bad, but feels a bit like some good cooking rum. Probably very young and ‘doped up’, but I do not find any excessive sweetness. It’s just very simple. Finish: long, with some oak and some bitter caramel. Comments: honest and pretty cheap. SGP:462 - 74 points.

Diamond 12 yo 2003/2016 (45%, Compagnie des Indes, Guyana, cask #MSG17, 278 bottles)

As you may know, Diamond is the only surviving Demerara distillery, sheltering several old stills from other plantations that have been closed down. Colour: full gold. Nose: full Demerara goodness, as expected, with this very peculiar mix of crushed bananas and engine oil. A little vanilla fudge as well, but the tarry/phenolic side keeps singing rather loud. Very cane-y, in fact. Mouth: same comments, we’re midway between the heavy phenol monsters and the rounder, lighter styles (some Enmores, for example). Same crushed bananas, some tinned pineapples, freshly squeezed cane, a touch of candy sugar, oranges, and a discreet tarry/liquoricy smokiness. Finish: medium, fruity, with excellent structure. Comments: certainly not one of the ‘Jamaicans from Guyana’, and rather a style that hints at… Marie-Galante, perhaps? Excellent nonetheless. SGP:641 - 86 points.

Uitvlugt 1999/2016 (46%, La Maison du Whisky, Transcontinental Rum Line, Guyana, 527 bottles)

I’m just reading on LMDW’s website something I had forgotten about, that is to say that Uitvlugt had harboured the old stills from Albion, Blairmont, Port Mourant and Skeldon before it stopped working in the year 2000. So, this is still from the old distillery. Colour: pale gold. Nose: yeah! Perfect cane-y, brine-y, petroly, tarry, and quite-smoky nose. There’s some mezcal, some diesel oil, new tyres, liquorice, and citrons. Balance is perfect. There. Oh and there is some Lagavulin! Mouth: super mega good, I’m just sure I’d have preferred it at 50% vol. That’s right, never satisfied. Some mint and a little camphor, on tinned apricots and some passion fruits, while it’s perhaps a little less tarry and olive-y than others. Perhaps rather tequila than mezcal, if you see what I mean. Finish: medium and rather more mineral. Chalk and liquorice plus ripe peaches and plums. More liquorice in the aftertaste. Comments: a slightly rounder Uitvlugt (than usual). Very very good. SGP:562 - 87 points.

So, a more powerful Uitvlugt from the same vintage, please…

Uitvlugt 17 yo 1999/2017 (60.8%, The Whisky Barrel, Rabbie’s Rum, Guyana, cask #MPM-18)

Ha-ha, Mr. Burns has now got sunglasses. Ever heard of his Address to a Pepper Pot? Colour: pale gold. Nose: yes, there, this rocks you. Burnt tyres and engine oil, plus overripe bananas and melting rubber. Sounds weird but it’s not. With water: chalk and even wool, we’re almost on Islay. Linoleum, a drop of paint thinner, fresh concrete… Mouth (neat): rich and powerful, rather citrusy this time. Icing sugar and grapefruit juice, plus the usual tarry side, and even a pinch of salt, margarita-style. With water: we’re rather sailing towards the Isle of Skye this time. Lemon, pepper and salt, but let’s not forget the tar. Finish: rather long with, just like in the LMdW, notes of passion fruits. Comments: in fact, this baby’s a little simpler than LMDW’s, but it’s also more satisfying because of the good strength. Bah, same score then… SGP:562 - 87 points.

Pusser’s ‘British Navy Blue Label’ (54.5%, OB, blended rum, +/-2013)

There should be some Demerara in there, and rumour has it that it’s a blend of Trinidad and Guyana. Please note that this is the older version at 54.5%, they have now switched to a greedier 40% vol. version under the same name. Colour: full gold. Nose: well above the Wood’s, with rather more herbal notes, and less straight molasses and caramel. A little plastic, then parsley and there, olives. And something ‘Islay’ again, perhaps Lagavulin 16 indeed. I’m not joking. With water: a lot of plasticine and shoe polish coming through. Mouth (neat): very good, earthy, rich, perhaps a tad sugary at times, and extremely caramelised. That’s more difficult, I have to say. With water: bad luck, some sugar is to be felt. Otherwise, it’s fine, for sure. Finish: medium, very molassy, with now some coffee. Comments: a rollercoaster. This is not expensive rum, so I wouldn’t say there’s anything to complain about. SGP:641 - 78 points.

Check the index of all rums I've tasted so far