Rums from the stash


September 10, 2017

Rums from the stash

Really anything, whacky brands, unlikely labels, doctored concoctions, or true stars, let’s see what we have. Randomly again.

Darsa 8 yo 2008/2017 (46%, Van Wees, Ultimatum, bourbon barrel, 350 bottles)

If you’re reading these humble pages often, you’ll remember that Darsa is the distillery where they make that syrup called Zacapa (and Botran). And that some un-doctored Zacapa that we could try had been pretty good. Colour: gold. Nose: yeah, it’s cool, very light, pretty cake-y and banana-y, and kind of Cuban. There isn’t much happening, to tell you the truth, except for more and more coconut coming though. Nosing a large pack of coconut balls. Mouth: really very fair, sweet, easy, full of coconut, pineapples and oranges. No, really, it’s good. Very simple, but good. Did I tell you I thought it was good? Finish: short, with not a lot going on. No worries. Comments: it’s a style, and it’s clean, and it’s pretty good. If you like coconut… SGP:730 - 82 points.

Rhum Transat 15 yo 2000 (45.8%, Charbonnaud, Martinique, +/-2016)

What’s a little scary is that this rhum was matured (right, probably finished) in Burgundy, in grand cru casks. What’s better is that those were white grands crus (Montrachet, Corton and compadres) and not red. The distillery of origin is not disclosed, but that’s well Martinique. Colour: gold. Nose: like this very herbal arrival. Aniseed, dill, celery, vetiver… Some polished wood too (cabinetwork) and a few nuts, pecans… It’s rather light, pretty elegant, and just likeable. Mouth: good, and very ‘French’ indeed. Oak essences, really a lot of liquorice and Christmas gingerbread, caraway, espresso, macadamias, Linzertorte, pumpernickel… Finish: medium, a tad oaky, but I enjoy this honey and these notes of toasted gingerbread. Comments: the story is a bit fishy, but the rhum is very très très bon. SGP:651 - 85 points.

Emperor ‘Sherry Finish’ (40%, OB, Mauritius, +/-2017)

God, you gotta hate these labels and packagings. Fake stories, fake heritage, unlikely characters straight from Wikipedia… This just reeks of swindle and laziness. Presidentes, Dons, Emperors, Dictators… And what else? Now, you never know… Colour: gold. Nose: syrups, marshmallows and bubblegum. We had some in France called ‘Malabar’. This is liquid Malabar. Where’s that lab? Mouth: strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets, strawberry sweets… And cherry sweets. Someone may have mistaken sherry for cherry in the lab. Finish: none. Comments: it’s not ugly, but it’s one of those fake (A.K.A. imitation) rums that are so successful these days, and it seems that there are more and more copycats around. Yeah, Don Papa, no hope for mankind. May I suggest ‘Commandante’ next time? That should sell! SGP:810 - 50 points.

Beenleigh 5 yo (40%, OB, Australia, +/-2017)

This one’s aged in ex-brandy casks and bourbon barrels. Just hope this baby from Queensland has got nothing to do with Bundaberg. Colour: deep gold. Nose: fine. There’s a lot of vanilla at first, some stewed fruits (or orange sauce), whiffs of cooked beetroots, some gingerbread, and overripe mangos. It goes a bit in all directions, but so far, so fine. Rather. Mouth: really sweet(ened). Too syrupy for me, too doctored… Didn’t they add 500g honey to each bottle? Very liqueury, but on the other had, it doesn’t feel too ‘lab’. Finish: short, very sweet, honeyed. Comments: we’ll use this sentence we’ve already used many times in the past, ‘we’ve seen worse’. SGP:720 - 60 points.

We’re a bit stuck, I’m afraid… Let’s try to find a key…

St. Lucia Distillers '1931 Fourth Edition' (43%, OB, St. Lucia, 83rd Anniversary, 2015)

They keep celebrating that vintage. It’s always nice to have an old ‘vintage’ on a label, isn’t it? Now I had thought the first editions were really nice (around WF 80). Colour: deep gold. Nose: half-rotten fruits, dried longans, strawberry yoghurt (what’s that molecule again?), bananas, molasses, and our friend the panettone. Warm panettone. Mouth: good, dry, tarry, and rather deep. I don’t think I’ve ever found this much liquorice in any spirit, having said that. So yeah, liquorice, plus a little honeydew and banana cream, then hazelnut cake. Good for sure. Finish: medium, tarrier, with a very nice gasoline-y signature. Comments: aren’t they improving the recipe? Feels a bit young and simple – it’s not a 1931 mind you – but I could easily quaff this. SGP:642 - 82 points.

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