Dave's Free Press: Reviews
http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/reviews
being why I think things suck and/or rocken-usZ Rum tasting notes
http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/reviews/id/rum-tasting
Almost two years ago I went to a <a href=/david/journal/id/rum-and-chocolate-tasting>rum and chocolate tasting</a> at Vinopolis. Yesterday was another rum tasting, this time to mark the approximate anniversary of <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tot_Day>Black Tot Day</a> and also to give people a chance to try The Whisky Exchange's <a href=http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/selection/black_tot_naval_rum.aspx>Black Tot</a> brand rum. Black Tot normally sells for £600+ a bottle, so obviously it isn't one that you can just try in the shop before deciding if you want to buy.<p>We had six drams (is that the right word to use for a wee glass of rum? if you think you know better, let me know!), four of which showcased the rum of particular Carribean regions, the fifth being a modern re-creation of "Navy Rum", and the last being Black Tot.<p>So, on to the boozes ...<p><ol> <li> - Rubbish: 1/5 Mount Gay Extra Old, 40%, Barbados: on the nose, there was a hint of vanilla, lots of salt, and some burnt toast. The flavour was strongly salty with a little caramel. Not very good at all. <li> - Good: 3/5 XM Royal 10yo, 40%, Guyana, sherry finish: this is one of the rums we tried last time, and my tasting notes are somewhat different this time! This is to be expected I think though, especially considering that I wasn't also having chocolate this time. The nose had lots of golden syrup, and a dash of something flowery - roses perhaps. The taste was creamy cocoa, and very sweet, with a strong finish. If left to stand for a bit, it gets sweeter and even smoother, with some butter. <li> - Meh: 2/5 TWE's own cask, no details known, 60%, Trinidad: the nose was somewhat apricotty, but overwhelmingly fiery, because of the strength. The taste was hard to nail down without water, and all I got was umami. With water, the nose didn't really change and the flavour got some extra burnt bits. Not particularly nice. <li> - Excellent: 5/5 Smith & Cross, 57%, Jamaica: this is a blend made in London from two unknown but probably quite young rums. The nose was like very young whisky or maybe tequila - grassy. The taste had some flowers, raisins and bananas. With water it was less grassy on the nose, and became sweeter with the raisins and bananas coming out even more. I liked this a lot. I'd have given it 4 stars, but at only £30 a bottle it's a bargain so gets 5.</ol><p><p>And now on to the two Navy Rums:<p><ol start=5> <li> - Very good: 4/5 Pusser's Navy Rum, 54.5%: this was grassy too on the nose (lots of Jamaican spirit in there?) but a bit "thin" and stony. The taste is quite sweet with some unrecognisable fruit and firey spice. While it is strong, it doesn't really <em>need</em> water, but in the interests of SCIENCE I added some just to see what would happen. The nose gained some toast and ginger, and the fruity flavours resolved to a mixture of summer fruits - raspberry, currants etc. This is a very nice rum and I recommend it. I didn't buy any though, because it's a mass-market brand that you can get anywhere. <li> - Very good: 4/5 Black Tot, 54.5% nominal: having been stored for 40 years, this is actually a couple of tenths of a percentage point weaker than its declared strength, and was the star of the show. The nose is treacle, raisins, cocoa, with a touch of leather and coffee. The flavour treacle and raisins, creamy, with some gentle spiciness, and lovely long finish. I didn't add water, it was quite lovely without. Why only 4 stars? £600 a bottle. It's a <em>really</em> good rum, the best of the lot, but it's not £600 good.</ol> 2011-08-03T22:06:40Z