Tastes
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The Duppy Share Spiced Rum
Aged Rum — Jamaica and Barbados, Jamaica
Reviewed November 20, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Orange! Grilled pineapple! Ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom. Subtle and breezy. Palate: Sweet arrival, demerara sugar, pineapple chunks, cinnamon, clove, cola, tropical fruit, milk coffee. The texture is not at all heavy, and very pleasant. Finish: Medium: Very gentle spices and tropical fruits. Duppy Share is an English rum brand which has recently appeared in the Australian market. It is widely available in supermarkets in the UK but don’t let that fool you – this is not a cheap bargain basement spirit. There are currently four expressions available in their range and all are sourced from Jamaican and/or Bajan distilleries, notably Worthy Park and Foursquare. This “Spiced Caribbean Spirit” is a very mildly spiced white "rum" (at 37% abv it can't be called rum) that is unlike almost every other spiced rum I’ve tasted, which is a good thing because most are disgusting concoctions that are unfit for human consumption. The exception is Plantation Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum so it probably comes as no surprise, given my tasting notes above, that this bears a similarity to that spirit. It's like "Stiggings' Lite". It has a satisfyingly dry profile with the emphasis on citrus and mild spice and it is not at all heavy handed or over-sweetened. In some ways the nose is almost like that of a gin. My only problem with this is what to do with it. Yes you could drink it neat, or in cocktails or long drinks, but as acceptable as it would be there is an endless list of other things I would prefer to drink in those contexts. Of the four available Duppy Share products, this is the only one I don’t think I’ll be buying. Not because it is bad, but because I just don’t need it. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)62.0 AUD per Bottle -
Nose: Oak cask, mild hogo, dried dates and figs, tobacco, leather, caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, dark cherries, dried cranberries and raisins. On the dry glass you notice the same mango and strawberry notes you get in the Duppy White rum. Palate: A fine, dry, fruity arrival that segues seamlessly into a sweeter and more fresh-fruit focused development. This is dangerously easy stuff to quaff! Some light baking spices, coconut, golden syrup, vanilla and sweet cinnamon. The texture is pleasantly mouth-coating but not at all heavy. Finish: Medium: Lightly spiced dark fruits that linger. Christmas pudding. Duppy Share is an English rum brand which has recently appeared in the Australian market. It is widely available in supermarkets in the UK but don’t let that fool you – this is not a cheap bargain basement spirit. There are currently four expressions available in their range and all are sourced from Jamaican and/or Bajan distilleries, notably Worthy Park and Foursquare. This “XO Caribbean Rum” is a blending of aged dark rums from Barbados, mainly from the Foursquare distillery (which produces Doorly's). The components are apparently 5, 8 and 12 years old and it has a very small amount of sugar dosage, but you can hardly notice it. Like the two Duppy Share rums I’ve reviewed previously this is absurdly easy to drink and enjoy neat. It also works over ice or in long drinks, but it’s a pity to use such a nice rum in any context where its personality is diluted. In many ways it reminds me of a slightly lighter version of the Doorly’s XO. Very good rum and well worth a try. It is more expensive than the other Duppy Share bottlings and is priced at a point where there is solid competition. Still, this stands up well in comparison and I'm giving it the same rating I gave their "Aged Caribbean" rum - both are equally good but have slightly different profiles. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)90.0 AUD per Bottle
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The Duppy Share Rum
Aged Rum — Multiple Countries
Reviewed November 20, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Pine needles, crushed sugar cane (a bit like fresh-cut grass), a sprinkle of white pepper and menthol, cinnamon, nutmeg, oak wood, leather, dried fruit. Over time as the alcohol dissipates you get a light aroma of tobacco. Palate: Semi-sweet arrival with herbal and fruit notes, light spices, plantain, apricot, and dried dates. A host of mild baking spice arrives in the development and the texture is creamy, buttery and very satisfying without being even slightly sugary. Formidable. Finish: Medium: Spiced fruit cake trailing into a dry aftertaste. Very Good. Duppy Share is an English rum brand which has recently appeared in the Australian market. It is widely available in supermarkets in the UK but don’t let that fool you – this is not a cheap bargain basement spirit. There are currently four expressions available in their range and all are sourced from Jamaican and/or Bajan distilleries, notably Worthy Park and Foursquare. This “Aged Caribbean Rum” was their initial product and it is a very pleasant lightly-aged gold rum. It has no added sugar and is a million miles away from the heavy, syrupy personality of Diplomatico or Zacapa. There is a bit of Worthy Park pot-still hogo in this, but it is light and breezy as well which is coming from column still Foursquare distillate. Like the Duppy White I just reviewed, this is eminently sippable neat or over ice, and it works very well indeed in cocktails and long drinks. Is it as good as well-regarded Foursquare rums like Doorly’s 12, or Worthy Park 100% pot-distilled expressions? No, but it’s not far short and I’m rating it as just one percentage point down from Doorly’s 12. Considering the very reasonable price that makes it a bargain, and a solid recommendation. This is definitely one we will be keeping on rotation. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)62.0 AUD per Bottle -
The Duppy Share White Caribbean Rum
Other Sugarcane — Jamaica
Reviewed November 19, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Strawberry, lemon, grapefruit, greengage, gooseberry, mango, papaya, cotton candy. A very sweet, fruity nose but it’s not cloying. With repeated nosing the sweet fruit aromas, particularly strawberry and mango, become very prominent. Palate: Sweet and grassy arrival, like white sugar and parsley. Further subtle herbal notes appear as it develops, along with tropical fruit, a little ginger in syrup and vanilla. The overall character is mild and relaxed, and the texture is full and a little oily. Finish: Medium. Sugar, faint fruit and a dash of tarragon. The aftertaste has a slight mineral quality. Duppy Share is an English rum brand which has recently appeared in the Australian market. It is widely available in supermarkets in the UK but don’t let that fool you – this is not a cheap bargain basement spirit. There are currently four expressions available in their range and all are sourced from Jamaican and/or Bajan distilleries, notably Worthy Park and Foursquare. This white rum is molasses based and comprises both pot and column still distillates. It is 100% Jamaican and reputedly a blend of Hampden, Clarendon and Worthy Park. This is a very good white rum. It is pleasant to sip neat or over ice and it is an excellent mixer. Mrs Cascode and I have been using Plantation 3 star as our white rum of choice for a while now, alternating with Sagatiba Cristalina for variety, but this has replaced both in our cabinet. Highly recommended. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)62.0 AUD per Bottle -
Linkwood 12 2008 - DS Tayman 2nd Edition
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed November 17, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Honey, vanilla, malted milk, strawberry liqueur. There is a touch of oak in the background and the more you allow it to open and pay attention to the nose the more you notice a very rich and satisfying malty aroma. Palate: Sweet arrival which is again all about red berries and fruit liqueurs. It is not syrupy, however, and retains a sprightly nature that is light and playful. In the development I get milk chocolate, ripe red apples, ripe bananas, vanilla cream, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums but all these notes suggest fresh, ripe fruit – not dried or stewed fruit. The texture is fairly neutral but good. Finish: Medium. Apple, red berries and a hint of white pepper. The nose on this is very fruity and sweet, as would be expected from the maturation in red wine casks. However the character is not like some red wine finished whiskies (*cough* Starward *cough*) that labor under the yoke of heavy, ponderous wine. This has a lifted, sweet character that is not subtle, but which combines excellently with the fruity, floral character of Linkwood distillate. In fact, this is a classic Linkwood profile but with the usual tropical fruit character transformed into fruit salad with lots of red berries. Adding a dash of water lifts the nose, pushes back the fruits and brings out delicate woody notes, and water also makes the palate almost dangerously gulpable. When I first opened this bottle a few weeks ago I was under-whelmed, but now it is down past the shoulder it is getting better almost daily. I’ve come to like this humble Linkwood a lot and the price is very fair in my opinion. It would also be a very good Speysider to share with a novice – they would be engaged rather than challenged while you would not be bored. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)130.0 AUD per Bottle -
Aguas Mansas Espadin Joven
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed November 15, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Herbal, grilled citrus, a little wood smoke. Palate: Sweet for a second on the arrival then gaining some acidity, but retaining balance. Smoked fragrant wood and bushes, herbal (mint, rosemary, oregano), leathery, a touch of lemon and capsicum, some mild baking seed spices. Good mouthfeel, but not heavy. Finish: Medium. The palate fades to a crisp herbal aftertaste that lingers. This is the last of four quick-hit reviews based on an impromptu tasting at a local liquor shop. I don’t know much about this other than it’s made from 100% espadin and is double distilled in copper pot stills. It is straightforward, certainly less complex than many other mezcals, but it is well balanced and reasonably priced. Be aware that Aguas Mansas produces several types of mezcal, including some made using single wild varieties of agave. Some of these bottlings are much more expensive (this is the least costly product in their range). However apart from the brand name appearing in a different colour, and the wording specifying the variety of plant, all their bottles look identical. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)95.0 AUD per Bottle -
Burrito Fiestero Masparillo
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed November 15, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Nose: Barbecued capsicum and pineapple, ginger, sweet cinnamon, hibiscus (!), rosehips (!), flinty minerals. Palate: Baked tropical fruits, mint, vanilla, red clay dust, smoked green vegetables. The mouthfeel is both oily and silken. Finish: Medium/long. Mineralic, briny and earthy trailing to unripe tropical fruits drizzled with sugar-water in the aftertaste. This is the third of four quick-hit reviews based on an impromptu tasting at a local liquor shop. A very tasty mescal. This is part of the Burrito Fiestero Ancestral range, which are wild-sourced single varietal maguey expressions. I’ve never tasted a Masparillo mezcal before but it is certainly both interesting and delicious. I believe they also re-plant in excess of their use, so this is (or at least in 12-14 years will be) sustainable. Please note that I made a mistake in the listing for this – it comes from Durango, not Oaxaca. “Very Good” : 86/100 (4 stars)190.0 AUD per Bottle -
Perro de San Juan "Jade"
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed November 14, 2023 (edited July 21, 2024)Nose: Green capsicum, artichoke, agave syrup, white pepper, minerals, dusty red earth, a little wood smoke. It’s a complex nose but it is also very laid-back. I was only able to taste it in a small paper cup and this one really needs a tulip-glass to show it’s prowess. Palate: Green melon, fresh oregano, fresh mint, lemon zest, boiled green vegetables, brine, and some smokiness. The texture is oily. Finish: Medium/short. Stewed pears or apples, earthy and seed spice flavours. This is the second of four quick-hit reviews based on an impromptu tasting at a local liquor shop. A nice enough mezcal but I was undecided whether to call it elegant or overly soft and lazy. It’s not an in-your-face expression and the tasting cups they used did it no favours at all. I was not greatly impressed but that might just have been due to the presentation. Given the price I did not feel like buying a bottle to find out, but I might be underestimating it. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)135.0 AUD per Bottle -
Nose: Oily, fruity, green vegetal aromas, new leather jacket. Palate: Sweet arrival, fruity, citric, mineralic and vegetal. Some mild earthy, spicy notes. Finish: Medium. Sweet and green-vegetal (asparagus, artichoke, Brussels sprouts). The nose is a little sweeter and crisper than any tequila I’ve tasted, but it is not as full-bodied as mezcal and if there was any smoke present I didn’t notice it. The palate is likewise well rounded but light and soft. Very pleasant overall. This is the first of four quick-hit reviews based on an impromptu tasting at a local liquor shop. Good stuff at a reasonable price. If you are into either tequila or mezcal give this a try. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)99.0 AUD per Bottle
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Brookie's Barrel Aged Mac.
Nut Liqueurs — Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
Reviewed November 14, 2023 (edited January 10, 2024)Appearance: Bright gold-amber. Transparent with no particulates. Aroma: Crème brûlée, cocoa, vanilla and a faint hint of smoke. Flavour & Texture: On the arrival it is sweet and creamy, like butterscotch sauce or caramel pudding. This initial sweetness fades in favour of a moderately dry palate featuring chocolate, nuts, vanilla and coffee, all wrapped in a dry oaky jacket that has just a suggestion of whiskey about it. The texture is exceptional, being full and creamy without any syrupy heaviness. A few years ago I reviewed “Brookies Mac.” here. It is a macadamia nut liqueur made by the Cape Byron distillery and it was, and still is IMHO, disgusting and not fit for consumption. I recently re-visited the distillery with two friends to take their whisky tour, now that they are producing whisky (and very good whisky it is). Following our tour we got talking to the guide/barkeep and she offered us the last three pours from their last bottle of this Barrel Aged version of the Mac. liqueur. I was on the point of refusing a pour but thought that would be churlish, so I accepted it, and I’m so glad I did. The barrel aged version is almost completely unlike the standard liqueur and is, in fact, one of the best liqueurs I’ve ever tasted. The only bad news is that only a single bourbon-cask of this was made, and it is now unobtainable. If it was available I’d buy several bottles in a flash. Please, please, please Cape Byron – make more of this! “Very Good” : 86/100 (4 stars)85.0 AUD per Bottle
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