Tastes
-
Decided to try one of these Batavia Arracks that have been starting at me whenever I'm at a certain local bar. Batavia Arrack is a cane rum, but the fermentation in started using red rice (up to 2% of the final product from what I've read). They had two of them, one aged "up to 8 years", and one 8-12 months. After a small taste of each, I went with the younger. The nose is clean, with some faint herbs, brine, and tropical fruit. The palate starts out with an earthy funk, and some brine, grass, and fruit come into the play, with a long, dirty finish with some pepper, herbs, and olive brine There is some similarity to Clairin, but doesn't quite go down quite as easy, and it seems to lean a little more into sweetness, possibly due to the rice starter. Overall seems to be a worthwhile rum style.
-
The Cally 40 Year (2015 Special Release)
Single Grain — Edinburgh, Scotland
Reviewed October 27, 2023 (edited October 31, 2023)I've always heard 30 years is the age at which single grain tends to become worthwhile, and this is my first foray into that territory. The aroma is mild, pleasant, a little floral, with some fruit, custard, syrup, and just a hint of parsley in there. The palate is a little sweet, with some creme brulee, cinnamon, baked apple, and a little bit of dill, oak, and spice coming in on the finish. The breadiness that I've gotten in younger (as in ~25 years) grain whiskeys is absent, and this is an all-around enjoyable dram. Maybe I'll give more 30+ year single grains a try if I run across any. Thanks to @pkingmartin for the sample. -
Bowmore Vintner's Trilogy 26 Year French Oak Barrique
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 24, 2023 (edited October 26, 2023)Thanks to @pkingmartin I have an opportunity for a fun side-by-side: Bowmore 26 Vintner's Trilogy, and Single Malts of Scotland Bowmore 25 (not on the app yet, maybe I'll add it later). The SMoS simply says "hogshead" for cask type. These are just the 2nd and 3rd Bowmores I've had (the other being the OB 24 Port Matured). Started with the 25. Nose has a lot of custard, vanilla, a touch of honeysuckle, and a wisp of smoke. Pretty nice. On the palate there's dry peat, custard, oak. The finish is a little more floral and oaky. The peat smoke is still front and center despite 25 years in the barrel. Mouthfeel is moderately thick. It's a pretty bare-bones Bowmore that showcases the distillate, and while I was initially a little underwhelmed considering the $500 or so price tag, it's growing on me already. 86/100. On to the 26. The nose is rich, tannic, lots of dark fruit, prune, hint of smoke and dried leaves. On the palate there's some cocoa, prune, blackberry, lightly smoky, with tannins, oak, tea, spice, and a little more peat coming through on the finish. The wine barrel definitely overpowers the distillate, but not quite to the point where the distillate becomes interchangeable. 89/100 -
Holmes Cay Single Origin Réunion Island Grand Arôme Rum (No. 3)
Silver Rum — Réunion Island, France
Reviewed October 10, 2023 (edited October 11, 2023)Strong pungent green olive aromas dominate. Palate delivers on that; incredibly briny, a little vegetal, and earthy. On paper this should be similar to WP 502 (pot still, unaged, molasses), and compared to it, this tastes way funkier, greener, and in generally just much more dirty. Also compared it to Paranubes, which I thought might be similar based on my recollection, but it turns out that lacks the brine. Very unique rum, and probably my favorite Holmes Cay I've tried thus far. -
Transcontinental Rum Line Fiji 2014
Aged Rum — Fiji
Reviewed October 1, 2023 (edited October 2, 2023)From South Pacific Distilleries, aged 2 years tropically, 1 continental. Similar aromas to the Holmes Cay, but a little more muted. Gets more complex as it airs. Quite nice. The palate has banana peel, a little caramel, spice, not as herbal as the Holmes Cay. Thicker mouthfeel. It's quite hot, which detracts somewhat, and is the primary reason I preferred the Holmes Cay Single Origin over this. Both are solid products, and I won't hesitate to buy more offerings from this distillery if I run across any. -
Holmes Cay Single Origin Edition Fiji Rum
Gold Rum — Lautoka, Fiji, Fiji
Reviewed October 1, 2023 (edited October 2, 2023)Rum from South Pacific Distilleries, aged 2 years in bourbon barrels. Very estery, nose of ripe banana and rubber. Medium mouthfeel, no ethanol burn, banana peel, a touch of caramel, with a little bit of herbal/mint flavors coming through on the finish. On the surface it's a little reminiscint of an estery Jamaican rum, but with a slight herbal essence. Doing a little side-by-side with the Transcontinental Rum Line Fiji 2014 from the same distillery. I think the Holmes Cay wins. -
Derechito Extra Añejo
Tequila Extra Añejo — Mexico
Reviewed October 1, 2023 (edited October 2, 2023)Has a lot of nutmeg and other spices, and a little dark fruit. Medium mouthfeel. Very barrel-forward, not a lot of agave. I think I believe their additive-free claim. Reminded me a little of ArteNOM 1146 and Tears, but not sure I'd prefer it over either.35.0 USD per Pour -
Caol Ila 15 Year Unpeated Style (2014 Special Release)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed September 27, 2023 (edited September 28, 2023)Aroma has a lot of leather and minerals. Some caramel in there. Palate starts out sweet and very saline, with a transition to something like anchovy, lemon zest and pepper. Light bodied, not as hot as the abv would suggest. Pretty interesting pour, probably not for everybody - not sure I've had a scotch this salty. -
A unique experiment, with a blend of each major style of rum - English (Barbados), Spanish (Venezuela), and French (Martinique) (on a side note, this app doesn't seem to account for a multi-country blend). Initially, the Agricole is front and center, with some grassy notes and a very agricole-like nose. Even though initially it threatens to overwhelm the spirit and render the blend pointless, as it breathes, some more subtle banana and burnt sugar notes appear. It has a relatively light mouthfeel, but I think it works nicely for this blend. Overall, this is a pretty unique and enjoyable rum/rhum/ron.60.0 USD per Bottle
-
Aromas of honey and orange blossom, with little ethanol. Palate is a little hotter, citrusy, sweet, honey, black pepper, with the finish bringing out more pepper and ethanol. Has a few rough edges on account of its youth. Overall I think it's interesting enough that I wouldn't hesitate to try more M&H offerings when the opportunity arises.13.0 USD per Pour
Results 21-30 of 248 Reviews