Habitation Velier Forsyths WP single Jamaican rum 2005

Lots going on here in a way I enjoy. Pretty heavy barrel with a good level of vanilla, caramelized banana, baking spice. Profile is a bit like a rum version of a single malt scotch. The nose is potent enough to smell from several feet away. It's a little hot but not as bad as most barrel proof bourbons

This is my favorite sipping rum so it gets all my stars (over multiple Foursquare releases I also own). Thick, viscous with classic banana flavors, less funky than WP high ester juice but still enough to be interesting. Currently has permanent spot on my shelf until something knocks it off

Strong firework scent on the nose and it doesn't smell very sweet. The palate has clearly lots of alcohol. There's tons of fireworks but also some sweetness. The heat burns a bit. There's some alcohol strength mixed with rye and a medicinal flavor that is a little like cola that is a bit off-putting. It lacks the quality execution of Zacapa 23 and Plantation Trinidad. I wish it were less bitter, but the richness is quite nice. It's funky and a bit. With some water, the bitterness is still very present. There's great depth of flavor, but the bitter punch is a bit much. Still, it's good. It's super smoky with some sweet caramel and fruit, kind of like an Islay Scotch.

$24 for 1.5 ounces at Tail Up Goat This particular bottle may be difficult to obtain now, but craft presentation rums, in general, have impressed me. There is not a big collectors market, so these bottlings are for the connoisseurs, and you can be confident when you buy a cask strength rum with a good disclosure of information on the bottle, that the flavors inside will be bold, and the experience will be memorable. This is an oaky experience. The tree bark juice reminds me of Orphan Barrel Rhetoric. But the sugarcane-based distillate and the higher ABV complements the huge oakiness much better than in an “over-oaked” bourbon. Everything about this rum fits with its dark appearance. It is aggressive and smooth, like a Cajun suitor, with heavy, intoxicating toffee, tree sap, molasses, black pepper, paprika, and apple cider. This finishes with a drying oak, a sizzle of hot pepper, and a funky musky sweat. My caution is that this has a heart of deep molasses fighting with intense woodiness. It may be an overbearing experience, with the main flavor profile being a tug of war between sweet and bitter. The “WP” indicates this rum is from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica. There are younger aged rums from WP that are perhaps friendlier, and better for most occasions. This bottle says this rum was aged 10 years in the tropics with greater than 64% angel’s share. Compared to cask strength whiskies aged for long periods in the tropics selling for many hundreds of dollars from producers such as Amrut and Kavalan, this beast shows how rum is still very reasonably priced. Score: ** (unimaginably good) How much does a bottle cost: $75-120. Very hard to find. How much do I think a bottle is worth: $150