ContemplativeFox
Frigate Reserve 15
Aged Rum — Panama
Reviewed
January 7, 2022 (edited January 8, 2022)
Rating: 15/23
I don't know about this one. I read some review of it that tended in the direction of "tasty, but nothing amazing". Still, it's pretty rare and it seemed interesting to try, so I bought a bottle.
N: Instead of focusing on molasses or fireworks or anything like that, this focuses on a more balanced rum profile. The alcohol is there, but there's a lot more going on with vegetal and earthy scents. I get a bit of sulphur, but hopefully it isn't too much. There is some dry woodiness with varnish that blends into a bit of licorice , which gives me a little vanilla. Occasional notes of molasses.
This seems balanced and interesting, though the nose doesn't immediately grab me as something that I'm going to love.
P: Wood, surprisingly, hits first. It has varnish and spices, as well as light caramel with a little bit of molasses. There's a swirling mix of vegetal, spiced, and herbal flavors. I get a vegetal dome with white pepper, cinnamon, and ginger. Then hints of anise come in. The balance might be a bit wonky her, but it's pretty nice overall.
F: Light caramel, wood, fain molasses, light spices, clear carrots. Odd, but fine.
- Conclusion -
Side by side with Panama Pacific 15 (15/23), I like the slightly bolder and more bitter flavor here. It covers up the alcohol a little more and is just a little more complex too.
I tried this side by side with several other spirits and was on the verge of giving this a (low) 16 until I tried it side by side with I.W. Harper 15 (16/23), which was suddenly much more complex than I'd remembered. In that moment, I realized that the sugar here was covering up the flaws that most other spirits in this range have and I was essentially penalizing them for not dousing themselves in sugar. Actually, I discovered fruit flavors in the I.E. Harper that I'd never noticed before. And then trying this side by side with Uncle Nearest 1856 (allegedly a 15/23, but I think a 16-17 seems more fair), I got so much more fruit from the Uncle Nearest than I'd ever imagined I would. Practically cherries jubilee.
OK, after all of these comparisons, I'm convinced that this is a high 15 or low 16, but, sadly, I'm landing on the 15.
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@jonwilkinson7309 Thanks :) I'm glad you found thous more abstract comparisons helpful
Great review, and I love the whiskey comparisons (or calibrations) what the the rums. I haven't thought to do that, but it provides a nice baseline!