Rum Swedes

We have already talked about it but for the record: it is an independent Swedish bottler of whisky, rum and tequila that started its adventure in 2011; to his credit, more than 40 single casks, including some rums with a strong character, bottled under the name Rum Swedes. In addition to the famous Jamaica 2000, it is now an opportunity to make up for lost time with a few other bottlings, including the latest one, Wei Ron, a blend of Caribbean rums.

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Barbados 2000

Distilled in 2000 at the WIRD (West Indies Rum Distillery), and bottled in 2013 in cask strength (58.8). From a single cask that will yield 215 bottles.

This rum is straw in colour, and has a light and oily colour, with many legs, thick and nonchalant.

On the nose, a lot of fruit that is still green (banana), lemon, almond, vanilla and that characteristic note of plastic (mastic) and smoke. There are also figs and apricots, for a light rum with a concentrated nose, with fresh mint in the base.

The palate is oily, on petrol with a slightly smoky and aniseed rum; The fruit is still there, faded and sweet, and the rum is now chocolatey, almost milky. The finish is long, on tropical fruits, slightly smoky and vanilla.

A rather complex and sweet rum, with the characteristics of Barbados, tasty and very pleasant. Score: 84

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Guyana 2002

Bottled in 2013 at 61° (single cask of 245 bottles). According to the bottler, the rum was distilled via the double PM wooden still at the Diamond distillery, but the tasting will reveal a doubt.

A very light straw colour, which contrasts with the rums usually made from the PM still. A crystalline corona forms on the glass, followed by an impressive amount of droplets, colliding with each other before falling very slowly to the bottom.

A creamy and concentrated nose (61° all the same) on ripe white fruits (apple, pear, banana), delicately vanilla and cocoa. Cinnamon for spices, and a powerful nose with which you will have to take time. At rest, the rum becomes more vegetal, greener, and releases a woodiness reminiscent of fresh sawdust, or the shavings of a freshly sharpened pencil. No resemblance to a rum from Port Mourant, but clearly more Enmore, it's quite obvious.

The palate is hyper-concentrated, on a blend combining vegetal, woody and past exotic fruits (and nuts). The rum becomes powerful and peppery, then iodized, for an extra long finish, which marks the return of a slight bitterness (citrus, lemon peel) and spices (cloves). The iodized side magnifies the aromas and dries the palate slightly. The empty glass is impressive: it starts by giving off a smell of milk chocolate before turning into soft caramel with salted butter.

an explosive and very rich rum, which is definitely more reminiscent of rums from the Enmore still than from PM. Score: 85

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Guyana 2003

This Guyana, the bottler's second, was bottled in 2013 at 60.9° (for 230 bottles).

Mahogany colour, bronze reflections for a rum that is imposing, fat and concentrated.

the Nose is 60.9° and yet... it goes incredibly well; on burnt sugar, liquorice, rubber, vanilla, for a very warm nose. As much as the 2002 is on a vegetal register, this one is on the fruity full of sugar, candied (apricot compote, yellow peach), with sweet spices (cinnamon). The rum is more greedy and round, but so concentrated; A bad boy with the air of a midinette, almost floral (crystallized purple).

On the palate it is an explosion of flavors, magnificent: a concentrate of molasses and liquorice, with citrus fruits (orange); We are still on a sweet and seductive palate, but so intrusive and so rich. Leather, tobacco, it's black but fresh (minty), tangy and fruity. The finish is just as warm and persistent, with brown sugar, vanilla and liquorice, burnt and sweet rubber, and with a touch of freshness (eucalyptus).

A rum once again at its peak: the cask strength makes the experience unique and brings out the aromas in an explosion of flavors, and in a mouth that is closer to syrup. There is something treacherous about this rum (did you say Albion?): it is heavy and black but wonderfully fresh, sweet and tangy, a 360° in the mouth. Score: 88

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WeiRon

The latest project of the Swedish bottler, let's even say their last adventure because it took them 2 years to release this blend. From the selection of rums to their storage, from blending to the bottle and boxes, they did everything from A to Z; With one main idea to offer a natural, powerful rum without any artifice (no coloring and even less sugar).

It is a blend of light and heavy rums, some of which come from Jamaica and Barbados. Available in 70cl bottles at 50°.

The colour is amber and very shiny, tending to straw, with greenish reflections. Thick, fat legs line the glass.

The nose is very aromatic, fruity and greedy. Beyond the ripe exotic fruits (pineapple, mango), the smell of marzipan wafts through the glass and caresses your nostrils. Vanilla, milk chocolate, for a resolutely pastry nose. Rest brings its share of spices (cinnamon, ginger, 4 spices) and slightly caramelized white-fleshed fruits (pear, peach). A nose that smells of Barbados, magnified by the 50°, which brings a real aromatic richness, where many would have already lost interest.

The attack is sweet and slightly oily, on sugar-laden and chocolatey fruit; vanilla and dry woodiness followed by spices that soon turn peppery. Thefinish is very long, and persistent, on fruit, woodiness and spices, nuts. The empty glass brings the nose back to life for a long moment of contemplation.

A blend with a sublime and greedy nose from Barbados; The palate has its little effect, but it will not reach the same level, and we necessarily expect more, but it ensures with a beautiful persistence. Rating: 83

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

From the folks behind DuRhum, Velier, and more, comes a premium online marketplace for rum enthusiasts by rum enthusiasts! Do check out www.rowspirits.fr for more great content and iconic rums!