Swedes is a Swedish bottler that currently offers 5 rums (as well as 20 whiskies and 1 tequila), only distributed - for the moment - in Sweden and Norway. A rigorous selection at the end of which Peter and Tommy, the owners, buy barrels and bottle them. Their trademark? powerful and irreproachable rums in terms of aroma. Let's stop for a moment on their Jamaica 2000 to see if their promises are kept...

Price  : 105€, 70cl and 58.4° (cask strength). Currently only sold in Sweden and Norway.

Age  : Rum is 12 years old. Distilled in September 2000, it is aged in bourbon barrels. Limited edition of 185 bottles.

So here is a rum from the Hampden distillery, an institution in Jamaica known for its heavy rum loaded with aromatic particles (esters) and the result of a very long fermentation (usually 7 days, then 7 more of rest) using indigenous yeasts and especially old-fashioned production in copper stills. Add to that one of the best sugar canes in the world (one of the highest in sugar), and you have the best representative of Jamaican rums with a unique and recognizable aromatic profile. To tell you, their rums are even used in the food industry and for perfumery.

The rum has a straw, golden color, a color that could be described as Jamaican or Hampden so characteristic is it of the style . A liquid that is quite heavy in appearance, which unsurprisingly forms a crown of numerous droplets that fall very slowly into the glass.

The nose is also very typical, creamy and loaded with exotic fruits  (pineapple, crushed banana), vanilla, citrus zest, and slightly earthy. No doubt it is a Jamaican rum! With this very characteristic touch of varnish (or glue) and nuts. The fruitiness is very ripe and relatively sweet, and with these 58.4° the aromas are excessively concentrated. The nose opens in a beautiful way and gradually softens until it becomes captivating, and releases a light veil of chocolate.

A drop of water reveals a very classy old woodiness and notes of liquorice reminiscent of a demerara rum. Unlike some rums that reveal nothing with a few drops, this Swedes Jamaica 2000 impresses. It evolves and loses none of its splendor.

The attack is very aromatic and creamy. With an astonishing richness, we find exotic fruits but also grapes, nuts, vanilla and a light woody note supported by spices (clove) and licorice . Everything envelops the palate and delivers aromas in cascade. It is always a great experience to taste Jamaican rums, and even more so when they are cask strength or at least stronger than a standard 40°. Everything is tenfold, concentrated, and the only way to appreciate this type of rum is to try it (before definitively adopting it). It is then difficult to go back and everything seems much blander.

The finish is long and always round, we note the presence of orange zest and always exotic fruits (mangoes) melted with liquorice . It lasts a long time and even has the luxury of coming back and leaving traces of its passage for a long time, inviting a new tasting.

A typical rum from Hampden, a magnificent mouth and an equally good finish. When you are faced with a rum from this distillery you can never be disappointed, and for good reason, a long fermentation, natural yeasts and distillation in old stills… thank you to Hampden for safeguarding its tradition and not forgetting its history…

One thing is for sure here: Swedes has selected a champion, too bad it is in such small quantities and unobtainable in France…one day perhaps? In the meantime, bottlers Duncan Taylor and The Rum Cask offer another version of this rum, respectively at 53.1° and 62° which deserve the same attention. Score: 85

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.

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