Heavy & More

Here is the first tasting note of a rum from the old Enmore distillery. Fans can dig a little deeper into the subject with vintages from 1988 (a 20-year-old rum), 1990 (18 years old) and finally a 9-year-old rum from 1998, which is harder to find because its quantity is very limited. New stopover in Guyana then, with a Demerara rum that displays a generous 61.2° on the meter…

Price : €120 for 70cl of a new cask strength bottling from Velier (61.2°).

Age : 16 years: distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011. As usual, Velier offers a rum aged entirely in the tropics, and therefore extremely concentrated for an unforgettable journey.

The bottle label mentions that this is the last distillation from the Enmore plantation (before its final closure). So it is a new piece of history that we are given to taste here, a rum that we will certainly envy the next generations who will perhaps read this page, found by chance in the belly of Google (or one of its future ex-successors). So let us have an emotional thought for a rum that will soon disappear, and a smirk for future generations…

The rum has a very pronounced amber color and orange highlights that reveal a very oily rum reminiscent of its long aging in the tropics. Long tears flow slowly, even very slowly, and fall leaving a thick, oily trail. We note the presence of the greenish disk floating on the surface.

The nose is thick and concentrated, empyreumatic and mineral with very marked notes of smoky rubber (tar), roasted nuts and mocha . Really heavy and delicious, which has almost as much effect on me as the sublime Albion 1983. Really concentrated as I like it! With something animal that would be similar to the smell given off by a well-grilled and caramelized chicken skin that has just come out of the oven.

The fruitiness that still manages to find a place here is just as concentrated and delicious, easily reminiscent of an apricot tart, roasted and caramelized as desired.

A few drops of water considerably soften the nose, bringing out a more vegetal (grassy) side to the rum, and reinforce the presence of liquorice.

The attack is powerful and oily to the point of enveloping the entire mouth . The rum is still as concentrated, even sticky 🙂 A good dose of citrus fruits for acidity (lemon + orange), hard wood and liquorice literally knock you out, it is armored, slightly smoky and spicy (ginger), mentholated for a rather pleasant refreshing side (eucalyptus). An imposing rum and in total adequacy with the nose.

The finish is long and just as powerful with a woody note that is even more present (black liquorice) and that becomes bitter as the rum progresses. A finish also marked by a slight hint of acidity (as if slightly salty) and a more vegetal side (bitterness of fresh herbs).

An excessively concentrated, heavy and powerful rum that packs a punch and will appreciate a reasonable dilution. Once again Luca Gargano offers us an exceptional rum to be consumed in extreme moderation. In any case, it is important to take your time when tasting, both in terms of rest and the introduction (a few drops are enough). A heavy profile that will haunt your memories and that will irremediably attract you again. Rating: 88

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!