La Maison du Whisky's recently introduced Flag Series of rums continues with three new expressions from Barbados, Cambodia and Jamaica, all of which are bottled at cask strength.

Barbados 16 Year Old, 2006, LMDW Flag Series - 60.3%

This Bajan rum comes from a Barbados distillery founded in 1996, using triple column Coffey stills and pot stills that are then blended and cask aged.

Official Tasting Notes

Aroma

Rich and voluptuous. Cocoa beans and acetic notes (pickle) create an original and unusual aroma pairing. Allowed to breathe, medicinal notes (elastoplast, arnica) spread across the surface of the spicy (clove) and heady (ylang ylang) aroma palette.

Taste

Lively yet full. On the attack, flavours of cane sugar, vanilla and geranium combine together perfectly. On the mid-palate, liquorice introduces an ethereal (macerated fruit, royal jelly) and hot (Cayenne pepper) end to the palate.

Finish

Long, dynamic. The start of the finish is also pleasantly oxidative (Mirabelle plum, sun-dried grape). The deliciously praline after-taste reveals a chocolatey bitterness. Candied ginger and cinnamon embellish the very end of the finish.

Cambodia 5 Year Old, 2018, LMDW Flag Series - 56.5%

This interesting Cambodian rum is made with sugarcane from the Koh Kong province, and was distilled using a pot still.

Official Tasting Notes

Aroma

Full, deep. The intensely vanilla and herbal (tobacco, sugar cane) first nose is also empyreumatic (asphalt) and mineral (slate). Allowed to breathe, the aroma palette develops a huge range of different fruits, from exotic fruits (banana, pineapple) to white fruits (pear, white peach) and nuts (walnut, almond).

Taste

Clean, lively. The heady attack (dried flowers, lavender) eloquently recreates flavours of sugar cane and cinnamon. The lemony mid-palate becomes even more spicy (clove, nutmeg, green pepper), hot (Cayenne pepper) and delicately syrupy (cane sugar)

Finish

Long, full. Continuing on perfectly from the palate, the start of the finish is refreshed with citrus fruit notes (lemon, grapefruit). The delicately liquorice after-taste is characterized by pleasant milky notes (almond, agave). Velvety tannins gradually coat the taste buds.

Jamaica 12 Year Old, 2010, LMDW Flag Series - 66.2%

Produced using long fermentation and distilled using pot stills, this comes from a Jamaican distillery founded in 1949. This expression has an ester count of 125-175 g/hLPA and carried the EMB mark.

Official Tasting Notes

Aroma

Refined, distinguished. The powdery (rice), fruity (Mirabelle plum) and complex (curry, grape, acacia honey) nose is remarkably delicate. Allowed to breathe, fresh fruits (apple, Mirabelle plum) and strong spices (clove, star anise) create a very characterful second sequence punctuated with aromas of burnt cane and cigar.

Taste

Rich, unctuous. On the attack, flavours of cane sugar, roasted pineapple and geranium seep deep into the taste buds. The vanilla (pod), vegetal (cut hay) and milky (walnut, coconut) mid-palate is drawn out with notes of liquorice and dark chocolate.

Finish

Dense, sunny. The finish is very fruity (white currant, rhubarb, blackcurrant), honeyed (acacia, lime blossom) and lemony. The after-taste becomes fibrous (sugar cane) and the empty glass allows glimpses of empyreumatic (gum arabic) and medicinal (balm) notes.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team