Assemblage #01 Jamaican Rum Rest & Be Thankful
Origin: Jamaica/Scotland (Rest & Be Thankful Rum Co.) | 46% | Price: ca. 95€
Fancy designs and labels, independent bottlers, one likes to think mostly of single casks, a few hundred bottles, collector blah blah. But if there's one thing I know about my beloved whiskies, it's that a great blend can be just as enchanting. And is always an art of its own! Especially if not everything possible under the sun is mixed together, but, as in this case, a concrete and even precisely named selection of a certain region or here a country, Jamaica.
17 barrels, aged at least 13 years (the youngest), under 5,200 bottles. More facts: 5 Jamaicans from different distilleries in the country, No. 1 was distilled in pot still by New Yarmouth Distillery in 2005, the second rum from the same year comes from Long Pond Distillery. Clarendon Distillery contributed two rums, each distilled in column still or pot still from molasses in 2007. Then, in 2008, the pot still distillation of the last rum took place at Worthy Park Distillery, which is particularly popular with rum fans. By the way, the storage took place not only in the Caribbean, but also in continental climate in Scotland. In September 2022 came the bottling, without coloring or chill filtration of course.
He has one of the most coherent Jamaica noses that I had in the glass for several months. He deceives you with his intensity and broad spectrum of aromas, most people would not guess the 46% in a blind tasting, I would have gone for 50 probably. Complex and with a palate of exotic spicyness and slightly ethereal notes, to the important fermented fruits and slightly funky industrial oil, everything is there. He would be wasted in anything else than high quality stirred drinks, or of course enjoyed neat. Because of his body and intense notes he even works great in one of my favorite split-base drinks, the Colonial Ties.
Nose:
Ahh, really wonderful, an aromatic yet classy Jamaica nose like I haven't had in a while, intense passion fruit, fermented mango, gas station, the tar truck resupplying and repairing the road, vanilla, licorice, noticeable salt and rose water, seems more intense than the 46% would suggest, exotic woods
Taste:
Passion fruit and green apple, papaya, pineapple comes out most clearly and again noticeable brine, licorice and a touch of eucalyptus, plus floral honey, subtle round oak, toffee, lemongrass and some cardamom
Finish:
Molasses comes through really present here for the first time, blossom honey, ginger, anise, pineapple chips, green apple, rose petals, medium length, warming
The bottle was provided by Kirsch Import, thanks.
