The Rum Trail Barbados, 2006
This rum is a blend of pot still and column still spirit made from molasses at an unnamed family-owned distillery set within a former sugar factory in south-east Barbados. If you'd like to know which distillery it is, there aren't too many candidates fitting that description. The rum matured for 14 years in ex-bourbon casks on the island before being moved into fresher bourbon casks for a further four years of slower ageing in Scotland.
Nose
Raisins, dates, vanilla custard, floral notes
Palate
Dates, earthy spices
Finish
Dried fruits, oak spice
This rum is really dialled in on the nose. Lots of concentrated dried fruit character – juicy raisins, prunes, dates – accompanied by sticky toffee pudding, sweet vanilla custard, and some florals. Over time, there's a hint of milk chocolate, licorice candy, and earthy spices. On the palate, the dried fruits get even stickier, and spices come to the foreground with an immediate warmth. This evolves into something quite dry, which juxtaposes those sweeter notes that were on the nose. The alcohol is really well integrated and balances everything deftly. The finish is long with woody and earthy spices lingering alongside dried fruits and a lasting dryness.
