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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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May 9, 2021 |
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Indeed, just a wee trio for a change. |
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La Mauny 5 ans d'âge (45%, OB, Martinique, agricole, +/-1990) 
La Mauny is very largely available in France. This is an older bottle, which was very largely available as well around thirty years ago. We were to crack it open one day… Colour: gold. Nose: I find this rather splendid at first nosing. No old bottle effect, some diesel oil, flints, rotting bananas, touches of tar and liquorice, it would just get a tad sugarish after three minutes, maybe because our brain's now filtered out the diesel oil. Mouth: it's really cool that they would have bottled these at 45%. What's sure is that liquorice and bonbons are running the show now, with clearly some syrup or liqueurs in the background. Were these sauced-up at that time? Some mild disappointment, shall we say. Finish: no, falls apart, gets even more sugary, I'd almost say sacchariny, while the aftertaste's rather bitter and burnt. Comments: I was having high hopes after a few first sniffs, but it all went pear-shaped after that. Maybe do some retro ti-vieux out of what's remaining?
SGP:631 - 68 points. |
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Diamond 9 yo 2011/2020 (67.4%, Or Sileis, Guyana, bourbon barrel, cask #18, 248 bottles) 
Comforting, right. To think that this wee thing travelled to and from Taiwan by plane! Colour: virtually red. Lovely garnet. Nose: I'm getting a little incense and whiffs of rose and perhaps balsa wood, and for sure ripe pomegranate and a huge barbecued T-bone steak. But no chances will be taken here, so… With water: guess what, it's rather a lighter Diamond, not one from the pot-stills. Rather a lot of caramel and roasted nuts, molasses aplenty, then carrot cake. It's very intriguing, reminding me of some 'rhums de sucrerie'. Which it probably is, by the way. Lovely earthiness coming out, roots… Mouth (neat): this is frightening, is it not? But after all, we've already tried bourbons that were at 70% plus (yeah well, look how that worked out, S.) Rich, thick, caramelly, with a feeling of deeply stewed Campari or something. Boy does it move like honey, you'd almost need a spoon to get it out of your glass. Quite. With water: all on molasses, burnt caramel, brownies… Finish: medium, sweeter, rather on Demerara sugar, rather appropriately. Comments: a beast to frighten your enemies and your mother-in-law. With really a lot of water, it gets as gentle as a lamb. Not an estery one for sure.
SGP:640 - 83 points. |
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Hampden 8 yo 'OWH' (61.9%, OB for Whisky Live Singapore 2021, Jamaica, cask #669, 2020) 
I've heard you'd better make friends with this one. It is also about the lizard cuckoo, which is a bird and not, mind you, a French politician. Last year's OWH for Whisky Live Paris, a sister cask (#667) did really please me (WF 90) even if OWH is, I believe, the lowest, meaning the lightest marque at Hampden. Colour: deep gold. Nose: it is like Ardbeg, the lighter ones are pretty heavy. Metal polish, scoria, anchovies, tapenade, pencil lead, tyres, praline, roasted pecan… Perfect profile, rather more coastal than others. Tinned sardines! With water: old fisherman's boat, tarry ropes, hessian, olives, benzine, pencil shavings, eucalyptus wood… Mouth (neat): huge, naturally, and wonderful. Truckloads of salted liquorice plus crushed chilli sardines and just wax. Water may be needed… With water: water adds lemons and olives. Some shoe polish too, teak oil, embrocations… As a matter of fact, we've known some dry martinis that have been a little bit like this. Finish: long, with tiny bits of fruits. Green lemons, green tomatoes. Sure tomatoes are fruits. Sweeter liquorice in the aftertaste, allsorts? Comments: provided you get the amount of water you add right, I find these casks just superb.
SGP:563 - 90 points. |
I know we usually try 5 'malternatives' on any Sunday, but I feel like no other rums would manage to step over that Hampden anway. So, dismiss! |
 Check the index of all rums we've tasted so far
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