Prichard’s Private Stock

USA
45%
€65

Pure Single Rum – 100% Pot Still
ABV Hydrometer Test: 45% ABV @ 20°

* P

Something rather unique for the UK is this particular rum from Tennessee, USA.

Prichard’s distillery in Nashville produces small batch pot distilled whiskey and rum. It is a company that very proudly proclaims its use of artesenal techniques and traditional methods, they produce several mainstream rums including “Fine” and “Crystal” as well as spiced and flavoured drinks. But the one that caught my eye and that I am reviewing today is Prichard’s “Private Stock Rum.” This rum is only supposed to be for sale at their distillery, so when I spotted it for sale at Zeewijck I ordered a bottle to try.

According to Prichard’s, this rum is their finest and most exclusive craft offering, featuring rums aged between 12 and 14 years. They also proclaim the huge angel’s share lost to evaporation, which accounts for approximately two thirds of the rum disappearing whilst ageing.

Under Richard Seale’s/Luca Gargano’s proposed rum categorisation, this would most-likely be classed as a “Pure Single Rum” – 100% Pot Still. When tested with my hydrometer, I am pleased to report that it measured 45% indicating no detectable added sugars are present.

Bottle/Presentation       1/3
The bottle is quite a distinctive flask-shape, with an elongated neck and artificial cork enclosure.

The bright blue label on the bottle stands out, but it is completely devoid of any information about the rum itself other than showing the ABV. There is no mention of the artesenal processes used in the rum, the pot stills nor the length of ageing.

If this was my pride and joy, I would want to be shouting from the rooftops about my techniques and length of ageing, but it appears that Prichard’s do not want to do this. Strange!

 

 

 

Glass/Aroma       5/10
This rum looks like a medium aged Tawny Port as it is so dark in colour. It is a very dark brown – in fact, it looks way too dark to me though.  I am assuming a lot of caramel colouring has been added. There are thick, heavy and syrupy legs, which are a medium speed to drop down the sides of the glass.
The first aroma I notice is caramel. There is also varnish, light citrus, some cinnamon, and vanilla. It has quite an industrial aroma, not unlike turpentine. There is also an underlying background of biscuits, almost like a chocolate chip cookie. In the background is a feint aroma of smokey, charred oak.

Taste, Initial-middle       33/40
The rum is initially quite soft and delicate on entry. There is a rich viscosity about it, too. Flavours of rich brown sugar and sticky toffee are present alongside some dark cherry and light fruitiness. Despite being 45% it feels very easy to drink.

Taste, Middle/Throat       36/40
In the middle of the mouth, this tastes like a dry Amontillado sherry, such is the smoothness and dry notes. The light fruit from the front of the mouth becomes a bit more like spicy, rich fruit… Damson, raisin, figs and dates are noticeable, like a summer fruit pudding. Then comes burnt oak and a background hint of aniseed along with some charred smoke and molasses. This tastes really good at this point.

Afterburn       6/7
There is a long and persistent dry feeling to this rum. The oak becomes more noticeable as it coats your throat and allows the cinnamon and vanilla to shine through once more.

If I did not know this was rum, it could be mistaken for being a brandy at this point, such is its style and flavours.

Morning After Aroma
Molasses are present along with a background hint of cinnamon and vanilla.

TOTAL       81/100

Overall
This is something new and rare, which is always a good thing when tasting drinks. The rum itself has lots of interesting flavours to keep the drinker interested throughout but also has a bit more presence and life to it due to the slightly higher ABV, which seems to be quite unusual for American rums.

I think it is a fine quality rum and has been produced in a craft, artesenal way, which makes a refreshing change.

The novelty value of it only being available at the distillery is enough for someone to actively seek out a bottle if you can find it for sale elsewhere as I did. I think that the price I paid (€65, around £57, April 2017) is not bad for something that is very much in the realms of craft, artesenal and niche rums. Given that it is entirely produced from pot still distillate, too, it is very good value in fact.

P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.

Marking Guide:
Bottle/Presentation Out of 3
Glass/Aroma Out of 10
Taste, Initial-middle Out of 40
Taste, Middle/Throat Out of 40
Afterburn Out of 7
TOTAL 100