Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad
46.2%
£40
Uncategorisable: Due to the distilleries not being named.
ABV Hydrometer Test: 46% ABV @ 20°
* B
Black Tot Day is something renowned throughout the rum world, harmoniously celebrating British Naval History and rum.
31st July 2020 marks 50 years since Black Tot Day. This was an historic day for the Royal Navy, ending a tradition that had been in place for over 200 years – the daily rum ration. I am sure you are familiar with the story but if you want to read more, please click HERE.
The Black Tot Rum range, created by Independent bottlers Elixir Distillers, tells the real story of Navy Rum, honouring authentic blending techniques of the past while providing an evolution of Navy Rum for the palates of today. Inspired by the tradition of Navy rum, the most recent edition to the range, Black Tot Finest Caribbean, is a modern expression influenced by historic blending techniques. It blends rums from the Caribbean countries that would have been the cornerstones of the rum for the British Navy – Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica.
Although the bottle does not feature the full information, you can see the product info HERE. Whilst the distilleries are not named, there is a breakdown of this blend’s full composition, which is as follows:
- 35% is BARBADOS 5 year old pot and column still.
- 40% is GUYANA 3-5 year old pot and column still.
- 20% is GUYANA unaged pot and column still.
- 5% is JAMAICA 3 year old pot still.
The rum is entirely tropically aged in ex-Bourbon 200 litre white American oak casks and distilled from molasses. It is not chill filtered and no sugar is added.
Various incarnations of rums from the original Navy rations have been for sale, usually at crazy prices and given that the original 1970 rum is average at best, you are basically buying history rather than rum. But we now have a modern day interpretation that is available at a very affordable £40.
To celebrate the Black Tot 50th Anniversary, The Whisky Exchange is hosting a day long event full of rum celebs and tastings. And to coincide with that, I thought it would be a good time to put the new incarnation of this iconic rum to the test.
Black Tot Finest Caribbean is Uncategorisable:
Due to the distilleries not being named.
Bottle/Presentation 1/3
The bottle is a slightly squat shape and has limited info on the labels.
Glass/Aroma 9/10
In the glass, my rum is a medium amber, almost copperish.
What a lovely first nosing, full of sumptuous fruits, reminiscent of a Christmas pudding, doused in loads of rum. There are raisins and dates in there, but also almonds, bananas and tropical fruits.
Taste, Initial-middle 33/40
The entry is rich with tropical fruits, like drinking Christmas pudding and not a million miles away from El Dorado 21 year old. It is smooth and creamy and very approachable, but surprisingly dry with a hint of almond.
Taste, Middle/Throat 35/40
Towards the mid-palate, the fruit notes are joined by spice and dry oak. A hint of black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. The fruit notes open somewhat too – glacée cherries and baked apples.
Towards the rear and those black pepper notes become stronger, producing a drying mouthfeel to balance the rich fruity pudding. There is also something reminiscent of a rich espresso note, too
Afterburn/Finish 6/7
A medium length finish featuring lingering pepper that tingles your tongue. It is how your mouth feels when you have finished a boozy Christmas pudding and have moved onto an after dinner espresso.
TOTAL 84/100
Overall
My first reaction when I tried this was quite literally “wow, that’s a drop of alright” which is what my late mum used to say when I poured her a decent tot of rum or stonking glass of wine.
Imagine everything you would want to put in a homemade Christmas pudding and that is what this tastes like – rich fruits like raisins and dates, glacée cherries, almonds, pecans, butter, banana. Then maybe personalise it with a shot of espresso and cover it in your favourite “dark” rum.
It is quite delicious and without additives!
Value: 9/10
Top quality rum in a rich and fruity blend of pot and column still molasses rums, from three Caribbean islands, zero additives, a recreation of something unique in history and damn tasty, too.
Flavour Profile:
Review No. 156
*
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/Finish Out of 7
TOTAL 100
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