That Boutique-y Rum Company was launched last year by Atom Brands with Peter Holland from The Floating Rum Shack as their rum advisor. They are focused on bottling and bringing the most unusual and intriguing (and also unadulterated) rums from around the world on the market without any “confusing mumble, just exceptional rum”. I did sample a few other bottles from their range (not all unfortunately) and I have to say they did a great job so far. All their bottlings are 50cl in volume instead of the standard 70cl which is probably to make them more accessible price-wise for people like me to try them or maybe because each release is in limited numbers therefore they can have more bottles available – regardless of the reason, I do like it, it’s kinda cute.
The bottle I have here contains rum from Demerara Distillery Limited, Guyana, the same guys responsible for the El Dorado range, and it’s distilled in the Port Mourant Still – a double pot still made out of wood (illustrated on the label in a comic book-y style). It originates from the Port Mourant Estate which was established in the 1732, possibly making this the oldest working pot still in the world. Along with the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still, DDL also uses (among others) the Enmore Wooden Coffey Still and the Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still all 3 of them being the only functional wooden stills in the world – cool, right?
The liquid in my bottle (341 of 461) is distilled from molasses in 2008 in the aforementioned Port Mourant Still, aged for 9 years (I assume ex-Bourbon casks, but feel free to correct me) and bottled at 55.9% ABV. Now my glass is thirsty and I’m empty… uhm… yea.
On the nose it smells like someone made a hot chocolate and then added some pastis in it… or like a shoe repair shop… or both! Milk chocolate, anise, vanilla and prunes are definitely there along with some old leather, glue and struck match aroma. There is a funk to it as well with burnt orange peel, black banana and some pineapple juice. Hints of spice – the only one I could distinguish would be cinnamon. Smells so darn good!
On the palate while not the first flavor, there is a peaty aroma that really stands out. Honey, toffee, prunes again, the anise in the background, this is quite intense. Some sulfur-y (he he he) notes too, like quite a pungent cheese – I don’t know cheese types, don’t boo me! Apricots, some good ol’ raisins, rotten apple, raspberry jam, cloves as well, there is a lot going on.
I never performed in a circus nor on the street but I feel this is the kind of aftertaste a fire eater would get. It’s like fuel, heat and smoke along with some fruity sweetness.
While in my last review I compared the Antigua Velier with bourbon, I’ll give this a speyside scotch resemblance. Quite fruity and sweet, but there is that smoke to it that slightly puts me off. Don’t get me wrong, this is an amazing and complex rum, and giving the fact that it comes from one of the stills that comprises the blend used in the El Dorado rums, very interesting. It’s just me that can’t handle smok-y (he he he PART II) aromas very well – he said while poring a second glass.
A very unique liquid and for the price I am very happy I got it.
That Boutique-y Rum Company Diamond Distillery Port Mourant (Batch 1) score:
Flavour/taste: 58/70
Value for money: 14/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 87/100
Cheers!
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