O Reizinho is one of the agricole rum producers of Madeira and here I have a sample from a young, aged expression bottled by the independent bottler That Boutique-y Rum Company.
This is cane juice based, pot still distilled and aged for 9 months in a former Madeira wine cask. Bottled at 57% ABV without any additives and with only 425 50cl bottles released.
On the nose there are these vegetal notes. Green olives in brine, pistachios, gherkins and corn on the cob. White grapes, unripe pears and some saffron. It has a very savoury aroma. Dried figs, mulberries and white pepper. Some olive oil as well.
On the palate it becomes surprisingly moreish. Mulberries, white pepper, green olives and floral honey. Sweet pears, dessert wine, figs and melon. The Madeira cask is really showing its teeth with sweet, honey-ish notes. Umeshu, sweet gherkins and corn on the cob. White grapes and some charred oak. The finish is long with honey and cane juice.
What I find with many cane juice rums is that as soon as they touch some wood their profile takes a 180 and they lose their green notes in the favour of the oak – this is not the case here, this is very well balanced rum from that regard, with the cane retaining its grassy, savoury profile while adding some sweet, fruity notes from the maturation.
A must-have for any cane juice fans – can be found for £40 on Master of Malt.
That Boutique-y Rum Company – O Reizinho 9 Months Old (Batch 1) score:
Flavour/taste: 55/70
Value for money: 14/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 84/100
Cheers!