Cocktail bartender and rum enthusiast.
While Mount Gay (Barbados) recently announced their new expression, the Andean Oak Cask, I’m still dwelling on the past as I managed to get a couple older Mount Gay offerings in my glass. Wish I would’ve written about these sooner, but better late than never I guess. Since Trudiann Branker took over as Master Blender … More Review: Mount Gay Port Cask Expression
Last time when I managed to review an Exceptional Cask Selection release from Foursquare was over one year ago. The reason for that is it’s increasingly lack of availability as everyone is trying to get one to either enjoy, collect or simply re-sell in order to make a quick buck – and who can blame … More Review: Foursquare 2009 – Mark XVII
It has been a while since I purchased a bottle from That Boutique-y Rum Company (TBRC) which is quite unacceptable from my side because they never miss as far as I’m concerned. I decided to go with the one distilled at the Black Gate Distillery in Australia because lately I’ve been trying a lot of … More Review: That Boutique-y Rum Company – Black Gate Distillery Australia 3 Year Old (Batch 1)
Here are two more drinks I’ve made For the August – September time period. Given how busy I am one drink per month isn’t bad, but I’m planning to up my game now that I’ve settled in my new home. For the full list of drink recipes visit The Cocktail Barrel section. Feel free to … More Recipe: The Cocktail Barrel August – September 2021
Many of us, especially in the UK, have been longing for a decent Guyanese 151 rum to use in all those Zombie recipes (and not only) that ask for a “Overproof Demerara” or “151 Demerara” component – yes, the Zombie isn’t made with 3 different types of spiced rum, pineapple juice and a Wray float, … More Review: Pusser’s Select Aged 151
The Trinidad comes from a distillery many haven’t heard of – Ten Cane Distillery. Ten Cane Rum was introduced in 2005 by Moet-Hennesy Louis Vuitton and it was meant to use artisianal processes such as pot still distilling and tropical ageing but it never took off and so in was fully discontinued in 2015. This … More The Barrel Sample: The Duchess Trinidad 11 Year Old
The Australia is a collaboration with Beenleigh Artisan Distillery who came to The Duchess IB in order to have them release one of their barrels. Molasses based, pot & column still distilled in 2007, aged 10 years in Australia and 3 more in Europe using cask no. 38 which was an ex-Bourbon. Bottled in 2021 … More The Barrel Sample: The Duchess Australia 13 Year Old
The Martinique hails from Rhumerie De Simon which produces AOC Rhum Agricole for the likes of Saint Clement and HSE. This bottling doesn’t fall under the agricole umbrella since it wasn’t fully aged and bottled in Martinique. Sugar cane juice based, column distilled in 2004, aged 4 years in the tropics and 11 years continentally … More The Barrel Sample: The Duchess Martinique 15 Year Old
From the “I risk my life so you don’t have to” series comes a review for a Saint Lucian rum that you can’t really find outside the island of Saint Lucia – like really, I can’t find a price anywhere. Regardless, its lack of availability or its fierce “double strength” weren’t enough to stop me … More Review: Denros Strong Rum
As some of you that know me in reality or just on social media, one month ago I just moved to London and a few days later I started bartending at The Beachcomber – an agricole and tiki bar. The reason I mention this is that in my very first day working there, Dawn Davies … More Review: Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve & Components