Capn Jimbo wrote:Blackwater "Picaroon" (rogue) Rum...
With this in mind it's no surprise that this distiller even named this altered rum "Picaroon", which - I kid you not - actually means "Rogue". How appropriate - and brazen! It is simply amazing how many invented and tricked out spirits are being put forward as "rum", when we realize that every bottle sold hurts the wonderful pure and real rums produced...
Sickening.
After reviewing this information it is pretty outrageous actually. After scanning the pages the information presented contradicts itself. Early on the page it reads :
From Maryland's oldest distillery, Blackwater Distilling, comes a rum unlike any other. Made from pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses, Picaroon Maryland Rum layers bright notes of vanilla and cream over a sweet, lingering finish.
Later on the page...
we begin with pure, unadulterated cane sugar
Seems like they started out with an honest idea here that went down a dark path into the likes of Picaroon gold... one of the worst American offenders I've seen not even claiming to age for 6 long months just sweet dye.
As to the Busted barrel I find it upsetting they ruin a rum by adding vanilla beans into the barrels. What rum lover wants to buy a rum not labeled a vanilla bomb and get one. At least charbay labels their added vanilla which of course has caused me to avoid such bottle as I don't prefer rums that add vanilla.
Being white rum lover I may not be against sampling their white rums especially the Busted barrel white as it is a copper pot still rum with American made molasses but with these secretive/open additives if their "higher end" products its a toss up as to whether or not they have doctored up the white rum as well.
Vermont rum?
I have been looking up Vermont rums at after finding a few of their bottles in NY recently these are the 3 I ran across.
Smugglers' Notch Distillery 36.99 per bottle
The first is Smugglers' Notch Vermont liquor authority states 3+ years in white oak and 6+ months in 4 year used bourbon casks. Interesting process described on the website much much info missing. Thoughts Cap'n?
http://www.smugglersnotchdistillery.com/rum.html
Dunc's mill Backwoods Reserve 33.00 per bottle
Very little information about well anything really of their process but claims to be a pure rum. With Hungarian oak?
We age the Backwoods in specially selected small barrels of Hungarian oak in order to obtain a complex but surprisingly smooth flavor profile. Notes of sweet spice and vanilla round out this unique spirit.
http://www.duncsmill.com/our-rum/backwoods-reserve-rum/
Mad River First run rum 29.99 per bottle
Well another premium rum aged in charred oak for an unspecified time frame made with cane sugar. Then placed into numbered bottles. No other information to be had on this rum. They do have a gallery though which shows their stills and operation.
http://www.madriverdistillers.com/