One such was Smith and Cross Traditional Jamaica rum - Pure pot still Plummer & Wedderburn 57%.
Taken text from "Haus Alpenz" (bottlers of Scarlet Ibis I believe) website http://www.alpenz.com/images/poftfolio/ ... 114rum.htm , it says:
"This rum represents the distinctively flavorful and aromatic style that made Jamaica rum famous in the late 19th and early 20th century. Containing only Wedderburn and Plummer pot still distillates, famous for their notes of exotic fruits and spice, it delivers a tour de force of flavour and complexity that historically made Jamaica rum a cornerstone of many classic drinks.
The mark of Smith & Cross traces its lineage to 1788 as one of England’s oldest producers of sugar and spirits. Over time, the firm and its partners became prominent handlers of Jamaica Rum, with extensive underground cellars along the river Thames.
Tasting and Serving Guidance
The great tradition of this style is reflected in the famous drink recipes that call specifically for Jamaica rum. Make no mistake, this is not a sipping rum by contemporary standards. Upon initial pour, allow a minute to open up before tasting. We suggest exploring the profile first in the Jamaica Rum Daquiri (see sidebar) and from there to other classics.
On Production and the Wedderburn & Plummer
Through the 19th century and into the earlier 20th century, Jamaica Rum was revered for its deep full flavors and pleasing aromas. In this era, rum fell into three general classes, Local Trade Quality, Export Trade Quality (mainly an ester-intensive "High Continental" style for the German market), and Home Trade Quality for UK (and US) consumption. In the mid 20th century appeared the more familiar "Common Clean" light and/or sweeter styles on offer today, made with the column-still product introduced in the late 1950s.
The heavier bodied Wedderburn and medium bodied Plummer styles were made with a combination of the molasses, skimmings, cane juice, and syrup bottoms from sugar production, and the dunder of the previous rum production. A Jamaica tradition has been the use of wild yeasts indigenous to the region in the fermentation process, which is arguably a major contributor to the special body and flavor. The end result is a rum of tremendous and local character.
This Expression
Here we offer a blend of approximately equal parts Wedderburn and Plummer, the former aged for less than a year, and the latter split between 18 months and 3 years on white oak. It is not a style that necessarily benefits from further aging, as the oak can dominate the fruit and spice notes within and in time dampen the aromas.
Navy Strength
57% ABV (50% by weight, or 100° English proof) was the traditional strength required by the British Royal Navy. At this proof a spill of the spirits would not prevent gunpowder from igniting. As important, this degree of concentration provided an efficiency in conveyance on board and onward to trading partners far away.
Navy Strength should not be confused with Navy Rum, which was for over 200 years a daily ration in the British Royal Navy, and traditionally composed of rums principally from Guyana, also Jamaica and Barbados. "
Sorry, I borrowed this directly because for the most part it is not typical marketing BS...
A high-ester rum, it smells perhaps like a cross between nail polish, varnish and rum - How delightful that is
On the palate, sip VERY carefully, but do take that tiniest 0,2cl or so, and try "as is" - before adding a reasonable dollop of water, and try to tame it down to around 43%. The taste is much better than the nose, revealing really old-style Jamaican hardcore flavours of rum. BIG. Overripe banana, and other fruits. Vanilla somewhere in between. Almost bitter burnt molasses notes.
Seriously folks - if you served this as the first rum to someone to try "as is", I think they'd say YACK - and run. But it is an amazing product in its brutal honestly, and old "high-ester" style. Works as "rum verschnitt" (cut rum) too - mix it with vodka or the simplest plain unaged white rum, and presto - one bottle makes 3, still violently volatile and full of flavour. It's a total bully from the past - and Big RESPECT for bottling this monster. Reminded me of Bristol's Vale Royal, but has an even bigger aroma and more brutal wedderburn flavour, due to sheer strength. Amazing. Don't let Appleton be your only understanding of Jamaican rum. Dis de original rudebwoy Rudy man...Spray dem wid bullets ah rum an' listen to murder she wrote! Boom shaka laka..!
(GBP 31,95 at the Whisky Exchange)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av7F1JBmj4
