Ten Cane Distillery The Duchess 13 Years Old Cask 18 64.4% 2008

Professionele reviews

BOW (90)

7 years Tropical Aging

Serge Valentin (87)

You remember, it's the famous distillery in Trinidad built and then quickly closed down after ten years by Pernod-Ricard – or wasn't it LVMH? I think so. It's gratifying to see barrels surfacing thanks to the independents. Colour: American coffee. Nose: yet another very unusual rum, this time starting off with old, somewhat oxidised or rusty metal, but tomato jam quickly takes over, followed by prunes and currants willing to gain control, along with some rubbery notes. With water: very, very nice wafts of grilled herbs (thyme) and cured meats, salty liquorice, umami sauce, miso… Mouth (neat): it's really massive, loaded with varnish and armagnac, tyres and burnt cakes, bitter chocolate… But we're nearly at 65% ABV, in case you hadn't noticed. With water: gentler, more on chocolate and liquorice. Can you imagine the cruel, almost philosophical dilemma at this strength, to dilute or not to dilute? Finish: very long, with more burnt rubber and salty liquorice. The aftertaste becomes civilised again, with toffee and marmalade. Comments: another somewhat mad rum.