In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast I'm doing a blind tasting of the Berry Bros. & Rudd 19 year Caroni Rum & SpringBank Society 15 year Port Barrel. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits.
If you're interested in behind the scenes video recordings from this episode, please join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spiritspeople
My tasting notes from this episode can also be found below:
Spirit A - Berry Bros. & Rudd 19 year Caroni Rum (55% ABV)
Appearance
-
Clarity: Clear
-
Intensity: Medium
-
Color: Amber
-
Suggested texture: Medium viscosity
Nose
-
Condition: Clean
-
Intensity: Medium
-
Aroma characteristics: Molasses, over-ripe banana, burnt pineapple, sulphur, blood orange/bitter orange, pine cones, cinnamon, vanilla beans, charred oak
-
Other notes: There’s a strong Rum sensation, but also has some bourbon characteristics, but I’m not getting the sense of corn, rye, or wheat of the nose.
-
ABV: >50%
Palate
-
Sweetness: Dry
-
Texture: Mouth filling, warming, medium viscosity
-
Intensity: Pronounced
-
Flavor characteristics: molasses, over-ripe banana, burnt pineapple, sherry, liquorice, nail varnish, charred oak
-
Other notes: Nose opened up with more nail varnish notes
-
Finish: Long with some complexity (molasses, over-ripe bananas, char)
-
ABV: >60%
Conclusion
-
Quality level: Very good > outstanding
-
Blind guess: Barrel proof, pot still or pot and column blend, molasses rum
Spirit B - SpringBank Society 15 year Port Barrel (56.2% ABV)
Appearance
-
Clarity: Clear
-
Intensity: Medium
-
Color: Amber
-
Suggested texture: Light > medium
Nose
-
Condition: Clean
-
Intensity: Medium
-
Aroma characteristics: Soft peat, fresh sweet apples, sultanas, melted butter on toast, burnt brown sugar, hints of sea salt, stone fruits, dried lemon peel, fresh honey melon
-
Other notes: ABV is quite sharp on the nose when you get into the glass, but quite soft from a distance.
-
ABV: ~50%
Palate
-
Sweetness: Dry
-
Texture: Mouth filling, a bit watery, light viscosity
-
Intensity: Pronounced
-
Flavor characteristics: Peat, fresh sweet apples, burnt toast, sea salt, cracked black pepper, cloves, lemon peel, oats and malt grains
-
Other notes: Picked up the grain note which I wasn’t able to on the nose
-
Finish: Long and very complex (light peat, apples, burnt toast)
-
ABV: ~55%
Conclusion
-
Quality level: Outstanding
-
Blind guess: Island or coastal single malt scotch, older than 12 years
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at any time on Instagram @spiritspeople