Review: Blackwell Jamaican Rum
Chris Blackwell made music (he founded Island Records in 1959 and exposed the world to reggae). Now he makes rum. Dark, dark rum, hailing from Jamaica.
Distilled at Appleton Estate, this is rum the color of cola, deep and dark. (Aging isn’t disclosed.) On the nose there’s that telltale scent of molasses, fresh and sugary, and perhaps some pineapple. On the palate, the rum kicks in with lots of smooth syrupy character, plus a big chewy coconut character. The finish is less sweet than you would expect, turning to charcoal embers and coconut husks, leaving you with a denouement that is a touch chalky, and leaving you with notes that are a bit bittersweet.
Quite engaging, and certainly worthwhile if you aren’t interested in a pure sugar bomb.
80 proof.
A- / $30 / blackwellrum.com
Blackwell Jamaican Rum
$30
I’ve seen this on the shelves of a few local stores, but I haven’t sprung for it because I couldn’t find any reviews of this rum anywhere. But now I’ve got one, so thanks!
I picked up a bottle for $24, and at that price it’s a nice rum. It has a light woody character to it without the sweetness or vanilla that you get with many rums on the market today. It reminds me a little of a young El Dorado (guyana) or an Abuelo (panama). I think it will do well in a rum manhattan, and I plan to give that a try tonight.