Travellers Liquors is a distillery in Belmopan, Belize. They have a whole range of rums, brandies, vodka, gin… I must admit I had never heard of them, but apparently they have 60 years of experience as importers / blenders and 25 years as distillers.
Travellers produces double-distilled rum in column stills, which is aged in charred casks. Their best known brands are One Barrel, Five Barrel and Don Omario. This one is a single barrel filled in 2005.
Travellers 8 yo 2005 (49,5%, The Whisky Agency 2013, single barrel rum, 282 btl.)
Travellers 8 yo 2005 (49,5%, The Whisky Agency 2013, single barrel rum, 282 btl.)Nose: clean and aromatic, with a surprisingly dry profile (considering rums in that area can be very sweet). In fact its woody profile reminds me of some bourbon whiskeys. Vanilla and caramel. Sweet berries and peaches. Some latte notes. Roasted chestnuts.
Mouth: again not too sweet. Nutty and spicy, with cinnamon, nutmeg and just a hint of roasted coconut. Hazelnut. Showing some bitter oranges towards the end.
Finish: medium long, still rather dry and oaky. Leathery notes and tobacco leaves, with some tannins and alcohol heat.
It’s surprising to see such a dry rum with decent complexity from a seemingly commercial distillery. It’s not the best rum I’ve had, but it’s definitely worth a try and I can imagine it appeals to bourbon drinkers as well. Around € 55.