Oldman Spirits presents four new releases in the Flensburg Rum Company series that supports the Sea Shepherd organisation. Four rums from all over the world, starting with an Ecuador 2015.
Rum from Ecuador is rather rare. This one comes from an idyllic hacienda which is no longer in operation. It is sugar cane juice rum, 100% pot still and unsweetened. FRC released a couple of these casks in the past, at different ages.
Ecuador 8 yo 2015 (47,2%, Flensburg Rum Company 2024, medium toast American oak, 244 btl.)
Nose: starts in a nicely industrial way, with new plastics, dried mint leaves, black olives and plenty of herbal notes. Reminds me of some Long Pond and Hampden at times. A mineral side as well. Then lemony sourness underneath, as well as green apple, green banana and fermented pineapple. More intense than the ABV would suggest.
Mouth: the dried herbs (aniseed, black pepper, caraway) along with olive brine and overripe tropical fruits. Some estery acetic acid and hints of acetone. Then some wood appears, including a caramelly note and vanilla, rounding off the edges and higlighting the fruitiness. Even a light hint of honey.
Finish: long, rather spicy, with pepper and peppermint, and a vague hint of nougat and wood in the background.
A nice surprise. Ecuador may not be the first country we think of when it comes to artisan rums, but here’s a fine estery example. Not the most complex dram on the palate, but a good selection.
The Brazil 2011 is made from molasses and sugarcane juice. It matured in a local Amburana wood cask before moving to a classic bourbon cask once it arrived in Europe.
Brazil 13 yo 2011 (55,5%, Flensburg Rum Company 2024, Amburana cask + bourbon finish, 234 btl.)
Nose: starts on sugar cane with aniseed, faint leather and light nutty notes. A vegetal / grassy theme underneath, as well as light citrusy sharpness, varnish and tangy apricot in the background – even a whiff of vinegar. Quite sharp, although there is a butterscotch sweetness too.
Mouth: still a big vegetal side, mixed with this funky sharpness. Green pineapple, plenty of aromatic (star) anise notes and liquorice. Then allspice and hints of lemon grass and lemon zest. Green tobacco leaves too, as well as resinous touches.
Finish: medium length, quite peppery, grassy and lemony, still showing this big hint of anise.
We already knew Amburana wood can lead to unique results. In this case the aromatic anise side is quite spectacular. The grassy sharpness makes it less to my liking, but if you think you’ve seen it all, this fascinating rum may be worth your attention. Score: 82/100
Fiji 14 yo 2009 (65%, Flensburg Rum Company 2024, rum barrel, 206 btl.)
Nose: ester galore, with engine oil and plastics, lemon yoghurt and hints of bitter almond. Tangy marmalade, some green banana and dried botanicals. Then plenty of glue and varnish too, along with some pencil shavings. Really compact and intense.
Mouth: still really funky, with a slightly synthetic element and an aggressive alcohol sensation. Kerosene? Mezcally rubber, anise and floral touches. Then back to green bananas, unripe gooseberries and sharp pineapple, along with salty liquorice, gherkin brine and resinous bitters.
Finish: long, salty and petroly, with plenty of tarry notes and varnish.
A nice ester bomb from South Pacific distillery, although it’s perhaps a little too ferocious. Totally extreme and very Jamaican in that sense. One of these bottles you keep in your cupboard to surprise (or scare) your friends. Score: 85/100
The last one is a Jamaican rum with a LROK marque. This can only mean Hampden Estate, if we’re not mistaken. Esters should be between 200 and 400 g/hlpa. This rum got an Oloroso finish.
Jamaica 5 yo 2018 LROK (67,5%, Flensburg Rum Company 2024, first fill Oloroso hogshead, 311 btl.)
Nose: fruity, with plenty of caramelized bananas trailed by vanilla and roasted pineapple. Then some red berries and sultanas perhaps, with the sour side of a young Oloroso. The sherry influence is clearly noticeable and well integrated. Classic Jamaican markers like rubber, black olives and glue too, of course.
Mouth: similar remarks. It’s definitely a good Hampden, just slightly smoothened by the sherry. Here as well the bananas flambéed stand out, along with some mango candy. Then back to liquorice, plenty of esters and a bit of wood. Some pink grapefruit bitterness and pickled gherkins in the end.
Finish: long, with more bitterness, saltiness and resinous notes. More austere now, losing some of the sherry influence.
Quite a successful marriage. The typical Jamaican austerity is rounded off just a little. We have a winner, and it offers very good value for money too. Score: 89/100