1.12 - Berry Bros. & Rudd 19 year Caroni Rum & SpringBank Society 15 year Port Barrel

Spirits Blind Tasting - A Spirits People Podcast

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.
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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

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