Review by: The Auditor
This rum comes to us from the Renaissance rum distillery located in Taiwan. This distillery is doing a ton of interesting things when it comes to their rum production process. This rum was fermented for 15 days (on the longer side) and fermented with dunder. It was then double distilled before ageing for 3 years in hard roasted white oak cask “White Alligator Cask” before being bottled at cask strength with no additives. This distillery has tons of different casks with rum ageing in it, sherry, wines, ex-rum’s. Their labels tend to really stand out with any information you could ever want as a rum nerd as well. This is my first brush with the distillery so I am excited and hope this has some good things going on.
Distillery: Renaissance
Bottler: Original Bottling
Region: Taiwan
Still: Pot
ABV: 64.8%. Cask strength.
Age: 3 years. Distilled in 2018. Bottled in 2021.
Cask type: New Charred Oak, 3 Years in Taiwan.
Price: $200.00
Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: Caramel, Dark Chocolate, vanilla cream, Sandalwood, vinegar, Raspberry
Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Banana, Black Pepper, Cream, Sandalwood, Raspberry, orange peel
Finish: Medium length finish, Black Pepper, Banana, Sandalwood, Raspberry, Chorine, Orange Peel
Conclusion: For my first foray into Renaissance I am quite impressed. This has solid flavors all around, spices, fruits, and it all meshes together very well. It does not lean into over-oaked or tannic either, which is impressive considering the New Oak cask and the tropical environment it aged in. Quite pricey but that is to be expected for a rum from Taiwan I suppose. However, it doesn’t rise above very good for me as its missing that oomph for something. Still, its very good and well crafted. I would buy a bottle if it wasn’t so expensive just to support what they are doing.
Final Score: 84
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 