Review #1056; Rum #384
This sample was provided to me by a producer, distributor, or some other industry source free-of-charge, La Maison and Velier in this case. No compensation, outside of the sample, was received and there were no strings attached. You can read our full statement of Ethics & Transparency at this link.
Here we have another fun sample from La Masion & Velier with their Transcontinental Rum Line brand. Born out of a label created by La Maison du Whisky this brand celebrates rum by way of the voyage from the country of distillation and aging to Europe for aging and bottling. All their rums are aged a mix of tropical and continental and bottled with no additives of any kind. It’s an interesting line from various countries and tonight we start with Mauritius, an island nation located in the Indian ocean.
Distillery: Gray’s
Bottler: Transcontinental Rum Line
Region: Mauritius
Still: Column Still
ABV: 50%.
Cask Type: New American Oak, 2 years in Mauritius, 1 year in Europe
Price: $50.00
Nose: Spicy, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Cola, cardamom, apple
Palate: Medium mouthfeel, Apple, Cinnamon, Allspice, Clove, Vanilla, Nutmeg
Finish: : Medium length finish, Spicy, Cinnamon, Allspice, Clove, Nutmeg, Apple, Vanilla
Conclusion: I will admit, when I saw New Oak was the aging vessel for this rum I was a little apprehensive at first. New oak is a very powerful ageing vessel, especially when given the 2 years of tropical ageing that occurred. I put aside my thoughts and just tasted the rum and came away pleasantly surprised. It’s a very apple pie kind of thing going on with a load of spices and vanilla all throughout. The distillate works well with the base new oak. A very good from TCRL and given the price of around $50, a very unique offering for the price.
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 