Down Island Brazil 12yr 2011

Review by: The Auditor

Review #1111; Rum #436

This rum was produced at the Epris distillery in Brazil. A blend of 80% cane juice and 20% molasses distillate was run through a column still and blended. This rum aged for 6 years in Brazil in Amburana casks and then aged for another 6 years in Europe in American oak casks before being bottled at cask strength.

Distillery: Epris

Bottler: Down Island

Region: Brazil

Still: Column

ABV: 55.1%. Cask strength.

Age: 12 years. Distilled in 2011. 6 years in Brazil in Amburana, 6 years in UK in American Oak

Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Dark Chocolate, Green Bell Pepper, Earthy

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Dark Chocolate, vegetal, earthy, vanilla

Finish: Long, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Dark chocolate, black tea, vanilla

Conclusion: This is a great release. The blend of Molasses and Cane juice makes for an interesting base as does the age on this rum. I think the 2nd maturation in American Oak helps to tame down the Amburana for me. However, that cinnamon note is so strong and prevalent even still it brings this down a bit for me. A very good rum and quite different to other releases out there.

Final Score: 88

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.

Published by The Auditor

Unknown's avatar

I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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