Review by: The Auditor
This sample was provided to me by a producer, distributor, or some other industry source free-of-charge. No compensation, outside of the sample, was received and there were no strings attached.
Review #1324; Rum #629
Here we have a bottling of rum from the Renaissance distillery located in southern Taiwan. This rum was distilled from molasses, fermented for 15 days and aged for 2 years in Limousin oak before ageing another 3 years in ex-Cognac casks. It was then bottled at cask strength with no additives for Raising Glasses.
Distillery: Renaissance
Bottler: Renaissance
Region: Taiwan
Still: Pot
ABV: 67.1%
Nose: Figs, Plums, Dark Chocolate, Candied Orange Peel, Nuttiness, Allspice
Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Figs, Plums, Dark Chocolate, Lavender, Nuttiness, Allspice, Candied Orange Peel, hydraulic fluid
Finish: Long length finish, touch of hydraulic fluid, Figs, Dark Chocolate, Lavender, Nuttiness, Allspice
Conclusion: I have to say, these two casks of Renaissance have changed my mind a good bit on the distillery overall. This bottle is very well balanced but with a touch of that wild funk. The casks here bring in a good oak backbone with superb spice and fruits that have just a hint of weird industrial funk lurking underneath. It’s neck and neck but I’d give a slight edge to the Bordeaux cask release but this one is no slouch either. Given I’ve now tried these expressions, I want to try that base distillate with no ageing. I respect the intense cask ageing these go under but I’d love to know what this tastes like off the still just to have a baseline to compare against.
Final Score: 91
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 