Wow. Sorry for the lackadaisical posting folks. Nearly two months since my last post is pretty inexcusable; regardless of how busy I may or may not have been throughout the month of April. Turns out that even when you are writing about something you love; there can still come a feeling of monotony. I will try to be better about that going forward.
It has been a week since I was at the Chicago Rum Festival. I have to say that much like last year; it was quite an amazing experience. One of the best experiences of the entire event was finally being able to meet Zan Kong of Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica. Much like meeting a pen pal; it is a bizarre feeling meeting someone you’ve talked to numerous times for the first time. Although our time together was brief; I was fortunate enough to be part of an illicit rum trade with him and that is what I am reviewing here today.
Worthy Park’s Madeira Special Cask Release is one of those bottles that I never thought I would have in my possession. Mainly because it is not available to the U.S. market. 1 of 677 bottles; this 2013 Vintage is a 100% Pot Still rum aged for five years in a tropical environment. The first four years in first fill ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to ex-Madeira casks for one more year before being bottled at 58% abv.
COLOR
On the lighter side of copper. There is a nice burnt orange aura to it with amber highlights.
NOSE
Like the standard Single Estate Release, there is a wonderful aroma of freshly baked banana bread that instantly greets you. Underneath that there is a note of sweet tea and a very subtle tinge of cooked greens which I find interesting. Going back to the Single Estate Release; I found the aroma of the cooked greens to be much more pungent. As more time is spent with it; aromas of lemon curd, blueberry jam, coriander, and bubblegum find their way through the heavier aromas.
PALATE
On the palate that vegetal and wet tea flavor is at the forefront. Not overwhelming or off-putting; but there. Then it is a rush of rich heavy molasses, Maduro tobacco and mushy banana. At first, the flavors seemed a touched muddled; however, as you spend time with this one, the more everything opened up and the depth became more clear. It should also be noted that water does not do much to open this spirit up. It may “brighten” some notes, but nothing becomes more distinguished. This is a pour to take your time with.
BODY
The palate and body synch up really nicely here. The banana and sweet-sulphuric molasses notes accentuate the creamy mouthfeel of the rum.
FINISH
The high abv comes off slightly acidic and makes the mouth begin to salivate almost instantly. Perhaps acidic is not the right descriptor. It reminds me a bit more like the twang you get from greek yogurt. As that calms, more flavors of English toffee and toasted walnut fade on the palate.
OVERALL
This is a very enticing rum. I’m sure some will be turned off by the vegetal/green note that I am picking up, but it doesn’t overwhelm or taste moldy. Another thing to note is that this is not a “heavy” Jamaican rum. Meaning that it is not intense in those funky/hogo flavors that Worthy Park and other Jamaican Rums can be known for. The funk and terroir meld nicely with the time spent in the ex-bourbon and Madeira flavors creating a really nice depth of flavor, if not overly complex.
This is simply a really nice pour that I am looking forward to having on hand to share with friends going forward. Thank you again, Zan. This bottle is an example of well executed and properly aged rum. I look forward to trying more of the wonderful rums coming from Worthy Park in the future.
