Rum-Review-A-Day: Day 7 - 1423 Single Barrel Selection - Dominican Republic 2006 (12 yo) - 55% abv.

This is another one of the exceptional S.B.S. releases from 1423 in Denmark. This time the rum is a molasses-based column still rum distilled in the Dominican Republic at an unspecified distillery. It was distilled in 2006 and bottled in September 2018 in Denmark, making it a 12 year old rum. A total of 309 bottles were produced and released at cask strength of 55% abv.

On the nose apples (green and red), cherries, plums and unripe nectarines…take these and boil them in tar. That is the first thing that comes to mind. Followed shortly after by a hefty amount of baking spices; cinnamon & clove heavy. A nice briny character is also coming through mixed with wet leather and shoe polish. Almost like the smell of a well maintained horse saddle. Rubber and vanilla. Chocolate and asphalt. Oak and plastic. The aromas in this are incredibly well balanced, with nothing jumping out in front of the other, yet somehow being full of power and every note has its own spotlight. Under all of it there is a slight smokey scent, similar to that given off by once-burned charcoal.

…I really didn’t want to write this, but the more I go back to it, the more this charcoal together with the brininess reminds me of delicious bacon smothered in sweet maple syrup!

On the palate the initial flavour is spice. Cinnamon and, surprisingly, liquorice & star anise. Burnt (very burnt -even bitter) sugar with slight buttery notes. Vanilla, dark bitter chocolate and coffee. Leather. Malt. Dark wet wood. Charcoal…There is nothing light and easy about this rum. This rum is closer to a beat-down in a back ally than it is to a walk in the park. I don’t even know where to begin to describe the fruits. They are there on the nose, but very much back-seat passengers on the taste. There are some dried raisins with rotten apples and perhaps a hint of green pear and bitter orange peel.

The finish on this is long and dry and salty and bitter and hot and...my mouth feels violated. But not necessarily in a bad way. (I might end up regretting that quote).

This rum is definitely worth trying. It’s hot and heavy and works perfectly for a dark, cold, winter night.

1423’s SBS series has my attention...

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