1423 Single Barrel Selection - Panama 2006 (12 yo) - 55% abv.
Time to dig in to another Single Barrel Selection from 1423 in Denmark. This time we are heading to Panama. Basic info on the rum has previously been described by Wes Burgin (here), and I have previously posted about 1423 and their SBS releases. Briefly, we are dealing with a 55% column still rum, which was bottled at 12 years of age yielding 311 bottles. One thing that I can add about this specific bottling is that it was distilled at Varela Hermanos distillery and is 100% tropically aged in bourbon barrels.
On the nose - Comes across relatively light and approachable for 55%. Up front I am getting fresh cut oak, but not in your face tannic. Instead think about the smell in a lumber shop as you walk up and down the isles. There is a fresh fruitiness going on as well; cherries, slightly unripe plums, raspberries. Lots of things that make me think red. Perhaps some nectarines and peaches as well. There is also a slightly sweet undertone that comes across, similar to candied apples. Going back to the red theme, I am also getting slight whiffs of fresh chili peppers. Not so strong on the spices. Subtle vanilla notes. Inviting.
On the palate - OK! This DOES pack a punch. Charred wood. Getting bits from both oak and cedar. The cedar notes tie in nicely with what I can only describe as a sweet pine-sappy syrup of some kind. None of the bitterness though. Can you make pine flavoured maple syrup? If so I think it would taste something like this. The red fruits I was getting on the nose are somewhat lost here. Instead i am getting more of a bruised apple thing...
dipped in toffee…although perhaps some maraschino cherries and preserved peaches are there in the background. There is something pleasantly sweet about this rum, without it actually being sweet…Some peppery notes with hints of cloves. A slight nuttiness…it’s interesting, there is A LOT of flavour here but no one thing sticks out. Incredibly well balanced. Elegant rum, this.
Mouth feel is slightly oily while still feeling light. The 55% make it a tingly hot. Finish is long. Sweet. Rich.
Yum. I will pour myself some more.