Rum Nation is a rum company based in Italy created by Fabio Rossi in 1999. Fabio travels around the Caribbean and Americas to find the best rums he can find and release in limited editions and has since it`s start been giving out a wide array of rum styles, with a particular focus to the differences between the various geographical countries of production, their unique qualities and aromas.
Now here is some really interesting rums coming out from Rum Nation – small batch rare rums from Guyana.
This reminds me a lot about the three single cask expressions that came from El Dorado a while ago, all high proof. These type of rums are to my belief increasingly popular and from how it looks to me, they sell fast despite the higher prices.
The first three cask strength bottlings are very small batch releases with each bottle individually numbered, detailing the cask numbers and the distillery of production.The bottles are also in new design but sort of still keeping the hallmark of Rum Nation but instead of the usual cork there is a glass stopper and a new tube for an elegant gift presentation.
These three bottles have some beautiful and funny labels with tropical animals on them, a sure thing to catch attention.I find them really cool. This first release of three bottlings is meant to give a first taste of many more to come.
Here are my thoughts on the three expressions:
Port Morant 1995/2016 at 57.7 %Â
The color of this 21 year old Port Mourant rum is a deep dark amber with some ruby red hints, beautiful. The nose is a typical “old” woody demerara smell mingled with tannins and ripe mashed tropical and dark fruits.
The mouth is spicy and woody, strong, heavy and dry. It`s a real ass-kicker! it`s made in the famous double wooden pot still and it`s a small batch of 170 bottles. A heavy and powerful demerara with a medium long and woody finish.
It`s a bottle packed with power and strength!
Diamond 2005/2016 58.6%
The Diamond is of more or less the same color as the Post Morant, just very slightly lighter. The nose is mild and fruity, creamy and sweet with a hint of spice. It doesn`t have any much at all of the typical heavy woody demerara nose, just a little undertone.
The taste is very aromatic and rich, with wood and tropical fruits, spice, raisin, prunes and it´s very flavorful, more than what the nose hints at. It has a little sharpness to it and a little grassy (?) hint or something I cannot really define what it is but the rum is lovely! It also has a long spicy finish. It`s probably the most interesting of the three. Small batch of 473 bottles were made.
Enmore 2002/2016 Â at 56.8%
The color of this rum is light yellowish straw and it was made in the famous Enmore wooden coffey still. It has a mild nose with fine fruity notes, lovely citrus, apricot, and tropical fruits.
The taste is dry and almost astringent, light wood, hints of anise, a bit peppery and estery and very aromatic. Love it! It has a long peppery and spicy finish. 442 bottles were made of this expression.
Final thoughts –  It has been very enjoyable to try these out and I like them all, they are different from each other, with their own peculiar characters and each of them are very good rums indeed. When it comes to additives and added sugar and such I don`t pick up anything and I believe these are just pure rums and pure rums is what I prefer when I drink it neat.
And for those that doesn`t know, if there is any sugar in rum it has been added after distillation by the producer because rum – like all other distilled alcohols, does NOT contain sugar after distillation.
If I would pick one as a favorite it would be the old pungent Port Morant closely followed by the very interesting Diamond. But I would love to have all three of them.The only problem is that these kind of rums are very expensive so my advice when it comes to small batch and cask strength rums is try before you buy.
I hope to see more rums like these! Fabio Rossi have done a great job bringing out these three lovely rum expressions!
Here´s my older posts about rums from Rum Nation:
Anniversary Edition 12 year Old Rum, Barbados.
Rum Nation Jamaica Pot Still Limited Edition White Rum