What's that taste?


Sign up or Log In to change notification settings.
KE
Keith Brockmiller ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 27 ratings Author Posted 7 Apr '17

There is a flavor in certain rums that I am having a dickens of a time describing. The 1st time I tasted it was in Wray and Nephew Overproof. That was horrible stuff and I couldn't finish it. That's saying something. Then it came up again in Appleton estate Signature. So now I'm seeing a trend, and it seems everything I have tried from Jamaica has this same flavor. Then I tried Kirk and Sweeny 12YO and the flavor is there, but balanced out by other qualities that make it an asset rather than a liability. It's a sweetness that I have never encountered before, VERY cloying. I almost have trouble calling it a sweetness. I don't think it's been corked, unless EVERY Jamaican rum I have ever tried is corked. Not to mention some of the bottles were screw top. I am a bit of a rookie in the sipping rum arena, so I imagine over time I will develop the terminology for what this is. Does anyone else know what this might be? Some of you old timers {Kieron? ;-) } care to take a stab at this? It's just driving me batty, and for the life of me, I just don't know what it might be. I feel as though I'll have trouble writing a decent review unless I can accurately convey what this component is.
TO
Tom ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 230 ratings Replied 27 Dec '17

Yes, exactly! Plus they have many rums that you canโ€™t buy here in the States. Shipping is expensive, however, if you have your heart set on a hard to find rum for your collection, it may be worth the added cost!
KE
Keith Brockmiller ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 27 ratings Author Replied 27 Dec '17

Duly noted, Tom. Thanks. I had noticed that poking around over there. Master of Malt I believe.
TO
Tom ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 230 ratings Replied 27 Dec '17

Hey Keith, I know that it is more expensive, however if you order rums from the UK, often times, you can purchase a sample of the rum, so you donโ€™t have to like you said buy a full bottle and not like the rum.
KE
Keith Brockmiller ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 27 ratings Author Replied 27 Dec '17

Thanks for the input guys. The term "esters" should have come to mind for me since I used to make beer.That was a sure sign that you did something wrong, when the esters came thru more than the barley, hops and yeast. The toasted marshmallow I like, but when it tips into butterscotch, that's too much. Rum shouldn't taste like that, at least in my book. I wish there was a way of labelling them so I don't buy a 5th of something I can't stand. I don't go to the kind of bars where you can get all these exotic rums. Actually I don't go to bars that often. Most of my tasting is done on cruise ships.
TO
Tom ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 230 ratings Replied 27 Dec '17

In short without getting too complicated, Jamaican rums hav a characteristic of having a funk...Funkiness flavor to them. This being from the use of Dunder, or muck which is like a sludge that accumulates in the pot stills after distillation. Flavors in distilled spirits come from esters. Esters are produced when alcohol molecules combine chemically with an acid. Jamaican rums contain hundreds of fruity esters( ppm) giving Jamaican rums a fruity flavor as well. Ethyl Butyrate is a very common ester in Jamaican rum giving it a fruity and pineapple flavor for one. Hope this helps!
AN
Andrew ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ | 76 ratings Replied 26 Apr '17

I haven't noticed this in Jamaican rums but to me the Kirk and Sweeney 12 has a toasted marshmallow taste to me. Some feel that what I'm tasting is closer to coconut or butterscotch to them.
Andy avatar image
Andy (PREMIUM) ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ | 142 ratings Replied 14 Apr '17

No idea if it's the same taste, but with some Jamaican rums I get a slightly sour note that sometimes resembles sweet.