Black Tot Royal Navy

I got a small taste for free so my review is not influenced by my wallet. It smells and taste like straight up molasses. Glad I got a chance to try it but I would never buy it.

The story and history behind it is more of interest than the rum it self. Most places that have it have a shot for $100-200, but it's not an orgasm in a glass. It was made for a bunch of sailors in the 70s.

I had a lot of flagons at one time, which went towards this blend, and kept one back. So it might not be exactly the same.

The nose is fantastic. A complexity that one might not expect from a Royal Navy rum. It also possesses a great length. Rich, opulent, oaky with a nice gentle burn that belies its 54% ABV.

I can put a couple of earlier reviews straight.

Black Tot claim that the flagons come from bonded warehouses around the UK. The review stating that it was found in Germany, might be true I guess for some, but for many, I can confirm that they did indeed come from bonded warehouses, and in particular one in Wiltshire in the subterranean deep ex-chalk mines.

And with another review saying that single flagons were in your face, high proof dogs lacking complexity isn't the case. Well at least not with mine!!

I now have 6½ bottles to enjoy and am glad that I didn't have to pay the retail price for them! I look at my cabinet and see that I gave Pusser's 15yo the same 8. This is a lot lot better than Pussers 15yo, but when taking price into consideration.......!!

I've had British Navy Rum from an old flagon, from the Castle Brands release of British Royal Navy Imperial Rum, and the Black Tot. In blending the Black Tot for consistency, they've really done something special. They took the bite out of the high-proof dog, and added layers of complexity. From a single flagon, the rum is in your face, with singular notes. This tasted like an aria... complex, layered. It's sweeter, but I won't count that against it. At the top.

So, I had this a couple years ago at place called Hogo in DC, which is unfortunately closed now. I ponied up $50 for a one ounce pour on two occasions. Once for me, and a second time to share with a history nerd friend of mine.

So, this rum is not very palatable. It has some nice notes of leather and tobacco with a backdrop of diesel.....or perhaps more like hydraulic fluid. It totally lived up to its expectations. If the military was in the business of distilling spirits, this is the product you would get.

That all being said, if you get a chance to drink this.......do it! Imagine yourself toasting a victory at Trafalgar, or sinking the Bismarck, or suffering from scurvy somewhere in the south Pacific. While this is not the best rum in the world, it is a great way to celebrate and experience how rum played a small part in affecting our world.

I had the occasion to taste a little of this but a little was enough, it`s an explosion of flavors, dark fruits, leather, wood, tropical fruit mash, cocoa, coffee...and the aftertaste stayed for a very very long time, i was quite amazed. It´s way too expensive for me to buy me a bottle though.

So we all know the story given behind the guys responsible for marketing this rum and to be fair they did well (and made good money!). But, I have been made aware of a different version of events which actually means this isnt technically a navy rum at all. In fact it was found in Germany, boxed up in an used section of an army base! No-body knows where it really came from, who distilled it, what is blended in it or who's it really was...?

The rum itself offers treacle on the nose at first, with dark chocolate, black fruits & nuts. Thick and sweet on the palate, becoming light and oaky before berries, espresso & cacao burst through. Great with a nice fat cigar :-D

Rum byl smíchán z rumů ze zásob britského královského námořnictva, kde byl po 40 let skladován v kamenných lahvích a demižonech.
Uveden na trh byl v červenci 2010 (na 40. výročí Black Tot Day) a údajně trvalo rok a půl, než byl výsledný blend hotov.
Guyanská složka v rumu by měla pocházet z Port Mourant.
Vyrobeno mělo být 3000 lahví.

Aroma: Tropické ovoce (banány, kokos, mango a pomeranče), exotické dřevo, skořice. Závan hřebíčku, tabákového kouře a zemitosti. Nádherná vůně.
Chuť: Ovocná, hořké kakao, opět závan koření, decentně se ozývá dřevo.
Dozvuk: Hořké kakao, spálenina a nálož hořkého dřeva. Nic víc. Delší a velmi hořký.
Sladkost: 0/3
Ochutnán vzorek
Nádherná vůně a plná chuť. Potud vynikající, ale dozvuk je překvapivě jednodušší a na můj vkus až příliš hořký. Guyana se opravdu nezapře. Celkově jsem si však pochutnal.

And it was terrific. About half a sip in I realized that it was something unique. Lots of black pepper and some pepper green taste... Like someone dabbed arugala in it? Also lots of brown sugar butter flavor. Terrifically complex. All in all I loved it and would love to get a bottle to savor. But alas... The cost.

It had a sweet smokiness that reminded me of a sweetened Scotch. Given the gunpowder strength it did not have nearly the bite that I expected. Overall it was a decent rum. I would not recommend buying a full bottle as the price to quality ratio just does not make sense. However, if you cam find a 1 to 2 ounce pour at a high end bar, it worth a try for the historical significance of the rum