Real McCoy Limited Edition 2016 Bourbon & Madeira 12-Year

The color is lighter brown hue, the label claims no "artificial colors or additives", so if something "natural" like tannin infusion was used, I cannot say. I would not mind, since color adjustments is defacto standard practice of the industry, bar some independent bottlers.

The nose is intense and pleasant, especially after adding a splash of water (recommended, since it's a 46 ABV rum), harmonious notes of gingerbread, apricots, dried apples.

The palate is on the sweet side, more apricots, brown cake, brown sugar, some vanilla, with pronounced Madeira cask influence, tempered by tannin astringency from the oak, medium-bodied with lingering, pleasant, warm finish.

The main selling point is the perfect harmony of this rum, both on the nose and on the palate. Currently my favorite rum.

I was finally able to get a bottle of this recently while in England since it’s impossible to find in the States and I’m happy to report it’s as great as I imagined. Each time I try it I pick up something new in the flavor profile. I really wished I bought more than one bottle!

barva : jantar
vune vanilka, typicky barbados
chut: 46% je v chuti akorat, plné tělo,lehká sladkost, po madeire
zaver : tmavé ovoce a dřevitost, vyrazně lepší než 10tka
hodnoceni 8,4
koupit ano z 50%
Alcohol 46 %

Vyrazny rum na chuti i ve vuni, spise svetlejsi barva. Silny v alkoholu

even heavier molasses and syrup flavors up front than the 5, a long burn on the back. with a chew, it lights up the cheeks. less oily than the 5

barva nahnědlá
- vůně velmi příjemná, Barbadoská, nasládlá, ovoce, koření
- chuť velmi jemná, nasládlá, spousta ovoce, koření

taste - 9/10
smell - 9/10
sweetness - 7.5/10
price/value rating - 7.5/10

This is a rougher type of rum from Barbados from the famous Foursquare distillery at 40% strength. The rum was aged for 12 years in oak bourbon barrels.

Bottle: Classic whiskey shape
Colour: Dark Amber
Nose: Intense and very pleasantly sweetish. Aromas of caramel, baked apples with lemon, vanilla, spices (cloves, pepper) and later oak wood wafted from the glass.
Taste: Dry and harsh at first, then mellowing on the palate. After sipping, I smelled bitter cocoa, wood and pepper. The bitterness is noticeable, but surprisingly not unpleasant.
Finish: Medium to long.

Summary: The product is more suitable for lovers of drier rums. I guess my earlier preference for sweeter types is starting to change, but I really enjoyed this rum. The main characteristics are: sweet aroma, dry and smooth taste.

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10

Delicious. Complex. A thing of beauty. I love this rum to sip on. For those who are in the whiskey world and think of rum as a spirit to hide in fruit juice, this variation may sway their opinion.

Price seems to be a common theme with my thoughts on Real McCoy rums. I buy from the importer of both (same company). This 12yo is 80% more expensive than Doorly's 12yo and 25% more expensive than the Doorly's 14yo. And to me that's just crazy - you're paying Foursquare's mark-up as well as Real McCoy's mark-up.

But the rum is good. Real good.

I love a wooded nose that carries through to the body and on to the finish. And this has it. Unlike the lesser McCoy's 12yo this has the acidity/spirit to it that carries the length. Maybe it's not as subtle nor delicate on the finish as the Doorly's 12yo (which to me has one of the better finishes you can find) but it is very appealing and long.

So then I thought, given that it's 25% more expensive than the Doorly's 14yo. why not try the 2 side by side - McCoy @ 46%, Doorly's 14yo @ 48%. Both fresh bottles.....and to me, here's the problem. The Doorly's 14yo, cheaper, richer, fuller, as sweet as the madeira aged McCoy. Better finish. Longer length. More sophisticated. Just better all round and cheaper.

Which leads to the question, why would you pay 25% more for McCoy 12yo madeira finish over Doorly's 14yo? The answer to that for the future, is I wouldn't. That's a great shame as the rums from McCoy are really good, but just badly priced.