By The Dutch Batavia Arrack 8-Year

Reminiscent of an agricole rum in taste, this delectable Javanese rum is truly a great tipple. Light Golden in colour with grassy notes, a light fruity finish and some clear menthol aromas, this is a remarkable rum to sip as well as to use in rum forward cocktails. The fermented red rice ads a layer of funk to the proceedings too. Top stuff!

First, I must admit I am not very experienced with arracks, so before I state “typical arrack” I must admit I would not know what I am comparing with.

Nose: Classic smell of aged molasses rum, with a touch more grass and herb, and a sweet smell you could be fooled into associating with spontaneous fermentation.

But on the palate it is very distinct, with subdued funk, and reveals the effect of the addition of rice in complex, pleasant notes of fresh yeast- a bit like boiling, red rice from Thailand but elegant and discrete.

The aftertaste is absolutely not bad for youngish rum. A clear 8, it feels easily like having the sophistication and wisdom of far older rums, yet the little rebellious je-me-sais-quoi from the rice component is certainly present.

Dank seiner 48% sehr intensiv
Duftet fein nach warmen Kräutern mit etwas Vanille und leichter Esthernote.
Im Mund dann kräftig würzig und auf der Zunge dezent süss mit Fruchtigen Anklängen.

20ml uit een advent kalender. Bij het maken van Arak wordt rode rijst gebruikt bij het fermenteren. Levert in ieder geval een pittige rum op, kruidig, pepermunt, alcohol proef je wel (48%)
Wel lekker eigenlijk.

It is a lot of arrack and vanilla in this, could have been a little bit more body but a positive surprise.

Being from the Netherlands arrack (or arak overhere) is not a strange phenomenon; every well stocked liquer store will have a few bottles. I had different bottles in the past without knowing it was part of rums; I thought it stood on its own. Knowing better now I couldn't resist to give it one more go.

On the nose it really stands apart from other rums as there is hardly any fudge or vanilla there. Spices (ginger, cloves), fermented rice (it reminds a bit of sake), sweet flowers and passion fruit come to mind. On the palate it is remarkable mellow despite it has an ABV of 48%. The fermented rice becomes more prominent while the sweet flowers and fruit change a bit towards oranges with cloves. It has a lot of flavour but remains rather light and crisp at the same time. It is in between a sipper and a shot with a prolonged aftertaste of salty grasses.

Interesting and pleasant change of flavours compared to the average rum (as such a rum even excists) and while this will not become my daily glass it is definitely worth to give it a try.

L'arrack est une boisson alcoolisée issue, notamment, de la fermentation de la canne à sucre.
Dans la cas qui nous occupe la mélasse utilisée est produite sur l'île de Java, ensuite, l'arrack vieillit 8 ans aux Pays-Bas. Notons également que du riz rouge fermenté est ajouté à la préparation lors du processus.
Une question, peut-on considérer l'arrack comme un rhum ?

Au nez, il embaume la pièce malgré sa douceur, je perçois des notes plus végétales ainsi que des notes d'agrumes,
En bouche, c'est assez sec et puissant (48%), sur des notes boisées, épicées,
La finale est longue, avec de discrètes notes fruitées :)

Voilà un chouette produit, bien équilibré,

Note : 77,5/100
Merci à 1423 Wolrd Class Spirits et son calendrier de l'Avent :)

Helles Honiggelb im Glas.
In der Nase, ganz speziell anders, erdig nach Wurzeln und nassem Laub durchmischt mit etwas Frucht und Klebstoff.
Im Gaumen sehr elegant und würzig, weisser Pfeffer auf Lebkuchen, Orangen mit Nelken gespickt, schönes angenehmes Mundgefühl.
Im Abgang dezent süss mit Beeren und etwas Salz.
In einer Blindverkostung nicht als Rum zu erkennen aber eine schöne Abwechslung in der Rumlandschaft.
Für Geniesser und Entdecker.

Bright honey yellow in the glass.
In the nose, especially different, earthy mixed with roots and wet leaves with some fruit and glue.
Very elegant and spicy on the palate, white pepper on gingerbread, oranges peppered with cloves, nice and pleasant mouthfeel.
In the finish discreetly sweet with berries and a little salt.
In a blind tasting not to recognize as rum but a nice change in the rum landscape.
For connoisseurs and explorers.

Heavy on the esters, probably why maby reviewers are not used to the taste.

Heavy notes of nutmeg and clove with a taste of spicy and fruity esters. The oak aging really lingers in the finish.

Nkt as refined but a lot of character in flavours.

Na de scherpe Plantation is deze een stuk zachter. Wel zuinig geschonken, als eerste rum van de avond zal hij misschien wat heftig zijn. Gezellige spelletjesavond weer!