Murray McDavid Tasting Notes

Murray McDavid Renegagde Cuban Rum, Sancti Spiritus 11 year old 46%

2009, Second Release

Bourbon/ Allegrini Amarone

Tasted: 2009

Pungent aromas of sugar cane, menthol and high toned dried fruit. Slightly butyric with very subtle red wine notes. With time hints of chlorine and camphor.

The palate is crisp and light with dried fruit, sugar cane, menthol, camphor and just a smidgen of winey red fruits. Lively and intense character with a long, dusty, cinnamon an peppery spice finish with a touch of rose petal and lingering camphor.

Murray McDavid ‘Renegade Rum’ Paradiso Distillery, Cuba 1998 (12 year old) 46%

Bourbon – Amarone – Limited release of 1764 bottles

Tasted: Dec 2010

A soft and gentle, almost whisky-like nose of light orange/ tangerine fruit. The dense Armarone notesare rather well behaved and sits in the background adding a subtle dried fruit edge and spiciness. With time it becomes oilier with hints of light coffee liqueur note and a slight herbal-menthol nuance. The only thing missing is the customary butytricity!

A lovely palate of light coffee liqueur, dried fruit and no shortage of oaked red wine flavours. The finishing cask is definitely holding the high ground. Edgy rum notes fight back on the middle and the rancio builds. Soft and long with a mouth watering spice/ menthol finish and coffee/cream after taste. I have to say that at first I thought it was a tad unbalanced, but it grew on me. Yes it is heavy on the finish but the spirit hangs on like grim death and it finally comes out on top at the end.

Edition Spirits Tasting Notes

Edition Spirits Kill Devil Cuban Rum 1999 (17 year old) 46%

Sancti Spiritus Distillery

Code: RUM0036/ Dist: Jun 1999 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Aug 2016

Pungent and oily aromas with an interesting peppery sweetness. Hints of sweet menthol and camphor appear along with some toasty oak. With time the subtle dried tropical fruit notes and vanilla come through along with a touch of wood smoke. Very complex!

The palate is a little more honeyed and vanilla’d, which makes it feel sweeter, but the alcohol balances. The lightly oiled sub-tropical fruit arrives along with hints of herbal pepper, camphor and a touch of burnt wood. Long and herbal with a touch of dark chocolate in the finish. A very well balanced rum with plenty of character.

Edition Spirits Kill Devil Cuban Rum 1999 (18 year old) 46%

Sancti Spiritus Distillery – Column still

Code: RUM0072/ Dist: Jan 1999 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: July 2017

Pungent and medicinal aromas of fleshy apricot, banana and lime with a sprinkling of granulated sugar and subtle oak. The aromas become almost barley-like with time and a touch of sour fruit and what feels like burnt cereal notes.

Full and intense. Maybe not quite as pungent as the nose as the medicinal notes are subtler. Hints of unsweetened honey, apricot and banana follow. Lovely, fresh and citric middle and a long, surprisingly youthful spirit character and lingering dry spice and toasted pineapple skin. Interesting!

Cuban Rum Tasting Notes

Bacardi Superior 37.5%

Tasted: May 2005

Youthful, pungent aromas of fresh citrus. Quite neutral on the palate, slightly perfumed but lacking any discernable character apart from alcohol.

Havana Club Rum 7 year old 40%

Tasted: Dec 2013

The nose is a little on the spirit side with vanilla, dried sultana and apricot, light treacle and coconut. With time a hint of perfumed orange appears.

The palate is light and nutty with treacle, vanilla and dried fruit. Lightly oiled and relatively straightforward with quite a spicy, if somewhat spirit finish. Bitter, woody, chocolaty after-taste.