New Jamaican Overproofs: Monymusk versus Wray & Nephew Parish Collection
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- Опубліковано 17 чер 2024
- I've been growing increasingly impressed with the rum coming out of Monymusk/Clarendon distillery over the last few years - see • Hello Monymates! Hamil... and • 20+yo Jamaican Rum Tet... and • Dunder-Free Jamaica: M... for reference - but at least until recently their official releases were, so far as I know, 40% meh that I really wasn't interested in. But times change, and now Monymusk has finally dealt itself into the same big game as Jamaica's other distilleries: there's a brand new White Overproof, in a liter bottle no less. Such a beast needs a sparring partner, and I have just the thing: a special edition of the iconic Wray & Nephew, one even stronger than usual. So review time, off we go:
- Monymusk Plantation Full Overproof White Rum (Jamaica; pot and column distilled molasses, bottled circa 2022; 63% ABV), 86/100
- Wray & Nephew "Parish Collection" White Overproof Rum (Jamaica; pot and column distilled molasses, bottled 2022; 70% ABV), 86+/100
The Parish Collection Wray gives off hints of high ester stuff when at full proof - there's more than a little Charley's in there, and see • Once Again, the Jamaic... for that comparison - but taken down to normal levels it presents as good old W&N. Which is fine with me. It's a great bottle for collecting, then, but not one I'd necessarily go out of te way for. The Monymusk is much more elegant, if that word can be used in this context: it's fruity and floral and subtly smoky, friendly even. Scorewise it might be the least of the white overproofs, but I'm delighted to have it in the bar anyhow.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
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I picked up a bottle of the monymusk. I can't help but wish the blend was more loud and obnoxious, but I think this is gonna make some seriously killer cocktails.
I've never had probitas, but this is what i would've hoped an unaged Bajan/Jamaican blend tasted like
Boy do I love the white overproof rum category! Not sure if I’ve announced that to the YT universe enough 😂
You can never say it loud enough! 😁
@@differentspirits4157 very very true!
Excellent reviews. Well done! The Monymusk sounds great!
Thank you!
The comment about the gun range had me cracking up. Based off of previous comments we were aware. The rum definitely sounds interesting.If I see it I'll have to pick it up.
Gunsmoke is actually a pretty common thing on Monymusks. I wonder what they have going on down there in Clarendon?? 😂
I haven't tasted Charley's or this parish collection but the way you describe the flavours it suggests to me that they are using the same recipe as W&N but adding in more "heads" from the cuts. Heads are much stronger abv and can give a sweet taste.
That's really interesting, actually. With other spirits (brandy, agave...) I expect heads to be aggressively floral and high-toned - maybe rum is a bit different?
Any news on the new Worthy Park OP? I hear it's going to replace the Rum Bar OP.
Yes. That is correct. I’m stocking up RB overproof
Rum Bar is going Jamaica only from here on out, unfortunately. The good news is that the new WP OP is now around in the US - which means I need a bottle soon.
where is the Mount Gay Navy Strength Overproof review ? I hear it's pretty good for what it is and can be had for less than $30. Barbancourt Overproof is getting good reviews also for it's price point. The only thing I want is the Worthy Park Overproof that is suppose to drop here in the states this month at around $30
To my deep annoyance, the Mount Gay and Barbancourt still haven't popped up in Chicago or at any of my go-to online retailers. But I do actually have some MG and Barbancourt reviews on the way, just not those!! (The new Worthy Park is actually available, however, so clearly I need to go grab one...)
Uh oh. I just stumbled across something that I just had to bring to your attention in case it's ever of interest to you: the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience. 50 ml sample of each of their 10 recipes (2 mashbills times 5 yeast strains). Seems interesting.
I've been staring at that for at least a year. It's a bit optimistically priced, but when it finally goes on sale... 🤩
@@differentspirits4157 Yes! Very optimistically priced. 1/4 the volume of the similarly priced and more exciting Hampden 8 Marks set. And I don't even like Four Roses that much. But it is interesting to see yeast highlighted for a change as a major driver of aroma and taste. And I kind of want to try their "O" yeast strain, which is supposedly the fruitiest and least herbal and keeps getting good reviews.
@@differentspirits4157 Speaking of yeast, I'm excited to see some nascent efforts to move away from efficient distiller's yeast in search of more aroma and flavor from old school methods:
1) Apparently Benromach and Ben Nevis are two of the only distilleries to use at least some brewer's yeast instead of distiller's yeast, and therefore make more old school (and sometimes more fruity) Scotch. Why am I not surprised that Benromach is your ride or die Scotch brand?! 🙂
2) There are two start-up scotch distilleries pursuing similar old school methods including brewer's yeast: Dornoch (from the Thompson Brothers) and Kythe (from Angus McRaild). The raison d'etre of Kythe is answering the question: "How the f*** do you get tropical fruit flavors in whisky?" starting from the premise that: "We know efficiency to be the enemy of character"
3) And this guy from the blog Boston Apothecary has assembled all these century-old documents from rum distillation science, and has concluded a few things:
a) The best rums are "radiant," which he thinks means they contain molecules known to perfumers which don't have strong odors themselves but brighten and amplify other esters.
b) The most important radiants are "rose ketones" which he thinks are the "rum oil" discussed in the old literature and notably produced by Hampden.
Doing things inefficiently again to max out flavor is a tough business proposition but an exciting one. And if ever it can work, it's now, in the age of much better informed aficionados of Different Spirits!
@@bigalmichel Well, that's as good as reason as any for me to buy some Dornoch... 😂 And yes, I know Boston Apothecary and the gospel of rum oil very well. Absolutely amazing resource, although I also think you have to apply a bit of skepticism at times. More power to inefficiency!!
W&N hasn’t been available around the San Diego area for several months now. I wonder if anyone knows what’s going on with that?
That's odd, it's Campari so it should get distribution basically everywhere. You might have to directly ask your local if they can bring it in, they might be assuming no one is interested.
An internet search turned up a few Reddit threads discussing the shortage, it seems people all over the country have been having a tough time finding it of late. One user wrote this, “There has been an issue with overflow in the dunder pits and no legal way for them to dispose of the waste materials, effectively halting production. They announced the purchase of a new multi-million dollar still earlier this year though, so I imagine work on new pits is part of the program. I'd expect it to be back in full force this time next year. For now, buy whatever you can.”