Great Shearwater’s Maiden Flight – #1
Background
Great Shearwater Rum is a new independent bottler based in Louisville, Kentucky. The brand will be releasing three new rums for the Kentucky market in August: two Trinidadian rums and one Jamaican. Though their products may attract some attention from rum lovers, their marketing has been strongly directed toward “converting” the American whiskey crowd.
Andy from Great Shearwater rum graciously sent me samples of their first three releases free of charge. All opinions contained in my reviews are entirely my own.
Up first in this trio is a fourteen-year-old TDL, marque TMA5. It was distilled in January of 2010, racked into an ex-bourbon barrel, aged five years at the distillery, aged an additional nine years in Europe, and bottled at 58% without additives in 2024.
Tasting
The nose opens with petrichor, then lemon essence, black tea, mint, and pumpernickel. The appearance and aroma suggest a fairly subdued oak influence.
On the palate, I get black tea, dried orange peel, fresh lemon, black pepper, and faint raspberry. There’s some menthol, but it’s nothing like the menthol bombs of 2002 and 2003. This drinks well under proof – one might even say it’s smooth.
Verdict
I like this. It’s certainly a departure from some of the more funky, intense TDLs I’ve tried. Judged on its own merits, it’s a pleasant, relatively light column rum. If that sounds like something you can get into, it might be worth grabbing a bottle. For me, it’s just over the line for earning a (7/10).
Click here to view all posts in my “Great Shearwater’s Maiden Flight” series.