Great Shearwater’s Maiden Flight – #3
Background
This rum was distilled in Jamaica in February of 2011, racked into an ex-bourbon barrel, aged four years on the island, aged an additional nine years in Europe, and bottled at 54%. Though it doesn’t say so on the bottle, this is Worthy Park distillate. The marque given on the bottle, “JMWP,” has been connected to the distillery’s marque WPM, which has a reported ester count between 120-239 gr/hlpa.
Tasting
The very first thing I get on the nose is an ashy note, almost like a spent cigarette. Then I start to get some of those classic Worthy Park notes like banana, Earl Grey, and toasted marshmallow. There are a few other tropical fruits in there, but I can’t quite tease them out.
On the palate – oh, there they are! Tropical fruits like banana, papaya, and a bit of pineapple appear front and center, making it feel more lively and acidic than other Worthy Parks I’ve had. I also get Earl Grey, some dried mint, and more ash.
Verdict
Now we’re talking! This is very good even by Worthy Park standards. To my surprise, it really delivers on the brand’s promises of tropical fruit notes. It’s my favorite of the bunch, and the easy choice for those who already like rum.
All in all, I think Great Shearwater has some solid picks for their starting lineup. The Worthy Park is the clear standout for me, but the TDLs are good choices for those just dipping their toes into rum. It does feel as though they’re playing it safe with this first trio, which makes sense for a new rum brand trying to reach Kentucky bourbon lovers. The rum nerd in me hopes they’ll get more adventurous in future picks. Thanks again to Great Shearwater for the samples, and I wish y’all the best of luck! (7/10)
Click here to view all posts in my “Great Shearwater’s Maiden Flight” series.