The second release in the Rare Cask Series marries together two even older single casks than last year with even less rum in each barrel. Found in the warmest parts of Medine’s ageing stores and evidently at certain times of the day catching some natural sunlight, the evaporation is rather severe. The result is an ABV of around 78% on each cask, and less than 20% of the original rum remaining in each barrel.

With too little volume to economically bottle as a single cask, and for us at Navigate, far too precious to use in a blend, these casks have been combined to do the rum justice while still allowing us the opportunity to taste some of the oldest casks found at Medine Distillery.

Tasting Notes

Colour:  Golden brown.

Profile:  Creamy.

Nose:  The first whiff will awaken the “food lover” in any person. An array of dessert notes, sweet treats, pastry, marmalade, ripe fruits (prunes) and other sweet pleasures. Very typical of Medine Distillery’s old rum which is well represented in this expression.

The ex-whisky and ex-cognac has a very well balanced aroma, with an integrated wood, which has developed the rum’s fruity dessert notes. The cognac cask is dominant with gentle wood spices, wafer biscuits and cigar, but the whisky cask integrates well to provide a soft malty balance.

Palate:  The first sip brings in a creamy sensation, with an explosion of sweetness. Very well integrated, this rum disperses itself perfectly around the tongue, in a velvetiness that at 55%, is hard to believe. Wafer biscuits, gentle wood spices and a touch of cigar combine with notes of baked pudding.

Finish:  Easy to drink, and quite long, with a touch of nutty fruits at the end.