015: Barbados 2000 Rum (undisclosed Mount Gay Distillery), 22 Years, 51.9%

Title: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto (2011)
Photographer: Russel Wong

Pure Single Barbados Rum
(Undisclosed Mount Gay Rum Distillery)
22 Years Old

Distilled June 2000
Bottled February 2023

Bourbon Barrel, Cask #43
One of 234 bottles

ABV - 51.9%, 70cL



Russel Wong is one of the most prolific fashion and
portrait photographers in Singapore and Asia. Russel
enjoys the acclaim of being the first Singaporean to
break into the notoriously difficult Hollywood movie
and the recording industry.

As a continuation of his exploration of Japanese culture
& landscapes, in this KyoMurasaki series, Russel
showcases a curated selection of beautiful, yet, fleeting
moments, across Japan.

This rum barrel, which has the mark "MG" & is distilled in
St Michael’s Parish, Barbados; has approximately 6 years of tropical
aging & 16 years of continental aging.


The bottle comes with a commemorative lucky charm inspired by the Japanese omamori. 

---

A Japan-Singapore-Indonesia Creative Alliance (J.S.I.C.A) bottling

🇯🇵
Bar Lamp Ginza, Rum&Whisky Kyoto - Famous Rum bars in Japan
& Rudder Ltd (Japanese importing Company)


🇸🇬
D.Bespoke (Japanese Cocktail Bar in Bukit Pasoh, Singapore)
Malt, Grain & Cane (Singapore based Independent bottler)


🇮🇩
Miles Whisky Bar ( Jakarta, Indonesia )

---

Tasting Notes by 88Bamboo.co

Color: Amber

Aroma: Densely rich, with sticky date pudding, figs, raisins, tobacco leaves, and fruit cake - incredibly aromatic. This eases up into more uplifting aromas of fresh laundry, vanilla cream, and white flowers. More on this incredibly vibrant licorice and sarsi cola and root beer float. The florals evolve into more heather honey and lavender. Does it ever stop?

Taste: A burst of fruit flavors - lychees and fresh longans, leaning more towards a vinous sensibility. More on vine leaves, and black tea tannins, alongside a good heap of brown sugar, nutmeg, and clove.

Finish: More on that sarsi cola and licorice. A touch of tinned lychees and fresh longan in syrup - incredibly ester-y. A touch of black tea and cola gummies. More on Japanese peaches and fruit nectar.


88Bamboo's Thoughts

Good Lord is the finish splendid! This has all the markings on Vintage 2003 TDL’s (Trinidad Distillers Limited) and Vintage 2006 Foursquare - all those glorious lychees, longans, and ester-y peaches, but without losing that signature Bajan sarsi cola. 

With so much complexity, the aromas would throw you off - you’d have thought this was as good as it gets, and then on the palate you’re just absolutely floored. Those ester-y tropical fruits and leafy vinous tannins kept growing with each sip, accentuating, and crystalizing.

It has a good texture as well, with a nice glowing warmth. 

Masterclass.