Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve 2022 is inspired by the historic rums of the Black Tot collection. Master blender Oliver Chilton wanted to pay tribute to them with this complex, refined blend.
This blend includes rums from Guyana (29%), Barbados (25%), Jamaica (7%) and Trinidad (22%).
A portion of the previous blend ( Master Blender's Reserve 2021) has also been integrated, after a further period in sherry casks.
This blend contains rums aged from 2 to 30 years, plus a small proportion of the original British Navy blend.
A QR code on the bottle gives you access to the exact recipe and the proportions of each of the rums in this cuvée.
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, it seems that this time the master blender has chosen to place greater emphasis on ageing. In fact, we're in the presence of a very greedy woodiness, soft but present, enriched by a few fruity flights of fancy that go a long way to confiding its tannins.
With aeration, soft, vegetal notes emerge, also candied, in the manner of a still raw cane sugar with herbaceous reminiscences. With a little rest, a more traditional profile settles in, with heavy, jammy exotic fruit and a creamy, pastry-like register that hints at frangipane.
The palate strikes a fine balance between power and greed, with an uncompromising profile, a little more forthright and a little less consensual than on the nose. The slingshot is led by brilliant copper, bolstered by mineral and roasted gunpowder. All this settles down and relaxes, leading naturally to a set of candied fruits caressed by a resinous sabayon.
The finish is rich and mellow, like a raw sugar loaf, the molasses with its roasted edges lingering on the tongue, clove-like.
"A rich and inspiring assembly, which takes us on an exciting journey..."
By comparison, the Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve 2021 had a more tropical nose, with heavy, creamy exotic fruit. Wood and copper gently entered the scene to bring a patina of wax and spice, but the whole remained rather pastry-like. On the palate, Trinidad's tarry character made an appearance alongside hints of roasted nuts. Typical Jamaican fruitiness took over, before a full-bodied finish of exotic fruit, olive and smoky spices.
Fred
Quick delivery for an exceptional bottle in relation to the history of this rum.