Blackwell is a Jamaican rum made by the Wray & Nephew distillery from a traditional recipe of the Lindo family, the family of the mother of Chris Blackwell (founder of the brand and owner of the Island Record label that launched Bob Marley and U2). The Lindo family once owned the J. Wray & Nephew and Appleton Estate distilleries.
This is a blend of traditional rums distilled in columns (which produce light rums) and in pot stills (which produce heavier, more aromatic rums), and aged for several years in ex-bourbon oak barrels.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose opens with a fresh, fruity, well-balanced English style, with pineapple, melon and a rather gourmand vegetal, between eucalyptus and basil. There's also something sweet about it, like an English candy with a drop of vanilla cream. The banana starts to come into its own, ripe and mellow, reminiscent of Worthy Park rums.
Aeration rids the rum of its light Jamaican edge, concentrating instead on candy and barley sugar. Vanilla and caramel caress a delicate woodiness with hints of tobacco and banana.
The initial palate is spicy, with light, slightly spicy alcohol. Then the rum quickly melts into sweet, pastry, vanilla and caramel notes, before tightening again to a dark, strongly toasted woodiness.
The finish remains taut due to this dry, charred wood, then the rum fades on notes of barley sugar.
