I'd recently heard of this rum, U2?
Blackwell's Dark Rum is a new label and rum owned by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Isand Records (Bob Marley, U2, et al.) Island was THE up and coming label after signing Bob Marley, but his early death and a number of the usual music business shenanigans with U2 led to a checkered history. Another little known fact is that Blackwell is related to the Wray & Nephews' family.
Needless to say anybody who has anything to do with Jamaica and Marley loves rum and gardening and apparently Blackwell is no exception. No longer a young man he has the time and money to play and what better than a signature rum, typically a ho hum event around these parts.
Why? Most of these "signature" rums or spirits are jokes, wherein a distiller/promoter simply cuts a deal with a luminary who is paid so that his/her name can be plastered on the bottle selling the SOS. However there are exceptions like Sammy Hagar's tequila and rum - but only because these were his ideas, his company, his love and his determination to actually create and sell a fine spirit.
So how and why Blackwell's?
It so happened I'd traveled to Total Wine to find and suggest good deals for this holiday season, some "best buys" appropriate for celebrating what's left of our holiday and our nearly destroyed economy. Among my suggestions were three that were on my personal short list:
Bacardi's higher proof Heritage Edition, at $19
Sammy's batched, Hawaiian cane juice rum, at $24, and
Blackwell's Dark, at $26.
Trust me this was a very tough decision. Good word is out on Sammy's and I applaud any non-AOC effort. The Heritage comes in at 89 proof and I suspect quite well done and tasty. But when push came to shove I have always loved the Jamaican style and British Royal Navy rum and it's funky Jamaican element. Yes, I had my doubts about a signature rum, but it seemed promising, as (a) it was Jamaican, (b) made by the incomparable Wray & Nephews of the world class OP and (c) aged (think Myers's).
I grabbed the Blackwells? Brilliant choice or had I succumbed to marketing? Read on...
A combined review...
"Blackwell's presented as a slightly cloudy mahogany with a thin but honest green edge. Good so far. As far as the nose goes (intended) there was but one word upon which both Sue Sea and I agreed: rich. Very rich. Rich and overripe black banana, over a creme brulee, prune and a Sue Sea's fig, dates and vanilla. I'd also add a nice background leather and dunder funk.
This is where a rum taster should get suspicious, as it's almost predictable that such a rich - perhaps overly rich - open may well lead to a cloying sweet palate and lip licking finish like Brinley's or Trini Zaya. A reasonable fear.
In this regard Blackwell's disappointed, but in a good way. An early creamy honey (oh, oh) palate does indeed emerge but to be immediately balanced by a significant and growing heat (ginger and both white and black pepper), and a leather astringency. Both of these - the heat and leather - tame and balance any sweetness which may have threatened. And it is this lovely balance that makes this rum terrific.
Blackwell's Dark Rum is completely consistent, modestly complex, hearty, harmonious, solid and level. It is produced with grace and skill by a good company who knows how to make a great rum. I doubt that it is long aged, but some age is apparent. Very nice. "
Final Notes:
Sue Sea is a terrific cook, and I quote: "This is a great baking rum and would make a simply heavenly rumcake with its hearty and classic rummy flavors that remind me of Legend or Pussers. It is a solid Jamaican rum, definitely not the liqueur-like rum we'd feared. ". I would add this rum will go well with ice. Blackwell's has powerful flavors that will mix well in Pusser's fashion.
Score (ten is best): 7.
*******
Addenda: the rating on Blackwell's - which I now consider a Zaya-lite - has been lowered to a "7" for the reason of suspected alteration. See next post.
http://www.blackwellrum.com/therum.html
http://www.drinkspirits.com/rum/blackwe ... um-review/