I don’t commonly venture out to rum, but I can be persuaded every once in a while. Especially when three review samples from Uitvlugt Distillery are sitting in my sample stash. Today we’ve got two 1991 vintages from Jack Tar, and one 1990 vintage from Rum Sponge.
Now, I don’t consider myself an expert on rum. But I do know enough to have heard about the so-called Port Mourant Still, which is the still that produced the two rums from Jack Tar. (Not certain about the Uitvlugt from Rum Sponge.) Then again, rum expert Matt Pietrek calls it “arguably the most famous rum still anywhere.” Maybe that’s why I’m familiar with it also.
You can view the Port Mourant Still in its full glory in the above video. It is a sight to behold. The Port Mourant is named after the estate where it is from originally. The estate was established in 1732, but the present configuration of the Port Mourant still was likely created at a significantly later date. It’s currently housed in the Diamond Distillery in Guyana, but was part of Uitvlugt Distillery from 1968 until 1999.
The Port Mourant Still is made mostly from greenheart wood. Yeah, that’s right. A wooden pot still. It consists of two large, wooden vats. Both vats have big swan necks rising from the top. For more detailed insights, I highly suggest you read Pietrek’s account of his visit to Diamond Distillery. But first, let’s get going with some tasting notes and find out what kind of flavours were created the Port Mourant Still.
Uitvlugt 1991 30 Years (56%, Jack Tar ‘Dream Catcher’, C#3)
Nose: Dusty leather and old books, alongside mineral-rich notes of wet pebbles, whiffs of glue and menthol. Quite earthy at times, some camphor too. Then just slivers of lemon drizzle, a hint of quinces and rubber soles.
Taste: Thick mouthfeel. Mint, menthol, star anise – pick your poison. The rubber-y notes make an encore as well, accompanied by diesel. Also some candied fruit peels and cinnamon, which make for an interesting change of pace. Somewhat dusty, and slivers of furniture polish too.
Finish: Medium to long. A few drops of cough syrup, some fudge and tablet too.
Uitvlugt 1991 31 Years (59.2%, Jack Tar ‘Time Travel’, C#32)
Nose: Very light, almost elegant. Certainly floral, but also with a tinge honeycomb, some cough syrup and just the slightest touch of diesel. Also whispers of lemon zest, furniture polish and dusty Triple sec. Just a sliver of liquorice too, as well as nectarine skin and peaches.
Taste: Pretty intense. Hints of peperoncino, star anise and preserved lemon peel. There’s a fun salinity as well, coupled with more diesel, black olives and furniture polish. Salty liquorice too. Tarmac. Oh, and some shellfish.
Finish: Long. The fierceness of the palate never totally dies down. Funky.
Uitvlugt 1990 33 Years (51.8%, Rum Sponge, Edition No. 26)
Nose: A curious mixture of olive brine and petrol, alongside a whisper of cumin seeds, plaster and underripe pineapple. Also whiffs of varnish, salty liquorice, something slightly minty and fresh limes. Pickly, and at times bordering on floral.
Taste: Fatty mouthfeel. More petrol, black tar and green olives, but then also damp oak, walnut skins and Schoolkrijt, which is a Dutch liquorice candy. Also soft spices like cardamom and star anise, accompanied by just a few drops of limoncello.
Finish: Medium to long. Lingering spices, more liquorice and a surprising hunt of mushrooms.
Samples provided by Jack Tar & Decadent Drinks
