Angel's Share Title
Antelope Island Red
Dented Brick Distillery, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, uses a custom Vendome Copper and Brass Still to make their products as well as using water from an on-site artesian well for fermentation and blending.
Using a combination of cane sugar and molasses during fermentation the company refuses to use chemicals or flavoring agents when creating their products. Their silver rum is aged for two years in Cabernet wine casks from the Hells Canyon Winery in Idaho to make their Red Rum before being blended to 45 % ABV.
The rum, like the core brand, is named for Antelope Island, a 28,240 acre wildlife refuge for antelopes, bison and over 250 species of birds. Dented Brick donates a percentage of their profits to “Friends of the Great Salt Lake” to help protect and preserve this reserve.
Antelope Island Red
Appearance
The rum comes in a short necked 750 ml bottle with front and back labels that provide the basic information about the product. The liquid has a dark copper color in the bottle and lightens slightly when poured in the glass. Swirling the rum creates a thin band that spins off fast moving legs and evaporates and beads up quickly.
Nose
The wine notes dominate the aroma with hints of raspberry, black cherry, bready yeast, with an undertone of oaky vanilla and nutmeg.
Palate
The aroma and flavors are familiar but overall different experiences. The flavors lead with a strong hit of anise, followed by notes of nutmeg, clove, raisins, grenadine, and oaky kombucha laden finish.
Review
Once again Dented Brick has offered something unique and unlike anything else in the American Craft Distillery market. The aroma set me up thinking it was going to be an overly sweet product and instead it surprised me with a more earthy and spicy flavor profile. The sweetness did weave in and out of the flavor profile but was always balanced and at times even buried by the earthier flavors. I can see where bartenders would have fun making signature drinks with this product as it holds up quite well in a classic Daiquiri recipe. It will be interesting to see what other products this distillery is developing as I think this rum helps distinguish them from other small distilleries.
