Bristol Black
Bristol Black Spiced Rum
I acquired a bottle of Bristol Black Spiced Rum earlier this year. With the billing as one of the most complex spiced rums in the world market, I have to say I was intrigued. The Bristol Black brand honors the heritage of the Bristol Seaport.
The Bristol Company sources rums from distilleries and estates from all over the world of ten selecting single barrels to create their vintages. The rums used in the blend are a three year old white rum from Mauritius and a six year old Caroni dark rum from Trinidad and Tobago. These rums are blended to 84 proof with a proprietary mix of spices and fruit to create the final product.
Appearance/Presentation
On the shelf, the bottle is encased in a black and silver tube with a label detailing the basic information on the product.
The 700 ml bottle is sealed with a silver security wrap. The liquid in the bottle is dark brown with ruby hues; it only lightens slightly in glass, reminding me of port wine. The cork is secured to the bottle by a silver wrap that has an easy pull tab.
Nose
The aroma is dominated by orange zest and anise notes with a tiny hint of plum at the end.
Palate
The anise note completely dominates the flavor profile with orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, tea, molasses and dried fruit popping out around the edges creating a surprisingly tart flavor profile.
Review
Bristol Black Spiced rum demonstrates what a company can do to raise the bar of the spiced category. I found that the spirit is so dense it is almost “chewy” which may be a first of all the rums I have reviewed.
Overall, the dominance of the anise in the initial sip made me wonder if it would limit the range of the flavor profile but instead it becomes the foundation for the other flavors.
I recommend experimenting with it in any recipe that calls for spiced rum to see if creates your desired cocktail experience.
-Review by Mr. Paul Senft-
My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum.
The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to try the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!