Excerpt: It’s a little bit off kilter and it’s different enough, as far as Jamaican rums go to be worth a try. I would say though as a word of warning the vinegar note does throw the balance out. I would fully understand someone who truly hated this rum. But I don’t. It hasn’t knocked my Duncan Taylor Long Pond 2000 of its perch but it’s not that far behind. I would certainly enjoy this blended with something a little more forgiving like a Vale Royal. Good stuff but not quite great.
Excerpt: Because of its toned-down but still expressive nature, I’d have to say this high-ester funk bomb is an enjoyable drink and a Jamaican hogo-lover’s dream, without being quite as approachable to general audiences as the Vale Royal or the Cambridge, which I would suggest are better for those who want to dip their toes into the Jamaicans from Velier without taking a bath in the furious tastes that characterize either the TECA or the TECC. Ivar de Laat from Toronto remarked on the TECA as being a reference rum for him, and he’s probably right about that one, but when it comes to really torqued up rums that want to show off the ripped abs of their massive ester levels, I’d suggest the TECC is probably a better one to appreciate.
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House Review
Intro:
This was distilled in 2007 by the now affected Long Pond Distillery. They lost some barrels in a blaze but otherwise seem fine and should be back to us in a decade or two. I have all four releases in the series to review, and this is day two, so lets keep the party going.
Nose:
Peach, brown sugar. Rotting banana and papaya. Light mango. Plastic and rubber notes. Really interesting, fairly complex with funk showing its power, while not dominating.
Taste:
Rich mouth feel. Sweet honey, caramel, papaya and lemon. The heat kicks into gear a bit, as does the funk. Rich burning rubber, light plastic, the rotting fruit is present and unmistakable. Lots of tobacco on the end.
Finish:
Long, rich and funky. The fruit has almost completely given way to burning ash, rubbery funk and rotting fruits and leather. Tobacco is here and its really interesting.
Overall:
This is powerful, unique and a real treat.
Score:
7
By t8ke
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources