Great Shearwater 12 year 2012 “Heavy” Trinidad  (Cane Spirit Collective)

Review #1524; Rum #823

This is a single cask rum bottled by Great Shearwater, a new American independent bottler based out of Louisville, Kentucky. This rum was distilled from molasses on a column still in 2012. It is a heavier Trinidadian marque from Trinidad Distiller’s Limited. The rum aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon before being bottled at cask strength with no additives. This was bottled as a private selection for the Cane Spirit Collective.

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Distillery: Trinidad Distillers Limited

Bottler: Great Shearwater

Region: Trinidad

Still: Column

ABV: 66%

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Nose: Raspberry jam, Solvent, Nutmeg, Hydraulic Fluid, Dr. Pepper, Eucalyptus

Palate: Thick mouthfeel, Eucalyptus, Hydraulic Fluid, Dr. Pepper, Nutmeg, Star Anise, Raspberry jam, Peach

Finish: Medium length finish, Char, Eucalyptus, Hydraulic Fluid, Dr.Pepper, Nutmeg, Star Anise

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Rating: 8/10

As far as TDL’s, my favorites have been those early 2000 vintages that are long aged and really industrial forward. This one gets close to those and knocks it out of the park. There’s a nice fruit brightness that cuts through it with raspberry jam, but it’s still pretty dark and heavy. Loads of anise, Char, herbalness, and that mechanics garage hydraulic fluid, what an excellent rum.

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1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect