Review #593/594; Rum #101/102: Holmes Cay Barbados 14yr (2005) / Holmes Cay Barbados 14yr (2006)

These 2 reviews are a side by side of two rums from American Independent bottler Holmes Cay.

Holmes Cay Barbados 2005

This is a 14 year rum, aged in ex-bourbon casks for 11 years in Barbados and 3 years in the UK. A blend of Pot and Column distillate, this comes from Barbados distillery Foursquare.

ABV: 63.8%

Nose: Tropical fruits, banana, guava, mango, brown sugar, nutmeg, allspice, tobacco leaf,

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel. Big banana, mango, tobacco leaf, leather, allspice, black pepper, nutmeg,

Finish: Medium length, warm. Banana, allspice, touch of leather, mango, dark chocolate, vanilla bean.

Rating: 7/10

Good mouthfeel, good depth of flavor, this has a nice medium amount of complexity to it. Another great showing from Foursquar. This bursts with flavor and the heat is very well behaved.

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Holmes Cay Barbados 2006

This is a 14 year rum, aged in ex-bourbon casks for 3 years in Barbados and 11 years in the UK. A blend of Pot and Column distillate, this comes from Barbados distillery Foursquare.

ABV: 58.5%

Nose: Pungent, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Toffee, Mango,

Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Dark chocolate, toffee, mango, vanilla bean, black pepper

Finish: Medium length finish. Warm. Toffee, mango, black pepper, dark chocolate

Rating: 6/10

Good flavor profile this is a very good rum. It leans into the bourbon barrel and comes across as brighter and a tad bit on the sweeter side of the spectrum than the 2005. Overall, a very good rum Im sure many including me would be happy to drink.

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Overall, these 2 bottles are both good, but the 2005 edges out the 2006 slightly for me as it has a bit more complexity and a better mouthfeel. The flavor profile also leans a bit more in the savory side vs the 2006 which agrees with my palate. Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with anything coming out of Foursquare.

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