Review #877; Rum #254: Rest and Be Thankful Long Pond 23yr (1998)

Rest and Be Thankful Long Pond 23yr (1998)

This comes to us from the European based independent bottler Rest and Be Thankful. This single cask of rum was filled in July of 1998 and bottled in March of 2022 in a combination of tropical and continental ageing. This rum was aged all 23 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and is of the LSO/ITP marque.

ABV: 57.6%

Nose: Pineapple, Dirty Vanilla, Banana, Guava, Faint Pencil Eraser,

Palate: Medium mouthfeel, Pineapple, Dirty Vanilla, Banana, Guava, Pencil Eraser, slight wood shavings, Licorice, lemon peel, acetone.

Finish: Medium length finish, pencil shavings, rubber eraser, Banana, dirty vanilla, guava, slight allspice, lemon zest.

Rating: 6/10

This is a very good rum. It has good tropical flavors going on, but for me, the oak here is a little too dominant and showing. Having had another Long Pond (albeit 15yr VRW) that one is significantly better than this for my palate. The bitter notes from the cask creep up slowly on you and bring it down overall for me. If you like oak influence this is the rum for you, but I would think this performed better a bit younger.

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