Hey folks, back again with the 2nd iteration of what is becoming an annual tradition, my personal top 5 rum list for the year. It’s pretty simple, if I reviewed in the calendar year, be it sample or bottle, its eligible to go onto the list. Clocking in at just over 100 rums reviewed this year it was a fun exercise to lay out what I thought the true standouts of the year were. With all that said, let us get into the list.
The Auditor’s top 5 rums of 2022:
1. Golden Devil Hampden 27yr C<>H
I did not expect to love this rum as much as I did but this got the first 10/10 I’ve given for a rum. Its not for extreme flavor like its 12 year old C<>H that I love, but it’s a development of depth of flavor that made me choose this. The extreme swings in flavor that are well integrated as well as the unique tastes that have developed make it an experience. If you pour an ounce you will be sitting with it all night. One of the most magical rums I have ever had.
2. Pere Labat Single Plot Mangles
This is an amazing fresh pressed cane juice rum from the Pere Labat distillery on Marie-Galante. This rhum came from a single plot of cane at the North end of the island that has a pricular micro-climate. This is a very mezcal adjacent rhum to me and was a surprise with how savory forward it is. Loads of minerality, this is standout even at its relatively high price.
3. Holmes Cay Mhoba 4yr
This 4 year old, fresh press cane juice rum was put into ex-African whisky casks and left to age for 4 years before being selected by Holmes Cay for bottling for the U.S. Market. This first US release from Mhoba, that magical South African Distillery, this is a true highlight of what Holmes Cay is able to bring to the U.S. to provide us all with great rum options.
4. Kintra Hampden 8yr 2009
Its Hampden, its aged DOK, you know it had to be on the list. Pungent, plastic cement, rotten fruits it hits all those weird notes you want from an aged Hampden of the highest ester mark.
5. Rivers Royal
Another standout from the fresh pressed cane juice rum, this comes from the Rivers distillery located on Grenada. High levels of savory, briney, olive oil, this is a wild rum and one that I am quite happy to finally have available in the USA.
Honorable Mentions
Appleton Estate Hearts 1994
A well aged 100% pot still cask strength from Appleton, A wonderful rum but didn’t quite live up to the top 5, but deserve mention for its incredible qualities. This is a rare offering from Appleton and one that shows just how powerful and delicious a 27 year tropically aged rum can be.
Holmes Cay Jamaica 15yr C<>H Baytowne Selection
There is a lot of high ester Hampden on this list, but that is because its my favorite distillery and its my list. Another wonderful, well aged, funky as hell rum from Hampden. This particular one denotes strong buttered popcorn, tropical fruit notes, and a bit of grunge. A wonderful and wild ride all around this was a standout but fell just short of making the list this year.l
Savanna Grand Arome 10yr (2007) Omaggio Single Cask
A magical rum from those wizards at the Savanna distillery on La Reunion, this single cask of their grand arome mark, was distilled then aged for 10 years in a cask the previously held Savanna HERR. This is a magical wild cask with weird notes of industrial funk, fruits, and a bit of sweat (hey I sad it was weird).
Pere Labat Organic
This rhum from the same distiller of the same name or Marie-Galante deserves a shout out. A slighty sweeter option to its single plot sibling, this is another incredible agricole that drinks well, is complex, and makes for one killer and expensive ti’ punch.
Bielle Brut De Fut 2014 (7yr)
An incredible aged agricole, this rhum showed just how complex and delicious an aged agricole rhum can be. Being 70+% abv and still drinkable at its proof was pretty mind bending as well.