J. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum

Rating: 13/23 I have zero idea whether I should expect this to be good or not. Id doesn't have enough proof to compete with Everclear, but it's up there in the serious barrel proof bourbon range. Should be a fun tasting. N: Whoa! There's a lot of that rhum agricole vegetal funk in here! I get squash for sure, but it's far from overwhelming. There's some nice hints of tropical fruits (I'm not sure which ones, but they flit in and out) as well and just a hint of soy sauce. Some bits of spice are in here too, but they tend to get combined with the obvious burn. Water brings out some more fruit (green banana) and musty funk. P: Quite hot with a surprisingly savory entrance. Wow, that burn really goes on. It borders a bit on harshness, but I don't think that's quite it. It's quite vegetal and savory, but not in a rancid way. It's more like some earth, fresh broccoli, and soy sauce. I'm getting less of the rhum agricole funk than expected and more of that Jamaican character. I get lemon and banana peaking through at times and I might be getting some other tropical fruits like papaya and lime as well. This doesn't have the full amount of complexity that I'd like it too, but it has more going on than most overproof rums do. There is some sweetness here and it gradually grows on me. It isn't a sweetness like somebody just dumped sugar in. The flavors here are pretty edgy, but I do like the balance they have and there's enough nuance that I could drink this neat. Water brings out more clear spice flavors with some earthiness alongside them. The fruit sweetness stands out more (with more of a green banana flavor), but that's largely because the vegetal and soy flavors fall back F: The sweetness is reduced. It's on the drier side as the vegetal and savory flavors stand out more. I get more squash here now, but it isn't jarring or anything like that. There's some somewhat woody spices adding to the complexity and keeping the heat up a bit. - Conclusion - This is actually a pretty acceptable sipper. It seems like it should be a good mixer too. I can see this being a 13 neat and I'm considering a 14 too. I think almost landed on a 13 because the edges are just a bit too unrefined, but I think it makes it to the 14 level. Actually, I take that back. It's just a bit too jagged and lacking in complexity. I would seriously consider this as my go-to white rum. I'm a big fan of overproof spirits for mixing anyway (just put less in and you get a drink with the same alcohol but less water) and this also has a pretty good flavor. As a mixer, my impression is that this produces a much funkier drink than Plantation 3 Stars does, but boy do I like that funk better. Between the two, this would be the one I would likely lean toward for a fruity drink on most occasions. For company though, it would be good to keep something more approachable around. Thanks for the sample, @ctbeck11 !

Nose - overripe banana, mango, earthy mint, fresh cut grass, instant mashed potato, pineapple, cherry, coriander, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - medicinal cherry, overripe banana, burnt sugar, sour pineapple, black pepper, bitter herbal notes, lemon pith, ginger, grass, menthol, clove, anise, yeast, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with medicinal cherry, sour fruit, bitter herbal flavors. Wow, these tasting notes are pretty wild. I struggled with this more than with most spirits I review. It has a really interesting profile. If you can power through the ethanol fumes, there’s the telltale funky, overripe banana, a nondescript mango-like tropical fruit quality, some strongly vegetal and herbal grassy notes, and oddly enough, an aroma that reminds me of sticking my nose in a bowl of instant mashed potatoes. The palate arrives hot and bright, with some mentholated, medicinal cherry, more vegetal and herbal flavors, and a rotten, sour, yeasty note that I can only assume is part of that elusive hogo attribute. I imagine ratings on this are all over the place. While I appreciate its uniqueness, I don’t see myself sipping this neat from a nosing glass again anytime soon. And that’s perfectly fine with me. It’s not meant to be a sipper; it’s a $25 mixing rum. And you owe it to yourself to track down some Ting and mix up some classic Wray and Ting cocktails. They’re super refreshing during summer, but be vigilant as they go down a bit easier than their 126 proof payload should permit.

A necessary rum for tiki and tropical cocktails, this is none the less, my first bottle of it of my very own. The smell is strongly unripe bananas, and wet vegetation. There's a twinge from the alcohol, which is expected at 126 proof. The smell is surprisingly complex, much more than I would normally expect from a white rum. Green bananas! Smell: 17/20 The first taste is a sweet, spicy, sip of rocket fuel. It is sweet, there are a lot of unripe fruit flavors going on, and a sugary sweetness right off. Then there are layers of spice, and phenolic notes that I'd normally expect from a peated Scotch whisky. First sip: 27/30 Additional sips allow me to move past the high proof, and get into the flavors, green bananas, allspice, cane syrup, white pepper, grapefruit pith, a lot of depth and complexity. This rum is mouthwatering, the high proof turns on your salivation response, and the finish is astringent, bringing you back for more. Additional sips, and finish: 22/25 The bottle is, well, it comes in a bottle. It has a plastic screw top lid, and a thing to allow smooth pouring in the mouth of the bottle (same as in Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur). The label is what I'd expect from something designed in the 90's and selling for half the price, but at this price, this rum is a fantastic deal. Packaging and Value: 16/20 I keep 5 points for subjective assignment, and here, I'm giving 3/5, this isn't the most amazing rum out there, but it is an amazing rum, that has a place in my bar. Total score: 85/100

Wow - funky. Sort of like burnt sugar atop creme brûlée but more. Incredibly sweet but at the same time almost bitter almond extract, maple, fried plantain, anchovies. Hits hot with a slight kerosene twinge or maybe rubber tires but the funky, sweet, fried plantain and bitter almond still there. Finish is a mixture of funky fuel, raw sugar cane and molasses that does last a minute or more. So - I don’t enjoy sipping this. Almost a bit vegetal. Hard to say how this will mix (its intended purpose) and wondering if I should have stuck with good old sweet, uncomplicated Bacardi or any other bottom/mid shelf white rum. Watermelon cucumber mojito - the funk still shines through. It’s certainly interesting but I’ll take my burned corn and barley over burned sugar cane. At least unaged burned sugar cane.

Probably one of the most dangerous liquors on the planet. Treat this like you would a loaded gun. It's 63% ABV, but that doesn't even seem accurate. A single cocktail can quickly turn Tuesday into a blackout drunk. Crystal clear color with a rich hogo, ripe banana, rotting animal carcass, vegetal, grassy, cacao, kirschwasser and sweet candy sugar aroma. Super smooth and viscous with an oily flavor of a banana flambe sans any citrus or spice. The alcohol dissipates quickly off the tongue leaving the semblance of warm spices (though I don't think any actually materialized) and banana nut bread. This is absolutely fantastic stuff for the price. But if I had discovered this in college, I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by now.

Splendid and powerful phenolic, herbal and vegetable aromas. Funky and devine grassiness with wisps of whipped butter and floral funk. In the mouth it’s fresh, minty, vegetal with mild sweetness and funky plastic or resinous rubber. Not fantastic as expected but ok until this hell hound unleashes on your throat. Quite the potent flavor bomb and fantastic specialty rum to have in your arsenal. Plays well with cachaca as it has many similar characteristics. I like to substitute a half ounce in when I make caipirinhas or daiquiris. Also really balances out the sweetness and adds depth to an Açaí caipirinha. A solid value and usually on sale for around $19-$22.