English Harbour 1981

Objective Notes
Extremely Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth). 

Color:  light brown mahogany with a golden glow as you’d expect, nay, demand! from 25 years resting in oak.  On the nose: aromas that invite themselves into your senses — smoothest caramel, light milk chocolate, mild almond, a hint of sweet golden raisin and dried plum.  Subtle spices of clove and vanilla are all highlighted like whipped cream-and-brown-sugar wafting up from steaming hot sweet potatoes, as your excitement builds before tasting.  Sure, having a well developed nasal palate is a necessity in this hobby, but at some point the anticipation just tortures your tastebuds.  On with it then.  The initial taste is like disrobing a gorgeous, new-but-somehow-familiar partner, revealing a fully developed yet delicately voluptuous body.  The flavors are warm and refined with a rare purity sweetness, and slight earthiness like damp, soft leaves.  The flavors are perfectly balanced in harmony with the aromas.  English Harbour 1981 finishes long, like nectar, leaving a bit of cinnamon to linger the entire length your tongue and throat.

Anecdotal Notes
Antigua Distillery Ltd announced their current product line in October 2007, and started shipping several months later.  In September 2008, I chartered a sailboat for an island hopping adventure in the Eastern Caribbean, searching for more great rum.  First stop:  Antigua, for the specific purpose of bringing home English Harbour's 10 and 25 year old rum.  A quick hike through St. John’s was frustratingly unfruitful, until I stepped inside Quinn Ferrarra, RnD’s favorite rum store in the Caribbean.  There I found bottle number 236 of 5712, 25 years old from distillation in 1981 and bottling in September 2006, fully two years before coming into my hands.

The packaging is unique, serving as both a sturdy protective box as well as a presentation podium.  The box is reminiscent of a 16th century nobleman’s hand drawn coach;  one corner opens like a tiny theater to show the heavy, cork topped bottle, which is mounted on a low platform, giving the impression that this is indeed a rum of distinguished heritage.

Taster's Opinion
There is nothing else quite like English Harbour rum.  At $10 or more an ounce, English Harbour 1981 rum is the most expensive in my collection.  Only you can decide if the price is reasonable.  Sure the price was high for me, but I'm a huge fan of English Harbour rum.  See, many years ago I had an epiphany tasting their Extra Old rum (no longer produced) while sailing from Antigua to Grenada.  That rum got me started in this hobby.  First loves leave lasting memories, so of course I simply had to have the new 25 year old.  If I had but one rum wish, it would be that I could afford to make this my daily rum, sipped before a warm fire or on a boat’s foredeck in a fine breeze.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Dave - 10 flasks

Most Recently reviewed by: Dave, October 2008 in RnD's South tasting room, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.