English Harbour Reserve 10 Years

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

Medium dark amber colored, the 10 Year is ever so slightly darker than the 5 year, and just a half shade lighter than the now-discontinued Extra Old. Once poured, beautiful legs leave evidence of a healthy viscosity on the sides of your tasting glass. On the nose, its heavenly sweet, light with sugar cane grass and a predominant praline vanilla scent, followed by oak, buttery light caramel, dried fruit, and a hint of alcohol. A full-bodied and viscous body remains true to the aromas, with harmoniously layered flavors of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, cardamom bring a warm and smooth pleasure.  A delightfully long finish delivers a delayed sweet warming to the back of your mouth and throat, eliciting an audible mmmmm.  

Anecdotal Notes
RnD had been anticipating the release of English Harbour Reserve 10 Year Old ever since Roger’s visit to Antigua Distillers in St. John, Antigua in early 2007. There, we sadly learned that the distiller had stopped producing English Harbour Extra Old, one of RnD’s favorite rums. Apparently the success of English Harbour Extra Old was rapidly depleting their limited reserves of 1981 rum. In its place were to be two new products with updated pricing to better reflect the rums’ age and value.  The result was the English Harbor 1981 and English Harbour Reserve 10 Year old. The 10 year old is fair substitute for the previous Extra Old using a blend of rums from 10 to 25 years old packaged in an upgraded and heaver bottle with cork stopper and a refined but traditional label. 

Taster's Opinion
Roger - English Harbour Reserve 10 year old is like a visit from an old friend, familiar and easy to hang out with. It’s meant to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks but not demoted to a cocktail. You can’t go wrong when you want to introduce friends to fine rum and bring out English Harbour 10 year old to have them try. It will impress for sure. Based on its steep price tag I wouldn’t call English Harbour Reserve 10 year old everyday rum for most people but one I’ll enjoy on special occasions, like today, when I’m sitting in my house by a fire with it snowing outside and my mind wandering to the sunny island of Antigua.

Dave - Antigua rums pose an enigmatically pleasant dilemma between light and full bodied. I truly lament the passing of Antigua Distillery’s Extra Old rum.  It was my first (rum) love, and really got me started in this adventure. However, I’m somewhat consoled by the quality of the new 10 year old rum, if not by its price, which, while inline with other world class rums, is four times higher than the Extra Old it replaces.  [In all honesty, the Extra Old, at $26, was a tremendously undervalued bargain.  How I wish I’d bought more.]  Lesson learned, I will collect English Harbour Ten Year old rum each time I visit Antigua, and forever consider myself fortunate to drink such exquisite rum.  English Harbour Reserve 10 year old rum is difficult to find and high priced, but worth the effort to acquire.

Taster's Rating (10 is best): 

Roger - 9 flasks; Dave; 9 Flasks

Most Recently reviewed by: Roger and Dave, December 2008 in RnD's North and South tasting rooms, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.