English Harbour Aged (5 year old)

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

English Harbour Aged 5 year old rum is distilled in copper column stills and aged in small oaken casks to produce a beautiful, pale golden copper color, and a generous light bodied, full flavored rum. Aroma is light, slightly oaky sweet, with overtures of brown sugar, caramel, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and delicate of mango-citrus fruit (I got tart citrus -R). There is no recoil on the nose, indicating a mature rum that has been well aged and purified by the charred interior of the oaken casks. Each small aging barrel imparts is unique characteristics, so the rums are ultimately married for weeks in a large oak vessel to ensure consistency of flavor. Tasting brings out wonderful flavors that are completely consistent with the fine aroma, adding a bit of vanilla, cream soda, golden raisin, and maple flavors, with nicely rounded body that is only lightly viscous. The warm finish is sweet, lingering for awhile before fading.

Anecdotal Notes
RnD always enjoy the beautiful island of Antigua, with its 365 beaches, friendly people, and we always make it a point to pick up as much English Harbour rum as possible, since it was rather difficult to find in the USA. Fortunately, Roger and his wife visited Antigua Rum Distilleries in St. Johns, Antigua during our sailing stop there in February 2007. The entire operation was gracious, almost cathedral-like in its specialty. At the distillery they were treated to a personal tour of the facility by Gerard Bento, the Distillery Manager, and of the continuous copper column stills, which are very rare in the industry we’re told. We were lucky enough to have them doing maintenance on the still and we got an inside look at how it operated and actually sampled some rum (a few drops) right out of the stills holding tank (from the previous run of course)
English Harbour's rums are produced from molasses (brought in by tanker and stored in the big black tank visible on the north side of St. John’s Harbor) and their own water made on the site through reverse osmosis, as the island is very dry. The rum is aged in barrels and is stored in a warehouse near the airport which is an ideal location with its heat and dry climate. We’re told that makes this rum special.

Roger and his wife also visited the production offices and gift shop at another location in St. John to meet Sharon Green, the Export Marketing and Sales Manager for Antigua Distillery Limited. She informed us of the latest plans for the distillery (which I can’t reveal now but it is good news!) and that one of RnD's favorite rums — English Harbour Extra Old — was no longer available (which ties in with their plans). She was very gracious and donated a bottle of Aged 5 year rum, which proved to be very popular at the rum tasting event RnD hosted on a tall ship the following week.

Taster’s Opinion
Our advice: Buy this rum whenever and wherever you can, it never ceases to please. Like its much rarer and now discontinued (tears) Extra Old, its 21 year old sibling, the 5 year Aged is an exceptional rum. Sure, RnD prefers the 21 year Extra Old, and we have a small stash we refuse to share, but the good news is that the 5 year is available here in the US and is nearly as good. English Harbour 5 year old is arguably the best tasting five year old rum RnD have ever found, better in fact, than most 8 and some 12 year olds, and it has a cork cap too. Light tasting, but perfectly flavored, Antiguan rums set a standard for what all old-world flavor rums should aspire too. It’s meant to be sipped neat or with a little water or ice. Even though it’s only aged 5 years don’t be fooled into thinking this is a mixing rum.
Most recently tasted by: Dave and Roger in June, 2007 at RnD's tasting rooms in USA.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):
Dave - 8.5 Flasks

Roger - 8.5 Flasks

*750ml unless otherwise stated.