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

Rivers is clear in color but highly aromatic, immediately  displaying uncensored organic aromas of drying cane stalks, lemon grass, hints of fennel and soap.  Some of the aromas are not fully pleasant, but they certainly are reminiscent of the rum’s source: a traditional Caribbean rum distillery.  Rivers delivers in abundance exactly what you should expect from an unaged, straight-from-still-to-bottle overproof cane juice rum. Initial tasting exposes headstrong flavors of alcohol, cane, and smoke, with a surprisingly full, robust and slightly dry body.  The only way to avoid the burning throat sensation inherent in any overproof rum’s finish is to sip in small quantities.  Sipped carefully, Rivers exhibits a pleasantly raw, sweet cane flavor.

Anecdotal Notes
Established in 1785, the River Antoine Estate distillery produces rum in much the same way as it was made hundreds of years ago, right down to employing a water wheel to power the mill.  The folks at River Antoine operate the oldest water powered  distillery in the Caribbean.  Their facility is a must see if you want to understand the history of rum production and observe a traditional distillery in full operation.

Clockwise from top: Cane crusher, Stoking the fire under a pot still, Tanks.  

Photos courtesy of Tim Taylor

Locally grown sugarcane is crushed twice for its fresh juice, within a few feet of the cast iron boiling “coppers”.   Wild airborne yeasts mix with the sugary reduction juice in concrete fermenting tanks, resulting in a “low wine”  or “wash” of low alcohol content.   Pot stills are close by and filled by open sluices.  The rum is unaged and bottled directly from the still.

Taster’s Opinion
Dave - Clearly, this isn’t a rum for delicate tasting parties (and should not be judged by the same criteria you would apply to lower-proof barrel aged rum).  Distillers in the Grenadines  are known for producing some of the strongest rums in the world; and while this 138 proof Rivers Royal Grenadian rum is indeed strong, a slightly more potent version is made available for local consumption.  Either way, the rum’s iron fisted punch is softened inside the velvet glove of flavor.  If you heed the warnings implicit in very high alcohol content, you’ll be rewarded with a relatively smooth and buttery taste. Rivers Royal Grenadian rum would be one of my first choices for serving an overproof rum to guests, especially if I was entertaining my West Indies friends or other rum aficionados.  I would serve them Rivers in a ‘Ti punch to score big points.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Dave - 8 Flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Dave in February, 2009 in RnD’s South Tasting Room, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.