Barrell Rum Private Release Blend J650 (The 9th Floor)

Wow. Avoid this if you see it. I enjoyed batch 1 of the rum and was eager to try the new releases when the owner of the local Jug Store offered them. Grrr. This is J650, an aged rum in calvados barrels. Tasting notes: In a Glen Cairn glass, it's medium amber, 131.12 proof. Nose: A strong funk aroma, but nothing else – no brown sugar, no sweetness, no apple scent, and minimal ethanol for the proof. Taste: Thin, with a vegetal quality reminiscent of tequila, minimal burn, and smooth. No fruit or sweetness. Finish: The vegetal funk lingers for a long time. My thoughts: This is mediocre. If I wanted good Jamaican funk, I'd buy Smith & Cross for $30. I was hoping for a well-blended overproof rum with some apple notes, like Four Square or XXX. I don't know what to say. I dislike the idea of using it only as a mixer, but it's a challenging dram neat, offering only funk and high proof. I tried it again two nights later and got the same notes. If that's your preference, go for it. I'm not necessarily a fan of added sugar in rum and do enjoy Jamaican funk, especially in tiki drinks, but this rum serves no purpose at its price point. And I still have the J750 unopened – should I bother?

Wow, this is terrible. On the palate, it tastes like dish soap with a hint of burning plastic. I'm not kidding! This is likely the worst rum I have ever encountered. If someone recommends it, don't just walk away; you'll want to cut ties with them! Ugh... such a waste of cash. For this price, I could have bought almost two bottles of Diplomatico.

The nose is pure rum. It doesn't even smell like whiskey. On the palate, I detect some herbal notes, but if you had told me it was spiced rum with a hint of coconut, I wouldn't have disagreed. More of the same on the finish. Tastes like coconut Jamaican rum.