BY THE DUTCH BATAVIA ARRACK

I decided to sample one of these Batavia Arracks that had been catching my eye whenever I visited a particular local bar. Batavia Arrack is a cane rum, but the fermentation process begins using red rice (making up to 2% of the final product according to my research). They had two options available, one aged 'up to 8 years' and another aged 8-12 months. After a small taste of each, I selected the younger one. The nose is clean, with some subtle herbs, brine, and tropical fruit. The palate begins with an earthy funk, followed by notes of brine, grass, and fruit, leading to a long, robust finish with some pepper, herbs, and olive brine. There's a certain similarity to Clairin, but it's not quite as smooth to drink, and it seems to lean slightly more towards sweetness, possibly because of the rice starter. Overall, it appears to be a worthwhile rum style.

A strong aroma of fudge with a hint of vanilla. A sharp alcohol taste (improves with a few drops of water), some vegetal bitterness, almost like anise.

Smells of smoke and alcohol. The taste mirrors this with smoke and earthiness, plus a hint of charcoal. The finish is a bit harsh with noticeable smoke.