Husk 1866 Tumbulgum Rum

Aroma: Brown sugar, musky vanilla, cedar shavings, stonefruit, and fresh oak. Herbal and grassy notes, with a dash of water revealing soft mint aromas. An unusual scent reminiscent of sherry is present. As it sits and opens up, deeper honey and molasses emerge, and the aroma gains depth and complexity. Taste: The initial entry is gentle and well-balanced. Drier than sweet at first, but as it unfolds, a sweet character with prominent caramelized sugar and oaky notes appears. A hint of vanilla, some gentle warm spice, and light oak tannin are also present. The texture is creamy, soft, and light. Finish: Medium. Nutty and caramel notes towards the end. This is an Australian take on rhum agricole, crafted from sugarcane juice produced on-site from the distillery's own crop. Their distillate is offered as both new-make spirit and this aged version. The 1866 expression was a unique release to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the local town, and the spirit was aged for three years in new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels. While inspired by and produced in the traditional rhum agricole style, this rum is more akin to a blend of agricole and gold rum, emphasizing the aged component. It possesses the sweetness, depth, and cask character of a gold rum, yet retains a fresh, soft, and grassy sugarcane profile. It's agreeably savory and a good sipping rum that lacks the syrupy quality of many aged rums and isn't as bold as most rhums agricole. I found it very enjoyable, and it's unfortunate it was a limited edition. If this were to become a standard product, I would keep a bottle on hand. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)