Husk Rare Blend

Husk Farm Distillery, October 26th 2024, Rum #3 Nose: Hay, brown sugar, butterscotch, ash, banana, and tropical fruit (but all very subtle and balanced). Palate: A sweet and gently fruity arrival, featuring both fresh and dried tropical fruits (mango, banana, pineapple, guava, etc.), but all very subdued. As it rests, raw sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and butterscotch emerge, followed later by a honey and white-pepper note. The texture is creamy yet light. Finish: Medium. Sweet fruity notes that recede into brown sugar. The finish isn't particularly long but remains sweet and gentle until the final hint. This was the first authentic rum, as defined by Australian regulations, that we sampled at Husk, and it was delightful. It's a blend of two rums: the first is a 100% sugarcane-juice "agricole" style (the same product Husk sells as their "Pure Cane" spirit). The second component is a rum they distill from locally sourced sugarcane honey (which is essentially reduced cane spirit and the initial, lightest byproduct of sugar production). The two spirits are then combined and aged in barrels for 2 years. The resulting product is a very good gold rum that exhibits characteristics of both aged agricole and a gold rum typically made from molasses. It's a fusion of Martinique and Barbados styles, bearing similarities to both Haitian and Mauritian rums. It's enjoyable as a neat sipper (though it borders on too sweet for my preference) and serves excellently as a base for various rum cocktails. Highly recommended, especially for fellow Australians reading this – give it a try. The price is competitive, and I'm very pleased to see this kind of spirit originating from Australia. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)