Killowen Peated Cask Dark Rum

Rating: 12/23 N: It possesses that intense funkiness, similar to Pusser's Gunpowder Proof. A blackstrap syrupiness combines with tropical fruits (pineapple, vanilla, lime), a hint of olive brine, a rich minerality, and of course, ample smokiness. Am I detecting peat? It's difficult to distinguish the bitter vegetal and light herbal notes from the pervasive funk. This is notably sweeter than Pusser's, with... less mustard and more olive brine? P: Now I taste the peat. The palate isn't as thick or packed with rum flavor as anticipated, but a strong wave of herbal peat arrives, enveloped in smoke and followed by a substantial olive brine. The minerality is very pronounced and seems to lighten the texture slightly, but it works well as a flavor. There's definitely a molasses flavor from the funk, but it's less intense and sweet than expected, though a faint hint of high-quality maple syrup is present. I also detect faint green banana and perhaps some lime. There's unfortunately a bit of harshness stemming from the heat. I'd call it spiciness, but I can't pinpoint any specific flavor. This is quite fascinating – it flips the concept of a rum-finished scotch on its head. F: Olive brine, minerality, herbal bitterness, smoke, and some molasses sweetness. It's a rather light and aromatic finish, surprisingly. When I really focus, I can detect banana, lime, and pineapple. - Conclusion - This is a brilliant idea, but the execution feels like peat is masking an underwhelming rum. I'd be interested in trying an elegant version with a more aged rum or a decadent version with a syrupier rum. It's a very intriguing blend of rum, scotch, and, curiously, tequila/mezcal notes that doesn't quite hit the mark for me. I find that despite its intensity, Pusser's Gunpowder Proof (15/23) is a smoother and more cohesive product. This doesn't reach that level. I wish I still had some Copper Fox Rye (14/23), as this reminds me somewhat of that with its surprising Islay funk. This is another excellent display of potential from Killowen, relying on a spirit that is unfortunately a bit too young. This is surprisingly less infused with rum sweetness than my extremely spicy bottle of Ry3 (9/23), but it also burns far less. If not for the incredible burn in the Ry3, I might favor this one. So, I'm leaning towards a 13. It's a 15 like the Pusser's, but then deduct a point for harshness and another for the lightness and minerality. However, comparing it directly with the Ry3, I think the harshness here should lower it to a 12. There's much to appreciate, but the spirit used is unfortunately just too young. The Pusser's burns a lot and the Ry3 burns extraordinarily much, and this falls somewhere in between. Thank you to a friend for sharing this very interesting dram!