Privateer Distiller's Drawer "Sea Smoke #2"

Nose: mild molasses, salted caramel, floral hints, milk chocolate, earthy mint, vanilla, almond cake, apple, toasted marshmallow, banana, barrel char, noticeable ethanol burn. Taste: molasses, brine, butterscotch, oily peat, sour apple, cherry, allspice, cocoa, spearmint, lemon oil, spicy oak, tar, tobacco, leather, significant alcohol bite, with a medium-long finish featuring dark molasses, peaty citrus oil, and spicy spearmint notes. This marks my initial review of three Privateer rums; this distillery is new to me. They are a craft producer in Ipswich, Massachusetts, committed to creating rums without added sweeteners, flavorings, filtering, or spices – a distillery I admire. This particular bottling is cask strength, slightly under three years old, and finished in Laphroaig barrels. The aroma is creamy, with molasses, salted caramel, sweet almond cake, toasted marshmallows, and bananas. The palate delivers a strong impact with oily, rich molasses, intensely sour citrus, tobacco, mint, and leather. The Laphroaig influence is present but not overwhelming, though the citrus character is quite pronounced. The finish is satisfyingly long with persistent citrus oil, mint, leather, and tannic oak. Overall, this is an exceptional rum. The flavors are surprisingly deep and rich for such a young spirit, though its youth is certainly apparent. It is undoubtedly a great rum. It could be outstanding if it were a bit more mature and the citrus element was less dominant. Many thanks to a friend for the sample and for introducing me to this high-quality distillery.

Privateer International Distiller’s Drawer Sea Smoke #2 Smell: gentle and full. Both sweet and salty. salted caramel, sea air as you crest the dunes, toasted almonds, vanilla, sugar cookie, faint whiff of iodine and kelp. Apples, caramel, and salted milk chocolate. Damp wood and ash. Taste: salty sweetness immediately. Savory notes mingle with molasses. The Islay barrel is dominant, hitting with mild smoke, sweet iodine, brine with a hint of seaweed. It's all carried by mild caramel mixed with sea salt, molasses, smoked and toasted almonds, saltwater taffy, stewed apples with a touch of clove. The alcohol concentrates at the back of the tongue with some subtle ginger spice and a pinch of white pepper. Finish: sweet buttery molasses combined with mild Islay peat. Ginger and vanilla cream, aged leather, and caramel coffee.

Straw-colored. The Laphroaig influence is prominent in this expression. The initial aroma is peat smoke, less intense than Laphroaig but the main scent here. Deeper notes include vanilla bean, caramelized bananas, bubbling brown sugar, hints of asphalt, and burnt cinnamon stick. Despite its pale appearance, the mouthfeel is full-bodied with thick, long legs. The palate combines the best of Islay Scotch and rich, sweet rum: molasses, vanilla ice cream, salted caramel, iodine, potting soil, sea spray, hints of asphalt, allspice, pipe tobacco, and oak. The finish is long, warm, and dry, with lingering oak and peat, burnt sugar and cinnamon stick, and subtle notes of sage and clove.

Received an unmarked sample from a friend. Glassware: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Appearance: Light amber. Aroma: Vanilla, cake frosting, a little bit of leather. Palate: Peat smoke and oak tannins alongside some spicy clove notes. Finish: Lasts a long time with moderate heat. Dilution: A few drops of water reduce the peat and spicier clove notes, allowing other flavors like cinnamon and baking spice to emerge. Overall: 9/10 - This tastes like a higher proof scotch aged in former bourbon casks. The age is noticeable in the palate and the proof is evident in the finish. I’d be curious to taste it in a mixed drink.

The aromas are sweet, smoky, and salty. It smells like being on a boat in the best way, with fresh sea air, rubber, oil, and an overall freshness. The distinct taste of sweet apple wood smoke builds on the tongue and fills your mouth.