Black Tot, Master Blender’s Reserve 2024
ABV: 54.5%
Country: Full breakdown here
Age: A blend of unaged to 28.5 year old
Cask: Blend
Still: Blend
Price: £142
Distillery: Blend
If you’ve been following me for a while it won’t come as a surprise that I’m a huge fan of the rums from Black Tot so around this time last year I has been eagerly awaiting the release of the latest blend (which comes out on July 1st every year ahead of Black Tot Day – 31st July) and was excited to try this for the first time at the TWE rum show.
Now for a few facts about the liquid itself… This rum is a blend of rums ranging from the perpetual reserve through some rather old Mount Gay and some Caroni for good measure. As always Black Tot have opted for full transparency of the rum blend – with the full breakdown visible here.
“For this new release, we wanted to focus on the warmth and fruit of rums from Barbados, which has given us a foundation of juicy pineapple, lime and sweet melon,”
– Oliver Chilton, Master Blender at Elixir Distillers
The Master Blender’s Reserve is always a limited run and this year sees only 3000 bottles compared to 5000 for the 2023 edition due to the limited nature of some of the rums within the blend! Right now for tasting time!!
Nose
Up front this is punchy fresh pineapple with the sweetness being cut through by some oaky spice. There is some chocolate that develops on the tail end whilst fresh notes persist. A complex yet balanced nose with a lot happening.
Palate
This is a FLAVOUR BOMB with muscovado sugar and baking spices jumping straight out at me. There is some honey sweetness joining woody tannins, soft vanilla and a whole host of tropical fruits (think kiwi, mango and pineapple)
The finish on this is wonderfully long, it seems to just go on forever.
In my mind the closest expression to this is the 2021. It’s like the 2021 has grown up and decided to go super big and loud and really make a statement!
10/10 – These get better and better each year, I can’t wait to taste the 2025 edition.
My scoring system, explained
- 10: Exceptional. This is best in class and a firm favourite of mine.
- 9: Outstanding. Near perfection, a bottle I would be sad to finish (and very happy to restock!)
- 8: Excellent. An evening spent sipping this would be a very good one.
- 7: Great. Add to cart, no questions asked.
- 6: Very good. At the right price I would definitely buy a bottle.
- 5: Good. If someone poured me a glass you wouldn’t hear me complain.
- 4: Above average. Not quite good but better than some.
- 3: Average. Average at best, this isn’t offensive but equally not exciting either.
- 2: Not for me. This simply means it’s not a profile I find enjoyable; rather than a reflection of quality.
- 1: Not the spirit. This is a poor representation of the spirit.
