SBS Australia 2018
ABV: 50%
Country: Australia
Age: 7 Years
Cask: ex-Bourbon and Oloroso casks
Still: Pot
Price: £115
Distillery: Unknown
SBS have unveiled a trio of UK-exclusive bottlings, and I’m thrilled to have secured samples for review. If you’re not familiar with them, SBS (Single Barrel Selection) is a project by 1423, focused on independently sourced single cask rums from around the world, typically bottled at higher ABVs. This one? Just 216 bottles exist.
Nose
Nutty, praline, caramel. Hazelnut and Almond. Amaretti biscuits come to mind. Very light baking spices.
The nose on this is exceptionally gentle; it’s really making me work for the tasting notes.
Palate
Vanilla essence provides sweetness, sitting very low in the mouth. This allows the more nutty notes – again almond sweetness and earthy hazelnut to lift the profile.
Raisins offer a dark and fruit chewiness to this alongside some very subtle christmas cake-esque baking spices.
This isn’t a particularly complex or deep thinker but the flavour it delivers is enjoyable.
6/10 – This is a little overpriced as a neat sipper for me due to the lack of complexity.
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.
