Bristol Classic, Belize vs Belize

---

It’s not often that I do a comparison post, usually because there are such a large number of factors that can come into play, but this felt like a good opportunity to do so as I’m sat with 2 glasses of rum that are released by the same independent bottler, from the same distillery, at very similar ABVs and distilled only a year apart.

I’ve had the 2005 distilled release a little longer than the 2006 so going into this there is an element of familiarity at play but I’m tasting with an open mind and expecting a lot of similarities with certain flavour profiles being more prominent in one over the other.

Bristol Classic Rum is a UK-based independent bottler founded in 1993. Rather than producing rum themselves, they source casks from distilleries across the Caribbean and bottle them at natural strength, without additives, as single still or single estate releases, often in very small quantities. It’s a hands-off approach that lets the character of the distillery come through clearly.

Both releases come from the Travellers distillery in Belize City, a family-owned operation founded in 1953. Both were distilled on a column still from molasses and aged in refill American oak, giving you a cleaner, lighter base spirit rather than anything heavy or funky. The 2005 was bottled at 46% after 11 years, and the 2006 at 47% after 16 years, a meaningful gap in maturation time despite being distilled only a year apart.

---

On the nose.

The 2005 distilled release offers an initial sharpness from acetone that dissipates to reveal a sweet & salty peanut brittle. Some damp leather and a touch of wood an interesting earthy element that is rounded out with a coconut and vanilla bean sweetness.

Interestingly the 2006 distilled release is much lighter and the aromas more subtle – I spent time with this but fewer elements jumped out at me, most notably the sweet and salty elements are not present. In comparison to the slightly earthy profile of the 2005, this feels brighter overall with some green fruit. The vanilla and wood is consistent across both.

On the palate.

The 2005 bottling has a really juicy mouthfeel that explodes, coating my entire tongue with a vibrant red fruit. This is very well balanced with coconut, vanilla, raspberries and strawberries contrasting against black pepper, dry wood/bark, and freshly polished leather. The finish reminds me of a jam tart, fresh out of the oven, with warm & sticky fruit adding a tart sweetness that has my mouth watering for ages.

In contrast, the 2006 bottling has a slightly sharp, mouth-watering citrus (lime). Coconut and vanilla cut through the acidity but this remains a vibrant green fruit profile throughout. Walnuts & Macadamia nuts add some great depth. Coconut and milk chocolate close this out on the finish.

Final comments.

In this post I have focussed on the differences but there are a lot of similarities that make it clear these have come from the same distillery. Fortunately whilst this is a comparison post, I don’t have to pick a winner because both of these are great expressions of rum that I’m very happy to have in my collection.

---

8/10 – both of these rums are beautifully balanced, complex and flavourful.