Neptune Rum, Barbados Gold
I went into this with very little knowledge, but a certain level of expectation. The branding leans heavily on “world’s most awarded rum – 2018/19”, and with it coming out of Foursquare, there was already a sense of what it might deliver.
Neptune Rum was not one I had tried before, despite being very familiar with the distillery behind it. Foursquare’s style is one I know well, so while the label itself was new, the underlying profile was not. That made it an interesting one to approach, balancing a known style with a brand I had no real experience with.
Facts & Figures.
ABV: 40%
Country: Barbados
Age: A blend of 3, 5 and 8 years
Cask: American Bourbon Oak Barrels
Still: Pot and Column
Price: £35
Distillery: Foursquare Distillery
On the nose.
Peaches and almonds are the first notes that come through, alongside a touch of young wood. There’s also a fairly noticeable acetone note which doesn’t quite sit right for me and ends up overshadowing things a little. Overall, it feels quite light, without much depth or complexity behind it.
On the palate.
There’s a recognisable Barbados profile here, pineapple, coconut, and vanilla from the oak, but it comes across more muted than I expected. The flavours that carry the most weight lean towards bitter wood tannins and a slightly astringent, ethanol-led edge that echoes the nose, which doesn’t quite come together for me.
Towards the tail end, some of the fruit from the nose returns, peaches alongside a hint of marzipan, which helps lift things slightly, even if only briefly. The finish is a little warm, with lingering chemical bitterness.
3/10 – This is suited towards mixing rather than sipping. I expected a lot more for the very prominent ‘worlds most awarded rum’
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.
