SBS Scotland 2022
ABV: 52%
Country: Scotland
Age: 3 year
Cask: Virgin Oak
Still: Pot
Price: £120
Distillery: Unknown
SBS have recently released 3 UK exclusive bottlings that I was very fortunate to get my hands on some samples for. If you’re not already familiar; Single Barrel Selection (SBS) is a 1423 series of single barrel rums from all over the world. SBS focus on sourcing various single cask expressions that they often release at cask strength (or similarly high ABV); a fantastic example of an Independent Bottler, this release is limited to just 293 bottles.
Nose
From 10-15cm away I’m getting vibrant raspberries; as I bring this closer to my nose coconut and honeydew melon develop with an earthy musk.
Crunchy demerara sugar and some dried Asian cooking spices sit underneath.
Palate
Raspberries punch straight through accompanied with a very large a mount of spiky, fresh wood (think very recently cut & stripped).
‘Doughy’ sourdough bread, very little sweetness due to the wood; although adding a drop or 2 of water allows some vanilla notes to shine through. There are quite a few whisky notes here that make this feel, inherently, Scottish.
5/10 – The best Scottish rum I’ve tried and an enjoyable woody sipper that I feel is priced a little too high.
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.
