The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis

Trinidad Rum, 3-5 Years, 49% ABV, $27

This rum has a beautiful golden amber color that I really like. I tend to overlook this characteristic in most spirits, but it’s very noticeable with this one.

It amazes me that the alcohol doesn’t overpower the aroma at nearly 100 proof, but it really is nicely under control. It’s fairly easy to pick out the toffee, honey, grass, tobacco and overripe banana. With some work, I can detect charred oak and a faint smell of ripe plum and cherry.

My mouth is immediately taken with a tangy and spicy experience. There’s a woody, slightly bitter aftertaste that lingers while the pepper fades ever so slowly. Up front the tangy taste is of orange and grapefruit while a blast of white pepper and ginger appear. There’s also vanilla, raisin, honey, banana and an ever-present oak that starts early and persists throughout. There’s a good bit of dry bitterness and only a mild sweetness here. This reminds me of a fairly young rye whiskey with a bit more sweetness and wood (like its aged more with some young character). It’s the fruity vanilla flavors that give away the fact that this is rum. This is definitely the spiciest rum that I’ve tasted and I’m a big fan of spicy spirits. The bitterness is more controlled as I drink more and more of the sweeter flavors endure longer. Still, after it’s all said and done, the remaining artifact is pepper and wood… not the greatest finish.

The Scarlet Ibis is a unique rum that I’ll definitely come back to (I have another bottle). It’s unlike other rums and that’s enough to peak my interest, along with the rye resemblance.