Tamosi Karaya 1998 Guyana Demerara Rum Uitvlugt Distillery (Port Mourant Still) 22 Year – 61.1%
Stats: Independent bottling of a 1998 distillate from the Port Mourant double wooden pot still. This was made while the still resided at the Uitvlugt Distillery in Guyana, which closed a year later and then was moved to Diamond where it resides today. The rum aged for 2 years in oak in Guyana followed by 20 additional years in continental climate before being bottled at 61.1% ABV with no additives.
The Port Mourant still is a double wooden vat still thought to date back to 1732 and is the oldest of its type still in use today. The still is made from Greenheart wood indigenous to Guyana, owing to the high price of copper at the time. Taking upwards of 16 hours to run a single batch this style of rum is a throwback to very early rum making in Guyana, and has more than earned its status amongst hardened rum lovers.
Background: I missed my chance to own this rum when it came to market. It was literally in my Whiskey Exchange shopping cart and while endlessly searching the site for additional bottles to group with my order to help burden the exorbitant shipping expense, it sold out. Thankfully a kind soul sent me a sample.
Conditions: Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn.
Nose: Sour vanilla milk, vanilla bean, pepper, orange peel, crayons, Play Doh, sawdust, forest, fireworks, tire store
Mouth: Tons of wood, bbq brisket, copper, blood, almonds, sawdust, cherry cola, fresh squeezed orange juice, rubber soles, bitter coffee, chocolate milk
Final Thoughts: This is quite an adventure! Very savory and featuring many of the quintessential notes I’ve come to associate with the Port Mourant still. It drinks very easy for 61%. The immense woodiness just fills the mouth with delight without being tannin-y, and it just hangs around forever.
Rating: 5/5
My Scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Best used for mixing
3 – Decent sipper
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I’m buying a back up bottle
Truly wish I was able to procure a bottle or two. This is what I want to drink every day.
Austin Rum Society 
One response to “Tamosi Karaya 1998 Guyana Demerara Rum Uitvlugt Distillery (Port Mourant Still) 22 Year – 61.1%”
[…] Tamosi Karaya 1998 Guyana Demerara Rum Uitvlugt Distillery (Port Mourant Still) 22 YearThis to me is quintessential Port Mourant. Brings forth all the flavors I adore from the unique still in perfect harmony. Complex, woody, savory, dynamic. A true adventure rum. Note: I never got to own a bottle of this rum, no less a back up. I tried buying it from Whisky Exchange when it was released. I spent an entire day going through their site trying to narrow down which other bottles to grab to make the shipping cost sting a little less but by the time I went to pull the trigger it was sold out. Thankfully a west coast friend sent me a sample so I could experience it. I truly wish I owned a bottle or three or six. […]
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