Raising Glasses Guyana 2012 “Moongazer” Versailles Still 9 Year – 57.5%
Stats: Independent bottling of 2012 distillate from the Versailles single retort wooden vat still at Diamond Distillery that aged 9 years in the UK before being bottled in an edition of 475 375ml bottles at 57.5% ABV for the US market. DDL added caramel to the barrel before its sale.
Background: I met Raising Glasses owners John and Lorri at Miami Rum Congress a couple months ago and they couldn’t be sweeter, well-intentioned people trying to bring honest, quality products to market. They gave me samples of this rum along with their 2007 Barbados, 8 year Trinidad, and something that’s on the horizon.
Conditions: Enjoyed neat in a stemcairn over the course of two sessions.
Nose: Tiramisu, toast, mild paint thinner, coffee grounds, graham cracker, toffee, mocha, burnt caramel, toasted twigs.
Mouth: Syrupy texture, vanilla bean, maple, caramel, fudge, chocolate milk. Fluffy chocolate cake lingers.
Final Thoughts: This is a quality Versailles pick with a confectionary, campfire vibe. It’s the perfect proof and opens up nicely with a little rest in glass. I love that Raising Glasses is doing 375ml bottlings, allowing more people to enjoy these type rums at an accessible price point.
My Rating: 4/5
My Scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Underwhelming
3 – Decent tipple
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I always want a bottle of this on my shelf
Austin Rum Society 