Overview
Brand: Rum-Bar
Origin: Worthy Park, Lluidas Vale, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Still: Pot
Age: NAS
Finish: n/a
ABV: 63%
While a lot of Worthy Park's rum is sold to brokers who then sell to private labels or independent bottlers, the estate releases a number of expressions under their house brand– Rum-Bar.
Rum-Bar has several products in their lineup, including Silver, Gold, and Overproof rum expressions, and a rum cream. Today, we're taking a look at Rum-Bar Overproof, the first product that was bottled under this brand in 2007, shortly after Worthy Park began their modern era of rum production in 2005.
Rum-Bar Overproof is a molasses-based rum that was produced via Worthy Park's 100% copper pot stills, and bottled without aging at a respectable 63% ABV. It's worth noting that this is 100% molasses-based, since Worthy Park's new Overproof expression utilizes a split base of molasses and cane juice for its raw material.
Appearance
Clear, medium viscosity
Nose
Vanilla frosting, coconut meat, banana peel, underripe pineapple, orange zest, muddled raspberry
Palate
Banana, underripe pineapple, fresh kiwi, vanilla frosting, coconut, starfruit, blueberries
Finish
Medium, fruity, warm; vanilla frosting, orange zest, banana peel, ethanol
Rating: 6/10
Summary
Rum-Bar Overproof continues to showcase that the unaged Jamaican overproof category is chock-full of worthwhile bottlings. Lots of bananas show up throughout this experience, while allowing other notes like coconut, pineapple, kiwi, and oranges to shine through elsewhere.
There is a bit of heat after the initial wave of flavors rolls around the palate, and some raw ethanol shows up on the finish in some parts, but otherwise nothing too concerning.
That said, I think this sits behind other Jamaican overproofs for me, as the likes of Rum Fire and Wray & Nephew Overproof have a bit more character in their profiles.