Overview
Brand: Worthy Park
Origin: Worthy Park, Lluidas Vale, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Still: Pot
Age: Unaged
Finish: n/a
ABV: 63%
The newest expression from the prolific Lluidas Vale-based distillery is both a continuation of an existing product– albeit from a different house brand– as well as something quite unique and innovative.
Worthy Park Overproof is a blend of rums initially fermented from both molasses and cane juice– a first for a Jamaican distillery– all produced by the estate itself. Pot stills used the fermented wash to produce the resulting rums, which were blended and proofed to 63% ABV and bottled without aging or additives.
With this blending of distillates from different (sugarcane-based) source materials, I'm curious to see how this may be reflected in other product lines around the rum world. Down Island's Epris 2011 expression is the only other source-blended rum that I know of, having an 80% cane juice/20% molasses ratio; meanwhile, Foursquare's 100% cane juice rum has popped up at different rum fests, suggesting Richard Seale and company could one day blend that with their molasses rums.
Appearance
Clear, low viscosity
Nose
Overripe banana, sugarcane, pineapple, sea salt, grapefruit peel, starfruit
Palate
Overripe banana, pineapple, vanilla pudding, starfruit, light green apple, sugarcane, dried mango
Finish
Long, fruity, vegetal; pineapple, banana peel, blueberry, dried mango, green bell pepper, sugarcane
Rating: 8/10
Summary
Worthy Park Overproof is an excellent entry in the smaller and competitive sub-category of unaged Jamaican overproofs. It's got a classic overproof profile, but offers a few twists to keep things interesting.
The nose has a good bit of the sugarcane influence alonside tropical fruits, while the palate combines the best of what I liked of Rum-Bar Overproof with the vegetal and bright notes of the sugarcane component. WP Overproof's finish is expectedly a little hot, but offers plenty of fruit and cane funk.
I'm glad I spotted this bottle during a visit to Chicago, as it is really unique while also familiar. Really exciting to see this sort of innovation from the folks at Worthy Park.