Overview
Brand: Monymusk
Origin: Clarendon Distillers Ltd., Lionel Town, Clarendon, Jamaica
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: Unaged
Finish: n/a
ABV: 63%
After recently reviewing a rum produced at the Clarendon distillery (but independently bottled), I thought it would be fun to look at an expression that is an original bottling by their house brand. As a plus, this is a preview of a release that hasn't quite made it many places Stateside yet.
Monymusk Overproof is the NRJ-owned brand's proverbial hat thrown into the ring of overproof Jamaican rums; this is Monymusk's newest expression, and my first review of their direct releases. Distilled at the Clarendon distillery, the rum is a blended product of distillate run through both pot and column stills, and released unaged at a healthy strength of 63% ABV.
This bottle was gifted to me after a tasting by a brand rep, with no expectation other than to enjoy the rum. I'm looking forward to trying another Clarendon product, so let's dive right into it.
Appearance
Clear, medium viscosity
Nose
Light fresh pineapple, red bell pepper, hint of vanilla
Palate
Fresh pineapple, serrano pepper, fresh coconut, banana peel, green bananas
Finish
Long, strong, slightly funky; pineapple, rotting banana peel, green bell pepper, ethanol
Rating: 6/10
Summary
Monymusk's entry into the Jamaican overproof game is a welcome one, but in my opinion lacks a certain depth and complexity that other distilleries' comparable expressions have.
A faint nose provides some fresh pineapple, red bell pepper, and a hint of vanilla; otherwise, it's a manageable amount of neutral ethanol. The palate has a little more going on, with fresh pineapple joined by slightly spicy serrano pepper, fresh coconut chunks, and bananas in the form of rotting peel and underripened bananas. The long and strong finish yields more of the same, with green bell pepper and a decent amount of ethanol.
This is a decent rum, and I can see it being popular in cocktail programs for its power and lighter funk, but I don't think this is one I'll reach for regularly. I will give props to the Monymusk team for expanding their footprint in the US rum market; hoping this is the start of a larger push to bring more Monymusk/Clarendon rum to the States.