Overview
Brand: Privateer, Distiller's Drawer series
Origin: Privateer Distilling, Ipswich, MA, USA
Still: Pot, Column
Age: 5 years, 8 months
Finish: New American Oak
ABV: 58.5%
In 2020, Privateer started to gain steam among the wider rum community as their products reached more and more shelves. By the time I purchased Intrepid, Privateer and their Distiller's Drawer releases had been the talk of the /r/rum subreddit, prompting me to source the available bottles that weren't yet in Memphis.
Distiller's Drawer "Intrepid" is fermented from a base of Grade A molasses, and distilled using Privateer's pot & column hybrid still at their facility in Ipswich, MA. The resulting rum was placed in new American oak casks for 5 years and 8 months, before being released and bottled at a strength of 58.5% ABV.
Appearance
Dark orange-brown, low viscosity
Nose
Candied pecans, vanilla, nutmeg, molasses, underripe pear, shortbread cookie
Palate
Vanilla, oak, candied pecans, nutmeg, molasses, pear, cinnamon
Finish
Medium-long, tannic, rich; vanilla, tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses
Rating: 7/10
Summary
Intrepid has long been a favorite Privateer expression of mine. It shows its age pretty well, but offers a rich, nutty, and just "rummy" profile that is perfectly drinkable even at its relatively high proof.
Candied pecans, vanilla, oak, nutmeg, and molasses are present throughout the experience, with underripe pear and shortbread cookie appearing on the nose. Pear returns with the other notes on the palate, augmented by a touch of cinnamon. The tannic and rich finish features more vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses, along with leaf tobacco.
This is a great rum that exemplifies the capability of Privateer, and really opened my eyes as to why– at the time that I purchased this bottle– everyone was talking about the distillery.