Sampling Bermuda’s Finest – Goslings Rum!

Bermuda’s Finest – Goslings Rum!

Wednesday nights @TweetTastings, which was once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire, gave us the opportunity to sample Bermuda’s very own Goslings Rum.

In the spring of 1806 James Gosling, the oldest son of William Gosling, wines and spirits merchant, set out from Gravesend, Kent, England on the ship Mercury, with £10,000 sterling worth of merchandise, bound for America.

After ninety-one desperate days on becalmed seas their charter ran out and they put in at the nearest port, St. George’s, Bermuda. This is where their Rum story began.

In 1857, the firm then known as Gosling and Son, was renamed Gosling Brothers. In 1860 the first oak barrels of rum distillate arrived in Bermuda.

After much experimentation in the blending process, their distinctive black rum which would eventually become Black Seal was formulated and offered for sale.

As part of our tasting, the Rums sampled were:-

If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #GoslingsRum on Twitter.

So, what did I think?

Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!

Tasting Notes – Goslings Rum – ‘Black Seal’ (40%)

Made from a Gosling’s family recipe dating back over two centuries. A blend of 3 to 6 year old pot and continuous still rums, made from molasses and aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

Black Seal Rum takes its name from the black wax that was originally used to seal the bottles, but now there’s an actual black seal on the label.

Nose: Amazing colour – and bursting with fruits and muscovado sugar! VERY ripe bananas with malt loaf, molasses and black treacle. Add in golden syrup and blackcurrant and you’ve got a recipe book! There’s also a little liquorice and mint (which I get hints of in a lot of nosings!) Palate: Creamy rum with sugary explosions – lots of treacle, malt and sweet blackcurrant. Finish: Pleasantly peppery with quite a dry leather finish. Overall: An excellent rum which tastes fantastic, even without a mixer. A fantastic drink is their Dark’n Stormy illustrated below. There is also a very handy ready-to-drink Goslings Dark’n Stormy, available from Waitrose.

Goslings Rum is available to buy from these Merchants:- Master of Malt The Whisky Exchange

Tasting Notes – Goslings Rum – ‘Gold Seal’ (40%)

A blend of 3 to 5 year old pot and continuous still rums, made from molasses and aged in ex-bourbon barrels. Released in 2016, Goslings Gold Seal Rum was the first new product to be launched by the brand in over 100 years.

Nose: A little shy this one – but I’m getting popcorn which seems very similar to new-make whiskey to me. Palate: Creamy vanilla with some white wood and pleasant spiciness – it tastes more like a dram than a rum! Overall: Wasn’t that thrilled with this one to be honest – more like a rum trying to be a whisky which I couldn’t quite get. Though the other Tweeters were well impressed with this one so it’s very much a matter of taste. I was well advised that this is another good one for pairing with Ginger Ale!

Goslings Rum is available to buy from these Merchants:- Master of Malt The Whisky Exchange

Tasting Notes – Goslings ‘Family Reserve’ (40%)

A blend of 16 to 21 year old pot and continuous still rums, made from molasses and aged in ex-bourbon barrels. This should be tasted last really but the 151 might blow those tastebuds away!

Nose: Big citrus hit! Bags of tangerines, pineapple and lemons! Add in bananas, liquid treacle, liquorice, stewed fruits, creamy vanilla fudge, waxy furniture – have I left anything out? Probably! I could nose this till Christmas! Palate: Ooh! That’s so smooth and creamy. Lovely tropical fruits with vanilla and Xmas cake fruits with added banana and all the treacly trimmings! Finish: Oaky dryness on the finish – superb – sure makes me wish it was a magic sample! Overall: This is a ‘sipper’ and no mistake – don’t ruin this in a coctail. Enjoy as it was meant to be enjoyed – on it’s own.

Goslings Rum is available to buy from these Merchants:- Master of Malt The Whisky Exchange

Tasting Notes – Goslings Rum – ‘151 Proof’ (75.5%)

Uses the same blend of 3-6 year old pot and continuous still rums as the standard Black Seal bottling, but bottled at a higher ABV – 75.5%!

Nose: Seems quietly understated – luring us in eh? Light molasses, banana and some herbiness but be careful of that alcohol burn! Palate: Well it’s a kicker for sure but very flavoursome – that is before my taste buds surrendered! There’s Xmas cake, treacle and vanilla. Adding water smoothes this along quite considerably and allows the flavours to be appreciated without the bulldozing alcohol. Finish: A savoury finish that almost feels like I’ve had a meal! Overall: This rum has a considerable alcohol strength but it’s not as bad as a whisky of a similar strength. An experience to be sure but some water addition is really a necessity.

Goslings Rum is available to buy from these Merchants:- Master of Malt The Whisky Exchange

Out of the 4, I think it’s got to be the Goslings Rum Family Reserve followed by the 151 Proof – a great taste but but even with water added my taste buds may never forgive me!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TweetTastings) for a great evening and Goslings Rum (@TheBlackSeal) for sending the samples and without whom!

My fellow Tweeters were:-

@GaryMills01 @TheArtpunk @iheartwhisky @LeedsWine @MashtunandMeow @FiShoop @Whisky_And1 @rumcompass @PhilScott101 @rodbodtoo @MaltMusings @JasonGilluley @RUMDOTLV @thedramble @T_M_Cocktails @JoBlogsRum @Ardbaggie @ocdwhisky @2rumheads @The_Lady_Sybil @TheWhiskyphiles @RumDiariesBlog @SpiritAndWood @whiskywings

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It’s A Rum Do! Sampling El Dorado’s Range Of Rums – Yum! The Glasgow Distillery Tweet Tasting – An Enlightening Take On Familiar Spirits! Sampling The Wares Of The Glasgow Distillery: Three Whiskies, Two Rums & A Whole Lot Of Flavour! Grants Whisky Tweet Tasting – Quality At A Bargain Price!

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