Uitvlugt Rum Sponge No. 22 1998

I don't know what's wrong with me today, but this rum doesn't knock my socks off either. I find it somehow ordinary, although I have to admit that the alcohol is very, very well integrated. After a longer period of standing, the rum becomes more accessible and I increasingly taste something like sweet cardboard. The subjectively perceived improvement after breathing for a long time just manages to get the rum over the 80-point mark. I'll have to taste it again. But I certainly don't need a whole bottle.

Mkay…. It starts with a phenmenal nose 😎 I would say typical for a PM 😉Once the alcoholic notes are gone, delicious Thyme, herbal, pencil shavings come through paired with various notes from the barrel. On the palate it’s more balanced and the alcohol is integrated very well. The finish is medium long with long lasting caramel-honey note.

Not easy initially and you have to find the right amount of water to add. Around 50% are my preference here. Quite complex, fruity, herbal, umami and sweet at the same time. Liquorice, tea, grain and olives. There is something to it that reminds me a bit of Whisky.

#4373 22.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023

Sponge 1998 is the rum that comes closest to my beloved Karaya so far. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm didn't really want to jump over. The nose is stronger, woodier, more herbal and less fruity than Karaya. The Earl Grey is the connecting element between the two rums. The Sponge comes with a somewhat mellow thyme note, whereas the Karaya is more mentholated. Apart from a crumbly apple, there is little fruit on the nose. While the Karaya's mouth scores with harmony, which is already too simple for some, the Sponge is much woodier and more bitter. The slight sweetness of the Karaya is missing and the great fruit doesn't really stand up to the tannins here. There is the crunchy apple, but the tropical side is completely missing. The Earl Grey's intensity of aniseed and licorice is impressive. It also brings a toasty pepperiness that the Karaya lacks. The finish is long and the bitterness is clear. Nevertheless, the flavors remain in the mouth. The alcohol integration is not quite optimal. Compared to the Karaya, the two rums are very similar, but the bulkiness of the Sponge makes it noticeably more difficult for me to enjoy, even if it is a higher intensity and complexity on the plus side. For 300€ it remains a little too expensive for me.

Longtemps que j'attendais de déguster ce sample. Le nez ne déçoit pas : savant mélange de notes boisées, vanillées et fruitées. Je l'attendais très dark, il se révèle beaucoup plus gourmand et frais que je ne le pensais. En bouche, le profil se durcit immédiatement. D'abord un alcool mordant puis un gros boisé bien amer. Fumé ou roti. Vanillé malgré cela. C'est très équilibré et évolutif. Superbe longueur en bouche pour cette finale qui amène une note de tabac voire de menthol. Beaucoup de rondeur avec un sucre presque brûlé. Superbe profil. Je l'aimerais encore plus avec quelques degrés de moins je pense.

A beautifully diverse continental Port Mourant with lovely ripeness, tea, herbs (thyme), vanilla, anise/licorice, wood, dried fruit, a slightly buttery, thick nose and lots of salt and umami on the palate. I like the nose a little better.

Delicious 98 Uitvlugt, Marque unknown but could be PM - nice complexity, fresh, spicy. Very successful.

Zuallererst muss ich sagen, das diese Abfüllung wirklich eine gute Alkohol Integration hat. Die typischen Marker, die man erwartet, werden hier auch gut bedient. Meines Erachtens aber leider nicht in der Spitzengruppe.

I quite like it, even if the alcohol could be a little better integrated. Nose rather dominated by herbs and spices. I also think I smell what many describe as pencil shavings. Nice sweetness on the palate.

A lovely Uitvlugt distilled by the Port Mourant still, showing balance and finesse. The nose evokes aromatic herbs (tea, thyme), dried fruit, caramel and molasses, but has a strong still influence with intense oak, marked roasted and leather notes and spices (vanilla, anise, licorice, pepper). The "Port Mourant" aspect does not prevail, leaving this rum on the wise and refined side. The palate is lively and suave, with plenty of caramel sweetness and honeyed, candied notes. Nevertheless, aromatic herbs, dried fruit, oak and multiple spices (salt, licorice, chili, vanilla, umami flavor) call the intense profile to order on the palate. The finish is well-crafted, alternating between a saline edge, warm spices, notes of brown sugar and molasses, oak, tobacco, dried fruit and floral and herbal notes. A steady, delicate rum, with plenty of aroma and mouthfeel without going to extremes.

Super tasty Port Mourant...bottle freshly opened. I think it will get even better with a little air. Directly very floral on the nose with pencil. Thyme and green tea come through. But also roasty dark with a certain freshness. In the mouth then quite short sweetness through the dried fruits and again thyme and green tea in interplay with wood and tobacco. Very nice! The finish is quite long and similar to the mouthfeel. I like it very much. Edit: corrected upwards again.

Quel délices 😍😍 Je lui ai trouvé bcp de ressemblance avec « the nectar DD  27y » Les typicitees de la distillerie sont présentes, avec le thym en plus. Belle intégration de l’alcool, bcp de douceur malgré le poivre et la note pimentée, qui sont très bien équilibré avec les fruits 😍😍

Zlatá edice adventní kalendáře RFC 2025.

Nose: hazelnut, chocolate, raisins and figs Palate, chocolate truffle comes to the fore, some salt which goes well, tobacco, lemon, lime and slightly metallic, alcohol well integrated, pleasant to drink but could be a little more intense