S.B.S 2014 Merlot Cask Finish

This S.B.S bottling comes from 1423, the Danish house whose Single Barrel Selection is known for transparent, unsweetened, cask-strength-minded releases. Built on pot-still Jamaican spirit distilled from molasses in 2014, with a Worthy Park-style cleanliness to the fruit, it has been finished in a Merlot cask that wraps the estate's bright esters in red-wine character without overpowering them.

The nose is classic Jamaica, ester, varnish, pineapple and banana, while the palate brings varnish, a nutty edge, barrel notes and red fruits from the wine, and the finish runs dry and barrel-driven with returning pineapple. Bottled at 50% and unsweetened, the Merlot finish sits in balance with the rum rather than masking it, the fruit and funk still clearly Jamaican. This is a characterful pour for drinkers who enjoy pot-still Jamaica with a well-judged wine-cask twist.