The Wild Parrot Hidden Spirits (LMDW) 2016

The Wild Parrot is an independent bottler under La Maison du Whisky, and this Hidden Spirits release is a six year old Réunion single cask from the 2016 vintage at a hefty 60.8%. The profile points strongly at Savanna's wildest grand arôme lineage, a high ester, long ferment style, and this is firmly for experienced palates chasing extreme, divisive rum.

Matured in ex bourbon wood and bottled at natural strength, it pushes the funk to its limits. The nose runs olive, solvents, pineapple and fermented notes, the palate turns solventy and medicinal with tropical fruit and varnish, and the finish stays medicinal and synthetic over wood and dried fruit. The salty, plastic, olive brine character is fascinating to some and unbearable to others, with tropical fruit and flowers buried in the background. Polarizing but genuinely interesting geek material, this rewards anyone who enjoys wrestling with a difficult, high ester rum.