S.B.S French Antilles Grand Arome Bourbon Cask 2019

This S.B.S release is a single cask from 1423's detail driven Single Barrel Selection, drawing on high ester Grand Arome rum from the French Antilles. A 2019 vintage molasses rum given five years in ex bourbon and bottled at cask strength, unsweetened and non chill filtered, it puts ester intensity front and centre in the transparent S.B.S style.

The aroma is overripe and tropical, pineapple and passion fruit tipping toward the funky, with a clear estery wildness. The palate is intense and fruit driven, overripe maracuja and tropical fruit, while the finish turns meaty, smoky and charred. The extra ageing has rounded the more feral edges without taming them, lending a depth that some find reminiscent of clairin. This is a special, characterful single cask for drinkers who actively seek loud esters and overripe fruit, best sipped slowly to unpack its layers.