Albert Michler Distillery Austrian Empire Navy Rum – Oloroso Cask Finish

The Austrian Empire Navy Rum Oloroso Cask Finish comes from Albert Michler, an Austrian house that blends Caribbean molasses rum and finishes it in Europe. This release is column still rum given a short rest of around eighteen months and then a period in Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at navy-leaning 49.5% with the extra kick that strength brings.

Expect a sweet, sherry-influenced profile rather than a dry, austere one. Tropical fruit and vanilla open the nose, the palate turns to caramel, milk chocolate, nougat and baking spice, and the finish stays warm with citrus and chocolate before fading fairly fast with a touch of young oak. The sweetness reads as real, so this lands closer to a dessert-style rum with a bit of muscle than a stripped-back purist bottling. For anyone who enjoys sherried whiskies or richer rums and wants more proof in the glass, it offers fruit and spice at an honest price.