Renaissance Single Rum 2018

Renaissance Single Rum 2018 is a single cask from the Taiwanese distillery Renaissance, drawn from one ex bourbon barrel and bottled undiluted at full strength. A 2018 vintage pot still rum at four years of tropical leaning maturation, it shows how quickly warm climate ageing can pull colour and oak into a young molasses spirit.

The nose is dominated by strawberry in every guise, fermented and jammy, strawberry yogurt, with toasted hazelnut, coconut macaroon, oak and a lift of grapes. The palate stays soft and fruity despite the towering proof, sweet strawberry yogurt and caramel folded into grilled coconut and oak, finishing astringent and woody with the berry note carrying through. The cask has clearly taken over from the base spirit, leaning on wood and an almost cognac like richness, so a drop of water helps it open without losing its considerable intensity.