Romdeluxe New Yarmouth Wild Series Rum No. 39 NYE/WK 2019

Part of RomDeluxe's Wild Series, the Danish bottler's roster of high-ester, very-high-strength single casks dressed in black-and-white animal labels, this is New Yarmouth distilled in 2019 and matured a little over two years in virgin oak. New Yarmouth, part of the Clarendon operation, has become an independent-bottler darling for its robust, funky pot-still spirit.

At 84.7% this is close to distillation strength and demands water from the first pour. The nose is pure ester intensity, glue, solvent and overripe tropical fruit, while the palate piles on more of the same with an astringent grip before a finish of marzipan, vanilla and papaya. The virgin oak lends raw, resinous spice rather than polish. Certified unsweetened, this is a wild, divisive showpiece for seasoned palates who want the funk turned all the way up and sip slowly.