Rum Nation Pot Still Rum (Collection New Vibrations) 2017

Rum Nation, the well-regarded Italian house founded by Fabio Rossi, released this 2017 New Vibrations bottling as a young, cask strength Jamaican drawn from multiple distilleries and aged five years in an ex-bourbon and sherry-influenced cask at 58.32%. The two-stage cask treatment is a Rum Nation signature, here reshaping the spirit's aromatic palette.

The nose brings dried fruit, ripe banana, an olive note and varnish, the Jamaican funk and ester clear, with light roast, caramel, cinnamon and molasses behind. The palate turns to allspice, wood, banana and a sweet edge, the finish earthy and rooty with anise and spice. The sherry-style cask lends roundness and a transformed, slightly darker fruit character to the young distillate. Bottled at cask strength, it is a punchy, funky, spice-driven young Jamaican for drinkers who enjoy a wine-cask twist on pot still ester, where the banana and varnish meet a warm, rooty sweetness.