For this year’s Master Blender’s Reserve blend, we drew inspiration from historical rums in our collection and the unique flavour profiles they exhibited over half a century ago. These rums, since lost in the rum world, were rich with notes of baked banana, dusty chocolate, mocha milkshakes, honey, tobacco, leather, liquorice, and spice. These flavours were mapped out and became our guide. We began as always with rum drawn from our perpetual blend - our Master Blender’s Reserve from last year, which has been ageing in Sherry casks since last Black Tot Day. These four unique country blends were then brought together and married with our perpetual reserve, layered and perfectly balanced, to bring you Master Blender’s Reserve 2022.

Nose: Melted chocolate nibs, toasted hazelnuts are offset against warm orange and cinnamon sticks with a background of mixed tropical juice and cassis. Blackcurrant and raspberry leaf start to come to the fore with time in the glass.

Palate: Initial flavours of milk chocolate and raisins are complimented with café latte and ripe banana. A touch of aniseed balances against a light hint of tropical fruit and a wonderful rich baked demerara sugar top to a crème caramel.

Finish: Cinnamon and nutmeg spice along with chili and cocoa linger for an age.