This is one of two Privateer rums available at K&L recently (this Queen’s Share is now sold out, but the BIB is still available as of today). While the BIB was a K&L store selection, the sticker on this Queen’s Share indicates it was selected by The Rumbustion Society of Smuggler’s Cove.
The Privateer website indicates the Queen’s Share is a fairly unique product: it is the result of re-distilling the tails from several batches of rum, which allows them to emancipate the hearts that had bled into the tails in their prior batches. This is something I have heard of moonshiners and home distillers doing, but as far as I know most of the larger distillers do not save and re-distill their tails.
Smell: butterscotch pudding, creme brûlée, that bread from grain d’or in the mall with the custard inside it. Behind that there’s a slight cinnamon apple note.
Taste: full and rich, the butterscotch from the nose is less pronounced here but it still has that creamy, desserty thing going on without being too sweet. There’s a small amount of baking spices and also a little bit of rustic funk that I normally find in Armagnac. Thick, oily mouthfeel.
Finish: Nothing new, still heavy on the rich yolky desserts. Medium in length.
Overall: Notably different and in my opinion tastier than the BIB. The whole experience here is pretty rich and luxurious. It’s always fun to see craft distilleries doing things a bit differently, especially when it results in a good product, and Privateer is successful in both regards here.
Spirit Type: Rum
Proof: 110.2
Vintage:
Age: 2 years
Cask Type: American Oak (New)
Rating: B