The distilling arm of BrewDog is staying very busy, and this is another tasty example of the fruits of its labour - Five Hundred Cuts Botanical Rum! The spirit is distilled from sugar cane molasses, fermented with red wine yeast and rum yeast for seven days, and then double pot distilled. Afterwards, botanicals join the party, with the likes of orange peel, lavender, schezuan peppercorns and cardamom being re-distilled in the spirit, while cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, tonka bean, ginger, and allspice, are steeped in the spirit for 14 hours. The two spirits are blended and finished off with a touch of muscovado sugar.
The Five Hundred Cuts name is inspired by Elizabeth Blackwell, who, in the 18th century, created the most comprehensive herbal (a text of plant illustrations and descriptions) of plant engravings (or 'cuts') at the time. 500 of them, in fact. Not only was it sizeable, it was also one of the first herbals to show the plants drawn accurately!
Coca-cola, dark chocolate, caramel combine with more aromatic notes like ginger, orange peel and cloves.
Highly aromatic, almost menthol, with assertive cardamom leading balanced by rich dark sugar.
Fresh and herbal, like upmarket cold cure.
Sadly I was most disappointed with this 'rum', being a fan of Brew Dog. Overpowering scent and taste of cloves, and that's it. AVOID.
Seems to have a marmite reaction! Personally I really enjoy it, it’s extra sweet when mixed with sugary drinks, but the botanicals really come out when paired with a soda, such as fentimans botanical soda. I like it this way with a little bit of Smokey maple syrup and ice. If you don’t like gins/ jagermeister etc. you won’t like this, but if you like complex flavours it’s really interesting.
I have been drinking alcohol for 37 years and I can safely say that this is the single-most disgusting spirit I have ever tasted. AVOID
Nose: Medicine with a note of menthol toothpaste Palate: Inspired by Benylin Chesty Coughs without the benefits of helping your chest cough Finish: Syrupy in texture, sticks to tongue like glue, takes a while for the taste to go.
Too medicinal by far for me. Tastes a bit like powdered cinnamon mixed with clove oil. Shane because I was looking forward to trying this.
