Black Tot 50th anniversary rum

Black Tot 50th anniversary rum (1970 - 2020)
a marriage of rums from the four cornerstones of the Royal Navy blend.
nice blend of different styles - 54,5%

whiskyfun: 87 points
rumratings: 9,0 

Black Tot ‘50th Anniversary’ (54.5%, Elixir Distillers, 2020) 
I’ll say it, these ‘black tot’ things do not ring many bells to these French ears. What’s more, the one thing we’ve never been too keen on, beyond their food of course, is the British Navy. But we love all the rest, especially the jokes ;-). So yeah, this is some kind of no-age-stated British-style rum. OH and I agree I’m being a little tough on it, after the glories we’ve just had. Colour: deep amber. Nose: it does, indeed, kind of synthesise some of the rums we’ve just had. The petrol, the ripe bananas, the olives, the gravel, the earth, the soft spices (that ras el hanout)… It does lose you a wee bit, especially since this is not the style of rum the French are used to (at all), but I do applaud the petroly liquorice for sure. With water: muchas improvements and a totally liquorice-led cavalcade. Do you enjoy liquorice as much as I do? Mouth (neat): heavy liquid liquorice, heavy molasses, heavy caramel, a drop of violet liqueur… Parfait Amour indeed. I hope that will give you a good idea. With water: same, just easier. This very molasses-y profile just works – again, we’re not used to this at all.  Finish: long. Molasses, liquorice, caramel. Comments: I’m starting to understand what the French, cough, ‘navy’ did wrong. Seriously, the black tot sure was a secret weapon.
SGP:562 - 87 points.