Papalin Jamaica 5 Year Old High Ester Vatted Rum (700ml)

A follow-up Jamaican effort from the house of Velier, blended by Luca Gargano and bottled in October 2024. The result of 63 tropically aged barrels from three distilleries, at 47% Alc./Vol., this should be one of the more accessible high ester expressions released by this independent to date.

Other reviews... A blend of three ‘pot still’ Jamaicans. This ought to be compact, with each of the three distilleries naturally cancelling out some of the others’ character. Or not – let’s have a look, especially as nowhere is it stated that the three distilleries are present in equal proportions. Colour: gold. Nose: dry-cured ham with dried banana and pistachio oil, plus some new plastics à la supermarket bag – alas those were banned here some years ago, so I’m relying on memory. In any case this feels more like ‘low esters’ than ‘high esters'. With water: go easy with the water or it drifts off into rainwater and silt. Not a great swimmer, then, but that doesn’t mean anything. Mouth (neat): now we’re talking – excellent, young, a little rough, sharp and dry, but with notes of rambutan in syrup. Really. With water: some floral touches. Finish: not very long, truth be told. Comments: excellent stuff, though it does feel a little as though the components have somewhat cancelled each other out indeed, yielding a rather light rum. Light for a Jamaican that’s not Appleton, of course. Wait, is there Appleton in here? Either way, this is the gentlest of the high esters we’ve tried in recent months. 84 points - whiskyfun.com