Two James Doctor Bird Jamaican Rum

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Two James Doctor Bird Jamaican Rum

One of the surprises of 2017 was the introduction of this new rum from Jamaica by way of Detroit, Michigan. This pot still rum is created at the Worthy Park Distillery where it is aged in used American Oak Bourbon barrels for six plus years. It is then transported to Two James Distillery located in Detroit, Michigan. There it is aged for an undisclosed time period in Moscatel sherry casks before being blended to 50 abv.

Appearance

This rum comes in a 750 ml bottle with a classic label style reminiscent of the early 20th Century. In the bottle and glass the rum holds a shiny copper appearance. When it is agitated it creates a thin band that spins off fast moving legs.

Nose

A funky aroma and most Pot Still Jamaican rums tend to go hand and hand and this rum does not disappoint. The ester-rich aroma delivers notes of passion fruit, ripe strawberries, coconut husks, pineapple and a hint of pencil lead.

Palate

As much as I enjoyed the aroma of the rum the flavors did not fail to disappoint.  From the first sip dark caramel flavors and smoky charred oak form the foundation with the coconut husk and pencil lead notes providing a mineral twist to the flavors. The fruit flavors of pineapple, strawberries and lemon peel create the mid and high notes of the flavor profile. As the finish begins, the strawberry notes become more dominant with oak tannins and copper mineral notes weaving and lingering in a long interesting finish.

Review

For me personally I enjoyed this rum, but I tend to be drawn to Pot Still rums and enjoy the funkiness that a Worthy Park rum normally delivers. Add the Moscatel Sherry cask finish and I discovered the blender had managed to create a complex funky/sweet balanced product. My bias aside, I have been told that the rum is way too funky for some folk’s palates to sip neat, but they enjoy it in a range of cocktails that call for Jamaican rums.

Currently it is available in some regions of the United States and some online outlets. If you are interested in picking up the product, check your local stores for availability.

-Rum Review by Paul Senft- 

My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others.