Angel's Share Title
I was walking through one of my local shops in metro Atlanta and found three Admiral Rodney products on the shelves. The Admiral Rodney rum line is named after British Navy officer George Brydges Rodney and produced on the island of Saint Lucia by the Saint Lucia Rum Distillers Company, a branch of Spiribam. This release was named after the HMS Princessa, a ship that was part of the British fleet that protected Jamaica and the Caribbean islands during the 1700s and was one of the first ships to engage in the Battle of the Saints with Captain Charles Knatchbull at the helm and Rear Admiral Sir Francis Drake onboard. This is one of three permanent expressions that are a part of the Admiral Rodney line. It is made up of a blend of Coffey column still rums aged in used oak bourbon barrels and port casks between 5 and 9 years and bottled at 40% ABV.
Appearance
The 750 ml squat bottle has a wood-capped cork and is sold in a red, white, and gold box. The liquid holds a dark amber color with burnt orange highlights. Swirling the rum produces thick bands that spin off several waves of fast-moving legs. It takes a good bit of time before the bands evaporate, leaving a bit of residue around the glass.
Nose
As soon as you pour this rum in the glass, it is immediately identifiable as a Saint Lucia Distillers rum. The aroma delivers a rush of notes of vanilla, toasted oak, apricots, raisins, and cocoa, rounded out by nips of allspice and cloves. As the aroma settles, a bit more char and mineral notes manifest in the form of fresh-cut leather and dried tobacco leaf, punctuated by a hint of lemon zest.
Palate
The first sip of the rum leads with a rich toffee note, dark chocolate, smoky oak notes, and a light citrus astringency. Midpalate, I discovered the raisins and apricot notes from the aroma with a bit of sweet custard, Bourbon cherries, and Demerara sugar drifting in the mix. The oak and mineral notes form the foundation and also lead to a pleasantly spicy oak finish that lingers on the palate long after the sipping is completed.
Review
It is my understanding that Admiral Rodney HMS Princessa is the entry level of the core trifecta made up of the HMS Princessa, HMS Royal Oak, and HMS Formidable. Each blend is created by Saint Lucia Distillers head blender, Deny Dupelessis, and while of similar origin, each has its own unique flavor profile while never losing its core identity. HMS Princessa is a good-quality sipping rum that functions well in classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned, El Presidente, or Cable Car. While at the lowest entry price point of the Admiral Rodney line, the rum provides an excellent gateway not only for the Admiral Rodney line but also for other aged rum products from Saint Lucia Rum Distillers. Overall, a rum I am happy to have picked up and will keep on hand to share with friends.
