Several years ago, while visiting one of my favorite Florida cities, we toured the St. Augustine Distillery. Located in a refurbished early 1900s era icehouse, the distillery opened its doors to the public in March of 2014. The distillery has a unique configuration that holds two 500-gallon pot stills, one artisanal pot still, and everything else it needs to produce the bourbon, gin, rum, and vodka that are part of its portfolio. For twelve weeks during the year, the company focuses their operations on producing their rum instead of bourbon. During that time, they distill fermented molasses and sugarcane syrups made from Florida sugarcane. After the fermentation process, they age the rums in 53-gallon used white oak St. Augustine Distillery bourbon barrels. The pot still rum is aged for a minimum of one year at 45% ABV and bottled on-site at the distillery.
Appearance
The front label has gold and brown text with a sugarcane crusher featured in the center. The labels have the basic information about the rum and do provide a link to the website that delivers a great deal about their production practices and operation. The 750 ml bottle has a wood capped synthetic cork secured to the bottle with a clear plastic wrap.
The rum holds a honey amber color in the bottle and only lightens slightly in the glass. Swirling the liquid creates a medium band around the glass that slowly beads up and releases two waves of legs before evaporating, leaving behind a small bit of residue.
Nose
The aroma leads with a robust caramelized vanilla note, followed by a light anise-laden herbaceousness, cooked fruit, fresh-cut coconut, and brown sugar.
Palate
The first sip delivers a thin and sweet mouthfeel that quickly opens, releasing flavors after a few seconds. Additional sips lead with brown sugar molasses with anise, honey, tea, and caramel nipping around the edges. As these notes settle, a light astringent wood note comes into play, grounded by char and mineral flavors that merge and form the finish.
Review
When I was visiting a local shop looking for rums, I spotted this bottle and decided to review it. I found the flavor profile interesting, a little hot and astringent for sipping, but with the flavor hooks complex enough to be useful in a large range of cocktails covering the Prohibition era to modern tropical cocktails. I understand that the distillery occasionally releases higher proof and limited rums and would be interested in exploring those if I ever have the opportunity.
