Carrere Montebello Rare Rhum Vieux 1948

In the Top 5 French Style Rums and the best of Guadeloupe. Nose Dori me, interimo ayapare, dorime. Ameno ameno! We're in an old, dim catholic cathedral, enveloped with deep notes of swirling incense, smoldering myrrh and many undefined herbs! What a supreme welcome! Further we descent to deeper, more earthy impressions of the purest Coca-Cola essence (which is very Damoiseau in our book), manioc puree and cooling eucalypt leaves (not mint!). After some minutes in the glass we even find some macadamia and hazelnuts, together with beautiful flowers like violets, Ylang-Ylang and Jasmin. Someting one can also find in the 80's Macallans. Apart from being phenomenal, the bouquet is of an abysmal depth. Palate Pardon our french, but this is godamn great. Super rich (almost monumental), powerful and heavy like a marble bench, even after 42 years in the cask! And guess what, the oak influence is perfectly integrated. We get all the herbal and earthy flavours we found on the bouquet, but combined with an astonishing delicatness of caramelized dates in milk chocolate. But what's most thrilling is the slight medicinal, smokey touch, which slightly reminds us of La Bonne Intention. Good gracious! Even at 55% the texture is oily and smooth like mohair wool. Finish A long and satisfying, bittersweetness forward aria of roots, jungle herbs, cocoa and burnt tobacco. Once again, the bitterness is perfectly integrated.

Completely different league than all other Montebellos known to me - it should of course also be noted that it is in the comparison field in terms of distillation vintages a difference of more than three decades. What is offered here, however, is simply sensational: In the nose already of breathtaking depth with heavy fruits, fresh cola aroma and floral notes, the bouquet thickens on the palate to an oily texture with chocolaty sweetness, heavy fruitiness, excellent spice and perfectly balanced wood influence. Whatever Carrere (or whoever - the exact origin is still rumored) did differently than today: Play it again, Sam!

Hat richtig Power. Sensationell!

Gediegen. Erdig, Tabak, Rauch. Wunderbare Nase. Würziger und holziger in der Nase. Langer, würziger Abgang. Eine wunderbares Stück Geschichte. Hätte nie gedacht, dass ich den jemals ins Glas bekomme.

My only notes on this one is heavy smoky wood, fruits and earthy.

The nose is explosive with roast, smoke, tobacco, forest and some floral and honey notes. The palate has a unique taste that I have never heard, smoky and dry wood and leather scents, but also fruity (raisins/ figs) and full-bodied sweet with an intense and long finish that also carries some peppery and coffee notes. In the empty glass roasted, wood and some fruit. What a bomb