Swell de Spirits Flashback Series 2-07 1996

I don't really warm up to this WIRD... the nose is smoky, bacony mixed with pastry, the woody roasted dominates with some catamel and pepper... it's certainly good, but not mine Second time in the glass today... and my opinion doesn't change... we don't go together

Solid WIRD. This distillery will probably never quite convince me. Very light Barbados style with alcoholic finish.

8,6:On the nose, the first impression we get is very tempting with fruitcake note, some esters, as the fruits are tropical with pineapple, coconut and dried with raisins and apricots, roasted wood begets us with smoky touch and delicious pastry, caramel, spiced up with cinnamon. On aeration, we feel red fruits, more esters, buttery vanilla and sweet honey, as a molasses is vegetal with flowery, minty notes. Great! 8,6:On the palate, the attack is balanced with sweet, fruity and woody deliciousness with overripe, estery tropical fruits like pineapple, banana, coconut and citrus, red fruits later on.The wood is roasted, spicy with burnt sugar, honey, creamy vanilla, nuts, leather, a bit peppery, later some clove arises.The molasses is vegetal, earthy, floral, grassy and minty. 8,5:The finish is long with dry, spicy, roasted wood notes, similar as on the palate, but more on confectionery side with biscuits, pastry, as the fruits are dried, tropical, esters recede slowly....The molasses stays earthy...Some tannins arise.. Edit:28.6.25

I didn’t take any notes at the Rhum Fest so a more detailed review will follow as soon as I get the chance to sample this rum again in a better context. I finally managed to sample this rum a second time and have to say that I’m less enthusiastic about it than at the rhum fest. Lowering my note from 84 to 79 as it makes for a decent sipper but lacks depth and complexity.

Very gourmand on the nose, even if the alcohol is quite noticeable. Coconut, vanilla, wood, spices. Engaging. Warm and spicy on the palate. The wood is straightforward, with vanilla and coconut. The alcohol is very present, too much for me, and I prefer it with a drop of water. Rather long finish. Pleasant despite the alcohol, which could have been better integrated. Edit: tested with a little water to bring it down to 55% and found it much more pleasant. The alcohol is still very pungent, but leaves more room for vanilla, elegant woodiness and discreet coconut.

My first 1996 WIRD. I was skeptical at first because I often don't like the "young" wird's because they consist only of tea and bitters. This one manages a nice balancing act between a 10% 1984 profile (honeycomb, incense, herbs) and a more typical Barbados foursquare profile (coconut, banana, caramel). Nice thing, but overall a little too bitter for me...

Despite the 61.9% but rather restrained on the nose. What arrives goes in the direction of peach, tangerine and almond crescent. On the palate, toasty, allspice, latte, caramel. Perhaps most comparable to the Plantation WIRD 2007 Extreme No 5.

A very disappointing rum. This WIRD initially offers a very pastry and buttery nose, with aromas of fruit cakes, exotic fruits (pineapple) and a few traces of spices, roasted aromas and wood. The whole is greedy without being surprising or really intoxicating. Despite the 61.9%, the palate is extremely light. While the integration of alcohol is commendable, the flavors are very simplistic. Dried fruit, coconut, wood, spices, a little tobacco and that's it. The profile is both bland and terribly lacking in depth. The finish is just as ephemeral and unmemorable as the palate. After Wild Parrot's WIRD 1996, one disappointment follows another with this vintage. Even so, the quality/price ratio remains superior to that of Wild Parrot, although there are much higher quality, more aromatic rums available at much lower prices.

Beautiful WIRD, which reminds me of the representatives from 2000. The good 10% more alcohol compared to the Wild Parrot create much more intensity and aromatics. I like it very much!

Good Barbados rum, but personally not quite convinced me.

#4054 This rum is pretty good and I think the price matches the quality. Well balanced and fruity with nice roasted wood notes. I really like the caramel from nose to finish thigh it's very light on the nose. The empty glass is really nice and I can pick up some light smoke and honey.

To my knowledge, I have not yet had a 96 Barbados in the glass. Strange rum. It tastes somewhat like WIRD, however, you taste a lot of Column style out. Lacks complexity. Alcohol is not well integrated.

Hm…. nose remains somewhat closed up an a bit harsh - it is not bad really, but just not what 100% there. Palate is interesting but again not very balanaced and elegant enough to really cut it into the top ratings.

The alcohol integration is killing the whole rum for me. It is quite a lot going on, but it is quite a lot next to each other not reall integrated well into each other. The harshness of the alcohol then takes over.

Kind of boring, I mean it is complex but nothing is really standing out. Overall not worth a bottle.