Elixir Distillers of London Black Tot Rum Master Blender’s Reserve 2023

Trosku slabsi black tot nez predchozi varianta 2022 a 2021. Ty byly vice technicke. Tato je vice sladsi, ovocnejsi po cherry nebo po jinem sladkem letnim ovoci. Za cenu 4000 to ale upl e nestoji......

Tasted at UK RumFest. Strong Guyanan influence comes through which I really enjoy. I thought it was a well balanced navy rum and actually one of my highlights for the RumFest, particularly as, though it isn’t cheap, it isn’t so expensive that I’d feel frivolous opening and enjoying a bottle.

I like it better than the 2022, rounder and better integrated. Great balance of roasted notes, wood influence & dark fruits. Quite a long, dry finish with coconut, leather and chocolate that offers a nice conclusion.

One of the best navy blends out there. Every years edition is different yet great.

Less fruity than the 2021, a little stronger than the 2022 and overall much more on the dark side. I liked it from the very first sip in Berlin. And it's so incredibly worth leaving the glass for a while.

Hier ein sehr leckerer Black Tot aus dem Jahr 2023. Riecht schon sehr Leder und ein bisschen Klebstoff. Aber auch tropische Früchte wie Ananas und Mango sind leicht zu erkennen. Gefällt mir sehr gut und zu empfehlen.

Perhaps the most challenging one regarding the rest of MBR releases. It is bold, woody, spicy and punchy, but on the other hand most Guyanese. It’s second, after 50th anniversary, my favourite release, nevertheless the best MBR for me so far (2021-2024). I appreciate the uniqueness of wood in this particular edition.

The 2023 Master Blender’s Reserve from Black Tot is very complex and aromatic. It’s a blend of rum from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and a very old one from Grenada. The nose is spicy and fruity with aromas of tar, black pepper, cocoa, pears, figs peaches and some licorice. At the palate there are flavors of cocoa, dark chocolate, tar, tobacco, licorice, smoke and dried fruit. The finish is rather long with the flavors from the palate remaining.

A very nice Navy style and not much more. I really enjoyed the original 50th anniversary blend (which I still have 2 bottles of 😀) and my memory tells me this doesn't quite come up to that standard. Still a good rum though, quite woody, slightly bitter, with spices and dark chocolates. Shortish finish

08.03.2024 Tasting with Romhatten. Retasting and I still like it a lot. --------------- #4281 06.10.2023 finally got the new one and tasting 2021 - 2022 - 2023 side by side. This one is really close to the 50th Anniversary release. Medium intense profile with well integrated wood. The nose is well rounded, the palate nicely balanced with a perfume touch. The finish is medium to long and dry. I like the light medicinal note in the profile. Draws really nice curtains in the glass. The empty glass has light varnish, chocolate and faint leather notes.

Tasted in direct comparison with the Black Tot 2021. For me, the TDL notes are more dominant in the 2021. The 2023 seems a little fresher and unfortunately there are also musty notes. For me, the 2021 has the edge!

A new interesting Black Tot bottling. I personally like it better than the 2022. In the taste clearly more Guyana, some bitterness and a very good integration of the alcohol. I lack a bit of complexity and the special to the rum. Nevertheless, you can have his pleasure with him.

I love these leathery profiles, with the bitterness of coffee and mocha. We find all this in this rum, with discreet fruitiness and woodiness. Alcohol a little too present. Interesting length.

The nose I don’t really like, it reminds of overripe fruits but not in a good estery way. The taste is great, really complex and balanced with good integrated alcohol. The finish is sweet with some spices and a slight bitterness. Overall a nice drop but I am not sure if it’s worth the price. Edit: Looking at my notes I preferred the previous bottlings a little bit.

Another step backwards compared to the 2021 bottling. A little better than the 2022, but unfortunately not outstanding either. Edit: Tasted again at leisure. Quite pleasant neat. Now also tried as a mixer in the CubaLibre, where I find it even better. Franconian Tasting Gang goes Tiki Better than the 2022