Swell de Spirits Los Convidados Satvrnal Mexican Rum (High Ester) 2023

Swell unveils its Mexican UFO after several months of teasing. The nose develops a very singular aromatic palette, giving an exotic side of candied fruit and vanilla, but above all very heavy notes on the vegetal, earthy, medicinal and phenolic side. There's a touch of salt, ferment and lots of esters and olives, but also a very present smokiness that gives the nose plenty of amplitude. It's original, fat and very promising. The olfactory impression is confirmed on the palate. There's a vegetal and spicy side that joins with the spices (paprika, pepper), meaty and smoky notes that give a beastly side to the palate, olive brine and always a hint of salt that graces the palate. The texture is fatty, heavy and full-bodied (and robust!). There's also a hint of tomato, fruity notes and a hint of mezcal. The alcohol is very well integrated for the degree. The finish is long, tannic, smoky, spicy, vegetal, earthy and medicinal. The profile is dry but not lacking in aroma. Mezcal, olive and esters round out the profile, which is both original and full-bodied. A very good start for the small Satvrnal distillery, whose older profiles will be to watch closely.

Un rhum difficile à appréhender tellement il est différent de tous les autres. Un rhum blanc salé, iodé, aux notes d'olives verte, fort en alcool. Il ressemble à un whisky d'islay, un Talisker par exemple. Très déroutant et pas vraiment ma came.

There are better rums with this percentage, but still quite ok. Vegetable, tropical fruit and alcohol on the nose, then olive, a chilli note and salty vinegar on the palate. One of the worse Swell de Spirits :-(

I would first describe it as a nice experiment. On its own, it is a broadening of the horizon, a new kind of flavor that I am not familiar with. A little bit of mescal and cinnamon, triggered by Mexico, is at the back of my mind. It's also drinkable in a daiquiri, but doesn't completely convince me here either. We'll have to wait and see if it becomes more accessible for me once it's been in the barrel for a few years.

I liked my first Mexican opus last May, but it took me 5 months to open the bottle... I'm not disappointed to find it back at home, Ester, salty, smoky, meaty, but with a lively hint of exotic fruit that enhances the whole! Esters, on the other hand, quickly hit the 😂

Very unusual but nevertheless exciting Mexican rum... Slightly smoky, salty, and fermented fruity. Reminiscent partly of mezcal, partly of rhum agricole with this combination of gooseberry, kiwi and meaty notes, as well as olive brine, pickled dried tomatoes and peppers. Strongly reminiscent of savanna creol Blanc. Would have expected something more like paranubes.

Nice white high ester. Varied notes, not so fruity but very interesting and a change from Jamaica. Aging trials are already underway. This gives us great prospects for the future!

A very interesting rum, I haven't had it in a glass like this before. The olive note is present throughout, paired with a slight salty solution. The alcohol is relatively well integrated and carries the aromas along strongly. Very late in the finish, an aroma appears that I can't really place. A mixture of medicine, herbal and sour juice. I don't know exactly what to do with it yet. Try it later in various cocktails

My first rum from Mexico. I had no expectations, but this is a decent unaged rum. Minimally fizzy at the start. But also lots of herbal notes, some olive, ester, a light cinnamon note and a little fruity.

Nose starts of intense with some chemical notes. Right from the start this leans towards vegetal notes and artificial cinnamon (like in Big Red chewing gum) and some somkey notes. Some time to breath adds sweetness to the nose (vanilla cream soda). Also some olive griminess in there 🤔 Intense and funky in the nose. But far off from Jamaican funk (honestly I don’t get fruits on the nose really - maybe some berries, but definitely not the dominating note for me) and more akin to Agricole - but still different. Interesting! A bit less vibrant on the palate. Similar notes, yet with more fruits. Raspberry and some acidity. Texture is creamy again with some sweetness. Looking at the ABV, alcohol is nicely integrated. This one is definitely an interesting new release and I‘‘m keen to see more from the project. The unaged bottling shows a profile which isn’t a copy of anything but a profile worth explorling. Should also make for some interesting drinks.

A very special rum. I can't remember ever tasting anything quite like it. Esters, smokiness, earthiness. Spice, light brine. It's surprising and rather pleasant. To be tried again.

First of all, I think the design is absolutely brilliant, especially the shape of the bottle! The rum is also very interesting and, in keeping with the country of origin, tends to be earthy, salty and smoky. Some sweet and sour fruit joins in. Some salty sweetness comes through in the (late) finish. Very interesting. I'm looking forward to more.

Unique fragrance. It reminds me so much of candy. Maybe hash browns and some schnapps. This definitely catches my eye. Very drinkable for a high ABV. A totally unique flavor, hard to describe. I'd be very interested to see this rum aged.

Interesting unaged rum. Lots of power due to the high ester and alcohol. But relatively few individual flavors or character traits.

The aroma is interesting and specific, there are herbal accents, you can feel mezcal, smoked and smoky, iodine, a little olive with brine and artichokes and esters. 👅. Mezcal flavour, smoky notes and olives and salt, fruit, vegetable and vegetable accents. With traces of resin, pine and spruce. And the alcohol is relatively well hidden.