Monymusk 1984 - MMW - 35 y/o - Velier - Rum Sapiens - 69%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
It's no secret that we are lovers of tropically matured Monymusks, especially with the EMB mark. But with 35 years of tropical ageing, this sounds like a fat load of oak and tannins. Translated into continental ageing this could be 50 years +, or even more.
Nose
And BOOM! The scent receptors are ran over by a heavy train of sweet tropical fruits, woods and solvents. The power and complexity is almost brutal, with that train being loaded with overripe mangos, papayas, bananas, coconut butter, wet leaves and fresh soil. Moreover we also get old tobacco leaves, like when you open a fresh cigarette box. It's fat, it's dense and really, really sophisticated. After some minutes in the glass we can even spot some hazelnut creme, as if it spent some time in an Oloroso sherry butt (has it?). With water: The Funk get's even stronger, adding a wagon full of lavender and tiger balm.
This nose is a blast!
Palate
The train turned into a oaky rollercoaster that just throws the flavours around like a natural force. The body is a heavyweight, accompagnied by strong cocoa and oak bitterness. The bitterness and the tannins are clearly too dominant, but it is fun though. The strong menthol note of many very old cask spirits is also ready. The sweetness of the nose is almost gone, just noticeable by some old, dried mangos and pineapples.
With water: A bit more digestible and almost like fermented mint tea now.
Finish
We only knew that the Highlander lives forever, but it seems that the same is true for this jamaican superhero. Not sure if that's good or bad. The fermented mint tea is sticking on our tongue for hours.
Rating
What a ride on a razor blade! It was a bit like a party that starts elegantly and ends up in a wild binge as soon as the alcohol (and other stuff) kicks in, leaving behind black eyes and great stories. Maybe that's where the name Rum Sapiens came from, the first people were not exactly squeamish they say. It's definitely worth an experience, but that oak's just too much. We prefer the Villa Paradisetto in this case.
