Mark Reynier’s terroir-focused rum line, Renegade, has been pumping out new choices since we final tasted a pair of pre-cask choices in early 2023. As with Waterford, his equally soil-obsessed Irish whiskey undertaking, the Renegade portfolio focuses on single farm origin bottlings, largely unaged, that replicate the traits of a small piece of land on the already tiny island of Grenada. Cask-aged and cuvee blends have been added to the lineup, and we’ll get to these sooner or later. However at this time, we’re exploring two extra unaged, single farm bottlings.
Renegade Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin: Lake Antoine Decrease Crater Lake South – Final yr, we received the possibility to pattern Lake Antoine Higher Crater Lake South, a rum distilled from cane on a close-by plot to this rum’s birthplace in Ball Pasture Subject. Like that rum, this expression has been distilled from the sucrose-rich Purple Tall Boy number of sugar cane grown within the Woburn clay loam soils of Grenada’s Lake Antoine. As with most different Renegade expressions, that is funky, ester-filled stuff and in contrast to virtually another unaged rum on the market. The nostril is dank and thick with damp, earthy notes of lower grass and potting soil. It’s nonetheless salty and dry, however much less meaty than the Higher Crater expression, with plenty of inexperienced banana and ripe mango within the combine. On the palate, there’s a little bit of preliminary sweetness that slowly turns chalky throughout the sip. It’s a bit industrial, however notes of papaya, saltwater, and lemon oil go a protracted option to masking that. For such numerous flavors, there’s a shocking stability, culminating in a mixture of brine, dried pineapple, and taffy on the end. Nonetheless so much to navigate, however I want it to its larger elevation sibling. 100 proof. B+ / $65
Renegade Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin: Nursery Higher La Calome – Described as floor zero for the only farm undertaking, Renegade’s nursery farm in La Calome Valley is house to Hartman and Woburn clay loam soils that produced this rum’s sucrose-rich Yellow Woman cane varietal. Of the 4 Renengade expressions I’ve sampled, that is essentially the most approachable and well-integrated. The aroma remains to be earthy and inexperienced, however it’s much less damp and mineral heavy than different choices. The fruit extends past papaya and pineapple to brighter citrus and even a little bit of cider apple. The palate is spherical and splendidly creamy with a measured however comparatively beneficiant sweetness. Tangy prime notes of key lime pie give option to pineapple tart and dried apricot throughout the midpalate earlier than a warming end of uncooked honey, saltwater taffy, and limeade. That is the Renegade rum to place in your shelf. 100 proof. A- / $65
Renegade Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin: Nursery Higher La Calome
$65
