Bhakta 1990 Jamaican Rum
WhistlePig founder Raj Bhakta left the company on acrimonious terms in 2019, only to launch his own brand, Bhakta Spirits, not long after. The new label got its start focusing on Armagnac, but now it's bringing out a blended Jamaican Rum. Bhakta 1990 is a blend of 1985 25-Year Jamaican column still rum from Clarendon/Monymusk and 1990 23-Year Jamaican pot still rum from Appleton Estates. The two were blended in 2014, then aged for another three years in single-fill bourbon and rye barrels from MGP, followed by a signature Armagnac cask finish. Bottled at cask strength, a robust 124 proof, it offers a highly unique profile with orange, pipe tobacco, and banana on the nose, and flavors of fig, red fruit, and clove, with a dry finish of apricot and whipped frosting. Limited to just 1,500 bottles.