Together with Belize’s Travellers Distillery, Antigua Distillers Limited might be our favorite distillery that produces these types of Rums (rather light, “Spanish style”, column still Rums, typically without a very long fermentation). Now there’s a new batch that has been released by two bottlers so far.

S.B.S Antigua 2015 7YO (64,9%): Nose: A very typical and familiar profile that I probably wouldn’t have been able to connect with Antigua in a blind tasting. It does have these Travellers vibes to it, namely caramel, resin, muscovado and charcoal. Only fir cone or conifer is missing. Later something between chocolate and cocoa. Palate: Rather sharp but that’s also typical for these Rums in a sense (without being disrespectful). Resin, caramel, oak, charcoal, pepper and cumin are my main impressions. The Rum isn’t spectacular in any way, but it doesn’t do anything wrong either. Finish: Medium long with pepper, burnt oak, resin and spices. It is a good one, without any highlights that would lift it up. (79/100)

The Nectar of the Daily Dram Antigua 2015 7YO (65%): A sister cask of the S.B.S and given the same abv and young age, I am not expecting huge differences to be honest. But let’s see. The “Pot Still” on the label has to be a mistake, of course. Nose: As expected, the profile is incredibly similar (read: identical in a blind tasting) but the intensity is definitely different: here everything is a bit more intense and rough, which I like a little bit more. Not bad at all either. Talking about the differences would be futile, but relatively speaking, we are getting a few more roasting aromas here. Palate: Cocoa is definitely an association with this cask, the remainder is incredibly similar to the S.B.S. The integration of the alcohol is a tad worse on the other hand. Finish: Once again, very similar to the S.B.S, but with said cocoa note on top. I guess I prefer this cask, but no the the extent that it would justify a higher score. (79/100)