Black Parrot

09/05/2024

Bayou Reserve Select Barrel Review.

I've been sitting on this bottle for a while now so finally took the plunge to open up, pour a dram and find out what Louisiana Rum is all about.

Bayou Rum source their molasses from cane fields dating back from the 1750's. Civil War and much later prohibition destroyed much of this natural resource so it took a while to get the industry back up and running. It's estimated some 12-13 million tons of cane are now produced annually within the state of Louisiana. source their molasses from a single operator which they then pasteurised to remove unwanted wild yeast; only then do they add their own controlled yeast and fermentation can start.

Bayou use copper pot stills for distillation and a variety of resting and ageing techniques for their range. The Bayou Reserve uses solera method for the ageing of their liquid, the oldest rum being at the bottom of the ex-bourbon barrel pyramid so the spirit ages consistently, with the final solera blend containing liquid up to 4 years old.

On the nose, it's vanilla, chocolate, a hint of oak and menthol.

Palate is burnt chocolate chip muffins, light caramel sauce, orange spice, plums and oak spice.

The finish is a bit thin, menthol sweetness dominated by dry tannins.

Overall I genuinely believe this is a great intro rum for those new to the idea that rum can be an aged spirit like whiskey and bourbons but can't help feel for those rummers who prefer the heavier Caribbean or sweeter Spanish style spirits that they'll find this a little underwhelming. For those members of the rum family I suggest you play around with it as it's makes for really good stir-down cocktails, I stirred 50ml Bayou with 10 cherry syrup, 4 dashes of plum bitters and 4 dashes chocolate bitters and it was bloody excellent. Also tried it with a smoked pineapple mixer and the rum really worked with it.

Let me know what you think of Bayou if you've tried it before or head down to Black Parrot Bar and try for yourself.

Slainté!

07/05/2024

Smith & Cross is a 57% 'Navy Strength' Rum distilled by Hampden Estate and bottled by Hayman's Gin in South London's Balham for distribution under the Smith and Cross branding. It's distilled on pot stills using a combination of mollases, skimmings, cane juice, muck & dunder and fermented with Hampdens wild yeast. The final blend is made up of a six month old 'Wedderburn' rum and an 18-36 month old 'Plummer' rum - the names are commonly used to describe the levels of ester in each wine but hark back to the days when John Wedderburn and Thomas Plummer where early investors in the building of West India Docks in 1799.

The rum itself, the nose is tinned pineapples, cinnamon, to***co and chai tea.

The palate is dry and warming, toasted pineapple, dried orange peel, candied raisins and cracked black pepper.

The finish is long and warming, more pineapple notes, cigar and peppered salted caramel.

This is a great rum for cocktails, think a rum old fashioned or a Kingston Negroni but could probably do with a touch of water to really appreciate it's levels as a sipping rum.

23/04/2024

https://rumgeography.com/12-craft-distilleries-shaping-the-english-rum-scene/

Since England doesn’t grow sugarcane due to its temperate maritime climate with four distinct seasons, rum production relies on imported ingredients – as always geography is important. Mountains in the northwest give way to rolling hills and white limestone cliffs in the southeast. This limeston...

10/04/2024

Ron Santiago de Cuba 12y.o Rum is a blend of multi-column distilled rum blended with a minimum age of 12 years in reused white oak casks which could have originally contained anything from sherry to cognac to old Irish whiskey. You never know with Cubans ingenuity in extending the life of old barrels.

On the nose, there's candied apple, boiled lemon drops, cinnamon, chocolate and coconut as well as an orchard floral note.

The palate, it's dense, it's rich, it's a heavier style of Ron than I was expecting, especially compared to Santiago's own 11 year old expression. Oak smoked almonds, raisins, dried plums, to***co, ground all spice, lots of spice flavours make this a little dryer than I expect from Cuban rums, which in itself is no bad thing, just more complex than I expected. Vanilla and rich fruit cake shine through later as your tongue gets warmed with the oak spice.

The finish is long, elegant, surprisingly floral with bright citrus fruits shining through. It's a bit of a beast and well worth stopping for a half hour, sitting back and savouring with.

It's a damn good dram, for those wanting to get away from the sweeter, lighter, Spanish style rums and try something a little more complex and with a little more body. Available by the measure at Black Parrot Bar.

14/03/2024

Tickets still available for our Nil Desperandum Rum showcase on Friday 22nd March

12/03/2024

In association with we have those amazing guys from Outlier Distilling Company hosting a tasting and masterclass on Thursday 28th March from 7pm onwards. This is a ticket event with proceeds being raised to fight for Mens Mental Health.

In addition to Outlier we will have a discounted DropWorks Rum Distillery cocktail list for the evening, a raffle to win one of Outliers rare bottlings, a shuffleboard competition to win a bottle of DropWorks Funk Drop and again it's all for charity. If any other rum brand wants to get involved please drop, David, a line via [email protected]

Tickets are available via Eventbrite for this amazing night with the rum family coming together to do good. See you there, slainté!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rum-clubs-back-pt4-tickets-842590239087?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

12/03/2024

Tickets still available for a chance to get some Aussie sunshine in your life during rainy March!

05/03/2024

Meet the distillers and try the entire range from Nil Desperandum Rum - Australia'sfinest certified organic rum producers. Nil Desperandum Rum is distilled and matured on Australias beautiful sub-tropical Sunshine Coast, a UNESCO - recognised biosphere.

Start your evening with a welcome cocktail and mingle with the distillers. A tasting glass will be provided for you to sample the entire range while finding out bore about this unique brand. A discounted Nil Desperandum Rum cocktail list will be available throughout the entire evening for to fully the explore the diversity and quality Nil Desperandum has to offer.

The event is scheduled for Friday 22nd March 2024 from 7pm till late and you can purchase tickets via Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nil-desperandum-rum-launch-at-black-parrot-bar-tickets-857160679667

We can't wait to bring you a wee drop of the Sunshine Coast to your rum!

Slainté!

17/01/2024

Join us at Black Parrot on the evening of the 31st January 2024 to mark the UK launch of the long awaited FOURSQUARE COVENANT bottling. We are excited to be hosting Gayle Seale, the Global Brand Ambassador for FOURSQUARE RUM DISTILLERY who will offer a guided tasting of the oldest distillery bottling to date. A special Doorly's cocktail menu will be available to complete the evening.

Tickets (£10) can be purchased via Eventbrite, and include a cocktail on arrival.

Reservations will not be available for the evening, seating on a first come, first served basis.

FOURSQUARE COVENANT TASTING AND SPECIAL DOORLY'S COCKTAIL MENU

Date: Wed, Jan 31 • 18:00 GMT

Location: Black Parrot

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foursquare-covenant-tasting-and-special-doorlys-cocktail-menu-tickets-800155014187?aff=ebdsshother

13/12/2023

Calling all hospitality workers! Our sister bar Merchant House is hosting a bartenders Xmas party on Monday 18th December from 6pm till late - expect banging drinks, live music and pizza! Email [email protected] to receive a link for your ticket! See you there!
Slainté!

12/12/2023

Kicking off our 12 Rums of Rumness we have J Gow's Fading Light, a double pot-stilled distilled rum aged in chestnut casks for a year and bottles at 43% abv.

The name 'Fading Light' is attributed to the glow of sun that never truly sets in the summer or the dying light of short winter days. Whatever the reason it screams to the poet in me!

Fading Light is first aged release and it's an absolute banger. In the glass it's strawberry gold looking to grasp those rays of sunshine. The nose is distinct with an almost Jamaican funk, strong coffee and chocolate hazelnut toasted bread opening up to a touch of olive brine, strawberries and watermelon. That's a lot of nose for a year old liquid. I'm getting myself some chestnut casks.

On the palate, more olives, pink pepper, grassiness and acetone. It opens up to like, tinned fruit salad and cinnamon rolls, oranges and molasses and pear orchard fruits. The finish is mild, some floral notes, pine, pepper and citrus fruits, it doesn't outstay it's welcome.

Fading Light is an astonishingly gorgeous rum, one that belies it's age and abv. I'm going to enjoy adding to my notes on this one for a long time to come.
Slainté .gowrum

12/12/2023

Want to take your rum brand to the next level? Black Parrot is available for filming during the day if any brands want to talk about their liquid in the comfortable surroundings of London's biggest rum collection. Email, David, via [email protected] for details.