Holmes Cay Reveals Pair of Limited Edition Rum Releases With ‘Interesting Histories’ for Fall 2023

(Photo: Holmes Cay/Rum Raiders)

Independent rum bottlers, Holmes Cay has announced the release of two “extremely” limited edition rums for its Fall 2023 Single Cask collection. The rums are the Barbados 2009 Premier Cru and the Trinidad 2012 11-year rum. The editions are very limited in number, with just three casks being released between them. 

Barbados 2009 Premier Cru

The first of the fall editions is the Barbados 2009 Premier Cru edition. This bottling comes from a single cask from the prestigious Foursquare Rum Distillery. The distillery is known for producing some of the best-aged rums in the Caribbean including Foursquare’s acclaimed Exceptional Cask series. 

Holmes Cay’s selection of the Barbados 2009 Premier Cru is a molasses-based rum, blended from both pot and column still from 2009. The rum aged in the tropical climate for 8 years in an ex-bourbon cask before maturing a further 4 years in the UK. Additionally, this rum was transferred into a Premier Cru (first growth) Bordeaux cask in New York State where it finished out its maturation for two more years. The edition was bottled at 55% ABV.

Holmes Cay Rum founder Eric Kaye says, “We chose a Barbados rum that is already highly respected and awarded, and aged it in a cask that contained a world-class Bordeaux wine for two full years. The resulting liquid is an exceptional combination of complementary flavors – rich fruit and elegant spice.”

Tasting Notes

Nose: Creme de cassis and vanilla with a rich, rounded nose. 

Palate: Black currants, clove, cinnamon and Sichuan peppercorn with just a hint of citrus and cocoa

Finish: Violet, plum and graphite.

Trinidad 2012

Trinidad 2012 11-Year-rum is comprised of a cane juice, pot still expression from the 10 Cane rum distillery which is an LVMH brand. Originally, the rum was to be aged for only 10 months before sale but the rum actually remained in casks, aging tropically for 4 years, then to the UK for 5 years and then on to New York for a final 2 years. The Trinidad 2012 was bottled at barrel strength with an ABV of 59%. Holmes Cay is only releasing two casks of this 11-year-old rum this year. 

Kaye explained, “The Trinidad 2012 11-Year expression is the second in a series of vertical releases that we plan to share of this unexpected rum. I appreciated its first identity as an artisanal mass brand, but have come to treasure it even more as it continues to age. Last year’s release of the Ten Year was the first opportunity for North America to experience 10 Cane rum at ten years old. Now we can compare with the 11-year-old edition and, as the rum develops, we will continue to share it in highly limited, 2-cask releases.”

“I find the 11-year expression to be a delicious aged cane juice rum, but the brand’s history as an early attempt to share a premium rum without added sugars or flavors also resonates. I see my role to increase opportunities in the United States to enjoy pure aged rum with interesting histories like that of 10 Cane – a distillery of considerable scale that no longer exists in Trinidad,” added Kaye

Tasting Notes

Nose: Delicate floral notes 

Palate: Herbs and black pepper on the tongue 

Finish: A medium-length finish with vanilla custard and oak

Both of the Fall 2023 releases are currently available for wholesale orders and are also available throughout the US via various online retailers. The Barbados 2009 Premier Cru has an SRP of $169.99 while the Trinidad 2012  Eleven Year has an SRP of $149.99.  

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