Tasting Rhum Karukera

[Arctic Wolf]

Last night I tried a rhum from Guadeloupe called Kurakera (http://www.rhum-karukera.com/acceng.php).

I must admit that this spirit did absolutely zilch for me.

There was little if any of the sweet brown sugar notes which I enjoy when I drink rum, rather this was dry, harsh, bitter , and woody. Not aged wood either, more like licking the inner side of fresh bark from several different trees, pine, oak, and maybe juniper. I really searched for something good in the rhum, I tasted a little dried fruit and figs, with maybe a hint of dry coconut.

The finish was bitter cocoa, and more dry woody notes.

When I added coke the result was a foamy concoction with a muddy flavour as the cola could not break through the other tastes at all.

I got the sense that a taste profile more in tune with gin was what they were after here.

Now I have had only one other experience with a rhum, and that is the rhum Barbancourt which I found quite delicious.

Anyone else experienced this rhum, if so what were your experiences?

[RonJames]

I've never heard of it Arctic, but that is by no means the end all on the subject. I can't even name a gaudaloupe rum that is available in the US at the moment. Sorry to hear about the harsh notes, I will say from my limited aged agricole experience that they are totally different than there spanish and english molasses cousins. Froth when coke is added is always a bad sign...

[Edward Hamilton]

To the best of my knowlege Karukera is a private label. I do know for a fact that it is no longer produced at the distillery where it used to be distilled. My best guess is that the family of an old distillery is trying to resurrect the name and buying alcohol from one or more distilleries and bottling it under their name.

In the French islands, I rarely see rhum agricole mixed with Coke, though it is done. In my opinion it is terrible, but then compared to a 'ti punch, there are a lot of terrible rum drinks.

[Arctic Wolf]

In the French islands, I rarely see rhum agricole mixed with Coke, though it is done. In my opinion it is terrible, but then compared to a 'ti punch, there are a lot of terrible rum drinks.

Based upon this limited example I would have to concur! I think my description of a "muddy" taste explains adequately my distaste for what I had done.

[bunnyhugs]

I enjoyed Karukera when I tried it, but I was having one of their fairly long aged rums. It was very dry and woody, but to me in a good way. I remember it was surprisingly unrumlike - in fact it reminded me of a Calvados. One of the longer versions of Rhum J.M. (think it's the one with the green label) also reminds me a little of Calvados.

[Michael]

... I remember it was surprisingly unrumlike - in fact it reminded me of a Calvados. One of the longer versions of Rhum J.M. (think it's the one with the green label) also reminds me a little of Calvados.

Sounds good bunnyhugs. Calvados was a favorite before we discovered rum. Do you perhaps recall which versions of the J.M. and Karukera brought Calvados to mind?

[Arctic Wolf]

I enjoyed Karukera when I tried it, but I was having one of their fairly long aged rums. It was very dry and woody, but to me in a good way. I remember it was surprisingly unrumlike - in fact it reminded me of a Calvados. One of the longer versions of Rhum J.M. (think it's the one with the green label) also reminds me a little of Calvados.

Your description is very good Bunnyhugs, in my case the dry woodiness reminded me almost of a taste of sap. And your comment about it being very unrumlike, is bang on. I can even see how and why you are relating it to apple brandy (Calvados) as that has a similar dry puckery feeling in the mouth.


I guess I was wondering if these are characteristics shared by other Rhum Agricoles or if that is peculiar to this brand.

[bunnyhugs]

Sounds good bunnyhugs. Calvados was a favorite before we discovered rum. Do you perhaps recall which versions of the J.M. and Karukera brought Calvados to mind?

I did some informal tasting notes (link below). I described the bottle as 'Karukera 1995'. Must have been one of their higher end products, but not sure how long it was aged before being bottled. Got a picture of the bottle on my blog, but unfortunately not a very good one.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2008/08/07/santo-domingo-rum-flight-zacapa-centenario-23-anos-karukera-1995-and-jm-martin/

As for the JM rum I felt also had that Calvados taste, I'm pretty sure it's the JM Agricole Vieux 1997. I've never actually had my own bottle of this rum, but I have tasted it a few times. Last time I drank it I didn't quite get the Calvados feeling, but the first couple of times it was very strong. Nice rum anyway.

Incidentally I picked up a bottle of the JM Sous Bois on New Years Eve and found that surprisingly good too. It was the best I could find at the last moment for some friends wanting a sipping rum. Not quite the aged rum I was hoping to find, but still had lots going on and smooth enough to drink with some ice.

[Calgaryx]

Hi Chip, which one of their rums did you try? I just picked up their 1997 cask strenght. I have not tried it yet but was curious if it wasa the one you tasted.

[Arctic Wolf]

Hey Calgaryx

I tasted the Karukera at a friends house and to be honest I am not sure exactly which one we tasted. I want to say it was the Reserve Speciale. but I could be wrong. At the time I tried it I was unaware there were so many styles of Karukera.