stillwagondistillery.com

Here is a recent review by Rick the Rumrunner:

WHITE RUM
Their comment at their website is; "Our White Rum has a delicate smooth flavor with a sweet and fruity finish. Not to be taken lightly at 110 proof." As soon as I opened the bottle a bouquet filled the room. Sweetness, sugar, I get a bit of burnt sugar or caramel. Big legs on the glass wall... For a 110 proof, there is the tiniest tongue bite, but a burst of flavor immediately. This is stout, unruly rum -- a Pirates drink for sure. No dainty "just a mixer" here. Describing the flavors is interesting - so complex, its like tasting a Jambalaya, layers of taste. Smooth - yes, the sweetness is not just a finish but upfront as well. There is a clean almost grassy taste (cane) - caramel, very subtle butterscotch. The finish is sweet and a nice fruity sweet as mentioned by the makers. I say this is too good to mix -- but don't write that off - any mixed trink that asks for rum will be improved with this clear, rowdy rum. But, take some to sip. A water splash brings out a greater aroma. It also sweetens the flavor - so a slowly melting rock would make this a cool, very refreshing sipper....

WICKED RUM
This is a crystal rum at a 155 proof! They say: "Our Wicked Rum is our overproof at 155. It is incredibly smooth for a high proof with a sweet fruity finish." You would think the aroma would be even greater than the White, but not so. I find it very cotton candy, touch of caramel, deeply attractive to the nose. Tasting it yes a tiny tongue bite but the flavor is released like a tiger escaping from a cage! My palate was immediately warmed. I have a passing of vanilla, Sweetness down the center of my tongue and a long term sweet finish. Holding a small sip in my mouth was warming - sweet, slightly burnt but intensely satisfying... Wonderful sipping rum. Any mixed drink calling for over proof rum would explode with the addition of Wicked Rum.. Still in a glass over a lump of hard ice -- YUMMY I added a touch of water and teh butterscotch aroma came to the forefront. Absolutely smoothed the taste out and intensified the long lasting finish....

SPICED RUM
Always a surprise - I find Spiced Rums an exciting style. There are so many varieties that each has a personality whether sipped or mixed. Their comments: "Our Spiced Rum is infused with the flavors of the tropics. We use real Pineapple, Coconut, Vanilla, and a host of other spices carefully blended to tantalize your palate." Aroma is spicy and very attractive. This will be complex - just by the nose. I smell so many things -- besides what they say... Is that APPLE too? Now to taste. Oh my... The flavor is a drink in its own! All they say (love the pineapple) the spice mix is rich, very rich. I detect clove, as well as a huskiness - perhaps cinnamon? What ever it is -- whoever came up with the mix was spot on! I know spiced rums tend to be used in Cuba Libras, and this would elevate that drink to skyscraper heights, but, you HAVE to try this alone. At 96 proof, the rum is great neat, actually cooling on its own. A bit of water separates some of the flavors. Ice would complete it on its own, but I WILL have a Rum & Cola just to
experience it!

GOLD RUM
Aged golden rums is where rum crosses lines. I am sure the authenticity reigns as rum was carried aboard ships for over a century or more. Naturally they'd age in the cask... Stillwagon writes: "Our Gold Rum is aged for at least a year in new charred oak barrels made by ISC in Missouri. It has a mellow smooth slightly sweet flavor with a hint of vanilla and oak. Many Bourbon drinkers have been swayed by this rum..." Ah-h-h- a mellow, subtle bouquet wafts up. You can tell the barrels are new, the wooded aroma is pronounced and has that toasted twinge to the nose. The smoothness of the taste is so evident. They speak of swaying bourbon drinkers, and the shear smoothness on the tongue is sway enough for me. There is a definite butterscotch after taste that lessens to that slight tingle that makes aged rums so tasty. The proof is 109 -- and you are not aware of that high number - flavor is what it is about. Stillwagon has treated his rum like a good whiskey and the reward is beyond its cousin in flavor. Sure you are free to mix this as you want but this is a HIGHLY ranked sipping rum. Saying Rum is just sugar and/or molasses fermented is like calling whiskey just moonshine in a barrel. there is a a LOT more there and it is presented so well by Rick Stillwagon's Gold Rum.

BLACK SPICED RUM
This is their newest addition. I have only one rum to compare it with so far, a mass marketed one named after a mythical Greek Sea Monster. I do like that one -- especially with cola. They say: "Our newest product is our Black Spiced Rum! It has a different combination of spices than our spiced rum, blended in our gold rum with a splash of molasses to give it a rich bold flavor." I stick my ample nose into the glass and detect a deep spiciness not at all like their "regular" spiced Rum. No, this is different. There is a burnt sugar and spiciness melange that is really tempting. This is a lower proof rum and I get deeper lower notes of spice (Cinnamon, and others... Not up on spice names). I taste it to discover that they have made this into a sweet spicy complete drink of its own! Rolling the rum in my mouth lets the layers expose themselves. Sugar, caramel, butterscotch - offset by a heavy spiciness that both intensifies but mellows the sweetness. Oh -- Rick -- This is a winner! Again -- mixable and MADE for cola drinks -- but Please, please -- chilled or over a rock -- yes, yes indeed.

Tasting notes from Rob's Rum Guide

Devil’s Own White 55.5 proof (batch 21)

Clear and potent, this white rum offers a muted cane aroma with delicate sugar cookie, a touch of butter and white pepper with an aromatic suggestion of menthol. On the palate, the entry is surprisingly smooth with a slightly sweet initial cane sugar note slowly giving way to a building heat with white pepper tones. The finish is relatively long and predictably warm.

Devil’s Own Gold, 54.5% (batch 3)

Bold aromas of butterscotch and white wine lead to French vanilla custard and light butter before a hint of cane develops. On the palate, a very brief and warm sweet butter cream gives way to the expected heat mid-palate with a wonderfully rich custard in the long finish.

Devil’s Own Spiced, 48.4%, (batch 20)

Big aromas of cinnamon toast and cardamom, nutmeg, allspice and apple pie moonshine with burnt cinnamon sugar on graham cracker. On the palate, the entry is softer than expected with warm apple pie and baking spice that stays sweet until mid-palate, revealing fruitcake and a hint of vanilla custard and apple pie in the warm finish.

Devil’s Own Black Spiced, 59.3% (batch 22)

Deep dark red color reveals aromas of warm apple pie, with a cinnamon buttery nut overlay then dark raisin, french vanilla custard, more cinnamon, pecan brittle and praline with a hint of maple. On the palate, the surprisingly soft cola nut entry suggests big sweet dessert, then warms up to a dark fruit mid-palate revealing baking spices on apple pie. The after taste is strong with maple syrup on butter pecan waffle, hinting at dark fruit and cola.

Devil’s Own Wicked, 155.5 proof, 77.75% (batch 19)

Big warm aromas of fresh cane, then lesser notes of danish butter cookie, vanilla sugar on toasted wafer, with an aromatic suggestion of cedar before toasted coconut and butterscotch. The big, bold buttery sweet entry leads way to the expected blossom of molasses heat in mid-palate which dissipates into a buttery remainder that stays long after finish.

RUMWORLD Erik Voscamp in Holland

White Rum

Presentation.

Nice bottle, hand filled. This bottle has 53,5% abv.

Beautiful label what reminds of parchment, good and clear information.

The cap is nice and firm (perhaps too firm) sealed.

Appearance

Beautiful bright color.

Nose

Firmly with cane sugar and slightly menthol.

Taste

Pretty heavy and warm, with cane sugar and mentholish.

Aftertaste

Very warm on the tongue and palate which slowly fades into something of the freshness of menthol for a long time.

Pairing / Mixability / etc.

Very nice with Vanilla Coke.

Final judgment.

Pretty solid for a white rum, not really my favorite.

Well recommended for in your Coke.

Curious.

Each bottle is filled by hand and numbered.

Presentation.

Nice bottle, hand filled. This bottle has 75,5% abv.

Beautiful label what reminds of parchment, good and clear information.

The cap is nice and firm (perhaps too firm) sealed.

Wicked Rum

Appearance

Pure and clear.

Nose

The aroma is a warmth coming to you with a lot of sugar cane with immediately followed by vanilla sugar and freshly baked waffles.

Taste

As a Overproof Rum should be, spicy, warm with lots of sugar cane, molasses and in the distance some coconut.

Aftertaste

Lovely long, little buttery and sugar cane.

Pairing / Mixability / etc.

Ideal for Zombie Cocktail.

Final judgment.

A Overproof as a Overproof should be.

Great in the cocktail, so buy it!

Curious.

Each bottle is filled by hand and numbered.

Gold Rum

Presentation.

Nice bottle, hand filled. This bottle has 54,5% abv.

Beautiful label what reminds of parchment, good and clear information.

The cap is nice and firm (perhaps too firm) sealed.

Appearance

Very light for a Gold Rum.

Nose

Surprisingly soft with butterscotch and slightly sweet white wine

Taste

Surprisingly soft and sweet with flavors of sugar syrup, butterscotch and slightly fruity.

Aftertaste

Surprising long, cane sugar, smooth and tender.

Pairing / Mixability / etc.

Delicious sipper.

Final judgment.

Very surprising and complex Gold Rum, smooth and sweet.

Definitely recommended.

Curious.

Each bottle is filled by hand and numbered.

Spiced Rum

Presentation.

Nice bottle, hand filled. This bottle has 48,4% abv.

Beautiful label what reminds of parchment, good and clear information.

The cap is nice and firm (perhaps too firm) sealed.

Appearance

Very light golden.

Nose

Surprising smooth with cardamom, nutmeg and somewhat warm apple pie.

Taste

Slightly sweet with flavors of sugar syrup, with in the distant warm apple pie, fresh spices and lightly fruity

Aftertaste

Lovely long, cane sugar and fresh spices

Pairing / Mixability / etc.

Very nice in your Coke or Fanta.

Final judgment.

Good Spiced Rum, very different from the "known" brands and that alone is an reason to buy this Rum

Curious.

Each bottle is filled by hand and numbered.

Black Spiced Rum

Presentation.

Nice bottle, hand filled. This bottle has 42.8% abv.

Beautiful label what reminds of parchment, good and clear information.

The cap is nice and firm (perhaps too firm) sealed.

Appearance

Very nice deep dark cola / licorice color.

Nose

Slightly sweet with raisins, wood, oily, lots of cola and licorice.

Taste

Almost exactly what the smell suggests, a dominating licorice taste with wood, raisins, cola, somewhat oily, and as a extra soice melange.

Aftertaste

stays nice at your palate with lots of licorice. Lasting not too long but certainly not short. Warm in the mouth and upper throat (not burning)

Pairing / Mixability / etc.

Straight no ice.

Final judgment.

For me a winner, especially if you love licorice (like myself) Unfortunately, in Europe (not yet) available.

If you like Dropshot it is an ideal rum for you.

Curious.

Each bottle is filled by hand and numbered.

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