Tamborine Mountain Distillery Gold Rum (500ml)

Michael and Alla Ward, along with daughter Sonya, have been tending their edible garden and running a distillery at their Tamborine Mountain hideaway since 1993. "As we did not want to use chemical sprays on our fruit, we discovered that our products did not meet with market requirements." explains Ward. "For a four person family, we had too much fruit, so we needed to convert it into something which would make this small property productive".

Although they only started selling to the public in 1998, recent wins at the Beverage Tasting Institute's (BTI) International Review of Spirits Awards in the US brings the total number of accolades it has received over the years to 260. They presently have over 80 products in their portfolio, some of which employ local indigenous fruits and herbs including quandong and lemon myrtle.

Self proclaimed as "The ferals on the Hill", Ward says that despite the international recognition, "...we're motivated to become an icon in our own country not to boast of export success. We have plenty of new products in the pipeline." He adds, "There are very few women distillers in the world and we are very proud to have one here at TMD in the name of my wife, plus my daughter Sonya heads the sales and marketing division".

Tasting note: Deep bright gold / polished brass appearance. Atypical aromatics are evocative of fresh olive oil being mildly grassy and fruity, becoming like polishing wax with exposure. Subsequent sniffs reveal more conventional scents but in a restrained way. Remains altogether odd. A light creamy entry delivers a delicately fruity and dry profile (unripe cantaloupe?); warming spices surge towards the finish and linger, followed by hints of vanilla and caramel at the fade. Unusual but not unpleasant. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews...Fragrance: Intense rum ester aromas, rum and coconut heart notes, freshness, green bananas, delicately vegetal, artichokes, rosehips, great amount of wood, delicate vanilla and malt notes, rum-plums, a touch of liquorice, delicate menthol coolness. Taste: Pure rum and coconut style, creamy, typical rum ester, associations of candies, apple- and pear-like, green and banana-like, artichokes, rosehips, vanilla, chocolate, cocoa beans, elegant honey sweetness, very harmonious, full-bodied, good length. 94.3 Points (Gold Medal Winner) - World Spirit's Awards 2013