Long Pond 3 Years Old STC♥E 2019

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (88)

BOW (89)

This pure single rum from Long Pond, dating back to 2019, originates from the Trelawny distillery in Jamaica. The STC♥E series was originally used at the Cambridge distillery, which closed its doors in 1947. This bottling is a tribute and reproduction of Cambridge's history. The distinctive "STC♥E" symbol stands for "Simon Thompson Cambridge Estate," the former Master Distiller. It refers to rums with an ester level of 550-700 gr/hlpa. After a three-year maturation period, the rum has an Angel's Share of 22%. The bottling has an alcohol percentage of 60%.

Tasting Notes:
• Nose: Rich and intoxicating, with notes of apricot, guava, fruit, and jasmine.
• Palate: Vibrant and smooth, with ripe mango, chocolate, saffron, baked banana, and coconut.
• Finish: Long and concentrated, with notes of cocoa, cane sugar, vanilla, camphor, and artichoke.

Malt Fascination (83)

Sniff:
Very chemical and feinty. Lots of petrol and engine grease. Quite green with grass and sugarcane. A hint of cocoa in the background.

Sip:
The palate is quite a bit heavier, and bone dry. Sawdust, some sugarcane and an almost painful heat.

Swallow:
The finish mellows quickly, and slightly sweeter than the nose and palate. The green notes are gone, and the dryness too.

I don’t dislike the flavors at all, but the 60% ABV in combination with the young age makes this a drink that I find way too hot.

Many others (most?) seem to like this much more than I do. Maybe I’m just getting old and prefer things a bit more gentle…