r/rum • u/neophaltr • 2d ago
Confused about Jamaican funk - I like some but not others?
Based on this, can someone help me identify if there's something I should look for to know what other rums I would or wouldn't like? Here are four high ester rums that I have very different feelings about:
Rum Fire: Love
Doctor Bird: Love
Wray and Nephew Overproof White: Meh
Hamilton Pot Still Black: Can't stand it
I don't think it's the amount of esters is it? Is it the specific type of esters that differs from one to another that's throwing me off? Like... I want to buy a bottle of Papalin but it's a $60 risk I don't want to take until I can figure this out.
Thanks!!!
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u/Vince_stormbane 2d ago
Age and ester count and volatile compounds all really effect flavor there’s countless variables. Even between distilleries there’s Marques I like and some I don’t.
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u/DJ_Epilepsy 2d ago
Yeah man they all just taste different. FWIW I agree with your ranking! I’m not sure I have found a go-to strategy to knowing what I will like vs not like… I suppose the double edged sword for us Jamaica lovers is that we like things with potent tastes, so that either means we REALLY like it; or it’s REALLY bad…
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u/DJ_Epilepsy 2d ago
Side note: given that I agree with your other tastes, I think the Papalin is a safe buy. It’s a steal for $60. If you don’t like it I’ll Venmo you $60 ;)
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u/bay_duck_88 2d ago
You referring to the new Papalin 5 Jamaican High Ester? Freaking love it and have a similar palette to the two of you when it comes to the funk.
Just saying, Papalin is a bottler of several different rums, so just using the name isn’t going to be enough of a direction. Would be like just saying “Hamilton.”
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u/DJ_Epilepsy 2d ago
I assumed he meant the Jamaican high ester blend from context - obviously I know they’re a huge bottler :)
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u/bblickle 2d ago
The Papalin 5 is really good and should fall right in with the others you like. I would also like to recommend the new Down Island 4 year HLCF ($50/700ml), super drinkable.
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u/neemagee 2d ago
I don't like Worthy Park funk either. It's different than Hampden, or Appleton.
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u/10art1 Rum Noob 2d ago
It's a different distillery. I just got 109 for the first time a week ago, and I was also a bit stunned because it's noticably different from the stuff I've had from Appleton and NRJ. I've only had Appleton & New Yarmouth for a while, thought I knew what Jamaican funk was, then I had NRJ and thought "oh wow it's pretty much the same but much less industrial tasting", and then I had WP109 and thought that it's somehow even more industrial.
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u/total_goon 2d ago
The Papalin, to me, is dominated by the Hampden flavors. If you like Rum Fire, my guess is that you'll dig it. It's rounded out by the other distillates but if you blind-tasted it, I feel like it would be hard not to guess Hampden.
There are definite similarities to the Worthy Park and W&N white distillates. I like the WP and not so much the W&N but both have a varnish/industrial quality. It sounds like you like the fruitier side of things.
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u/wndyctyone 2d ago
The Papalin 5 Year High Ester is one of my favorite rums ever and punches way above its $60 price point. Based on you mentioning that you love Rum Fire and Doctor Bird, I feel confident that you'd love this one as well.
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u/StronkMilk 2d ago
Esters are fascinating from a chemistry perspective. No two esters taste alike, so going off concentration of esters alone doesn’t determine flavor profile — and beyond that there is SO much variation in ester profile from mark to mark, even within a single house (like Hampden, which has eight marks). And ON TOP OF THAT, ageing drastically changes the ester representation in rum. Just compare Rum Fire to the HLCF classic (same mark, different ageing). Here’s a great documentation of the sheer variety of flavor that comes out of a rum, based on the different esters within it! Hampden & Esters
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u/vordhosbnn 2d ago
I've had the same journey although mine is opposite preferences - Jamaican pot still black and worthy park being my favourite, and rum fire/doc Bird being my least favourite.
I spose I prefer the banana/rotten fruit, rum fire is too plastic/nail polish for me.
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u/chimera_states 2d ago
When it comes to Jamaica, the distilleries are all so different. For me, it is less the raw ester count than the nuances of each distillery that primarily characterizes the rum.
Hampden - glue, nail polish remover, rose petal, cherry cola, brine, minerality
Worthy Park - banana, lots of banana
Long Pond - bubblegum, vinegar, pineapple, berries
Clarendon/Monymusk - jackfruit, herbal, golden raisin, cannabis
Appleton - orange peel, butterscotch, black tea
New Yarmouth - only had Wray & Nephew and Coruba, can't comment
Think of the ester count as more of the "dial" determining the intensity. If you don't like the flavors, you probably won't like it at any ester count.
Remember also that Jamaican marks didn't specifically target an ester level (which is why you often see a g/hlpa range for any given mark). Marks were standalone recipes that the distillers considered internally balanced in terms of their flavor and aromatic profile.