NRJ Long Pond TECC 2007 11yo Jamaican Rum review

This is technically my first review of a rum from Long Pond distillery in Trelawny, 20 miles east of Hampden. And what a rum it is.
It's an unusual offering for several reasons. First, National Rums of Jamaica, a complicated consortium including the Jamaican government, Maison Ferrand, Diamond in Guyana, owns the distillery, making this 2007 of theirs technically an official (or quasi-official) bottling - it just happens to be a one-off. More importantly, this is a TECC, which is at the very tippy top of Long Pond's marque list (cocktailwonk.c..., pushing hard on the legal limit of 1600 esters. I had a comparable offering in Hampden's DOK earlier this year ( • Worthy Park 502 151 (V... ) and it blew my mind, but that one had never seen wood: this stuff, by contrast has spent 11 years tropically aging in oak. What kind of monster could that possibly produce? Stats:
Long Pond TECC 2007 11 Year Old Jamaica Pure Single Rum (Trelawny, Jamaica; bottled by National Rums of Jamaica; molasses distilled in a double retort pot still, tropically aged; 1500-1700 gr/hLaa esters; 11 barrels, 3,325 bottles; 62.5% ABV), 92/100
Like the DOK, this is one of the best spirits I've had in a long time, and a hair bit more approachable too (as long as you like acidity in your spirits). Not cheap, and worth every penny and more.

[@yankchef4067]

Sounds similar to my experience with the 💎h and c💎h long aged single casks from hampden. Is there any hi Ester long pond bottlings still available in the US?

[@differentspirits4157]

I wouldn't think so. I'm pretty sure most of the LP bottlings you'll see stateside are from third parties, especially 🥲 Planteray, who tend to avoid this kind of profile...

[@mbmaltman]

Just cracked this open - wonderful wonderful stuff! I’d like to get hold of the Vale Royal from NRJ.

[@differentspirits4157]

So would I!! 😅

[@hkbundle]

NRJ TECC and TECA are monsters! Definitely a polarizing rum!

[@differentspirits4157]

And I have chosen my pole!! :D

[@joshuaevans5983]

Very nice. Any plans to review one of the crazy TECAs? Does DDL still have 1/3 ownership too? I remember you got a lot of rocks (I think you mentioned spelunking atone point) in the DOK. You seemed to get that at first, but it wasn’t as strong? Have you had any 92 pt plus brandies?

[@differentspirits4157]

Ad 1: if I can trade for a sample, yes! Ad 2: yup, Diamond are still part-owners so far as I know. Ad 3: I do remember more overt mineraly notes in the DOK, but this TECC is still hella rocky. Ad 4: not yet, but hope remains; who knows, maybe I'll buy some Rochelt...

[@M4tJa2]

Hi Scott, one question. I'm looking for the next out there rum for my cabinet and I cannot decide between these super funky Jamaicans and Caronis. So are Caronis "worth" the extra cash, or are the two just different. I already own some Clairins, RumFire and Rivers Royale. Thanks

[@differentspirits4157]

To be honest? With prices where they are, I don't think Caroni is worth a full bottle. Definitely worth paying exhorbitive amounts for a pour at a good bar, but not beyond that. If you want industrial notes in your rum, I'd actually go St. Lucia (especially the old Hamilton bottlings) or, well, Long Pond!

[@M4tJa2]

@@differentspirits4157 Thanks for the answers. My options with bars are quite bad (would probably have to drive a few hours to another country to find something), so maybe some samples from online retailers are an option. But I'll also look out for your recommendations.

[@differentspirits4157]

@@M4tJa2 Oh! And South Pacific Distillery in Fiji might also be worth a look for Caroniness...

[@M4tJa2]

@@differentspirits4157 Ok one more. Should I look to just pot still versions or to blends also?

[@differentspirits4157]

@@M4tJa2 I'd stick mostly to pot distillate. Caroni, of course, came off a column, but aside from special cases like that most column distillate in blends is coming off a multi-column kind of setup.

[@kingsburybushcraft8794]

Hello Scott I'm very interested in your perspective on those three incredible old whiskies you mention, the Port Ellen, the Bowmore from the sixties, and a pre-prohibition American whisky!. As a suggestion for a future video could you give us some background on these are they better than we can make today, why? what do you think they did to make these whiskies great. what did they taste like etc? will I ever be able to taste a whisky close to this level of quality on a budget.

[@differentspirits4157]

I'll give it some thought! I will say, I do think there's stuff that good being made today, just not necessarily in the categories that get the most attention. This Long Pond comes to mind, and so do a bunch of marcs out there...

[@MegaSodom]

Just got this one. Curious if you have rated anything above 92 ?

[@differentspirits4157]

Not on this channel, no! But y'know, if I only had stuff like this to drink for the rest of my life I still think I could die happy.

[@jackieflannery1974]

Hello, I’m on my way to buying this rum. I suggest you get a Kill Devil Hampden from TWB. Buy the 11y 63,5. I’ve had a lots of rums and the extreme of those Kill Devil is absolutely lovely. Cheers Cristian

[@differentspirits4157]

Thanks, and noted!!

[@exmelt53]

I can smell this through my computer.

[@differentspirits4157]

I would check on that, your computer might be on fire...

[@exmelt53]

there's this hideously priced 15 yr ITP release on end-of-bin that's like 90 proof and low ester; but its, uh, really good. like omg.

[@differentspirits4157]

Please don't tempt me... 😅

[@exmelt53]

@@differentspirits4157 I'll toss a sample into the void. its marvelous albeit too pricey even at end-of-bin.

[@stopdrinkingpurple8774]

so, no goat heads in LP? And no lost tourists either, I suppose. I'm slightly disappointed... well, until I got one of these.

[@differentspirits4157]

I'm pretty sure two or three tourists and at least a little livestock went into the muck pit for this one.

[@stopdrinkingpurple8774]

on the shopping list it goes!