Matugga Golden Rum

Matugga is a relatively new (2015) craft rum produced in England by English Spirit Distillery using Ugandan molasses. It is bottled without an age statement, but is probably in the range of “a couple” to “a few” years old.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “24 Rums” advent calendar. I have not looked at what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Dictador 20
2. Whisper Antigua Gold Rum
3. New Grove 8yo
4. Cihuatan 8 year Solera
5. Domaine de Séverin VO
6. Novo Fogo Familia
7. NAUD Ron Panama 15yo
8. Enghaven Blackstrap Rum
9. Zuidam Flying Dutchman Dark Rum No. 3
10. Deadhead Dark Chocolate
11. Rum Magec Ron Añejo XO Oloroso
12. Fijian Rum Liqueur 8yo
13. Matugga Golden Rum
14. Cane Island Trinidad Rum
15. Cane Island Jamaica Rum
16. Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo
17. Neptuns Rhum
18. Cane Island Cuba Rum
19. Borgoe 8yo
20. Mombacho Ron Reserva 8yo
21. Old New Orleans Amber Rum
22. Tres Hombres 2017 7 year Solera
23. Travellers 5yo Reserve
24. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
25. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano (Take 2)

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Distiller: English Spirits Distillery
ABV: 42%
Age: NAS
Cask type: Undisclosed
Source: 24 Rums Advent Calendar
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Cotton candy, lemon sweets, rich golden syrup, honeysuckle. Some musty funk and corn grits in the back. A light and sugary but rather inviting nose.
Palate: Lemon sweets, cake icing. Light and sugary, little richness.
Finish: Finishes on a perfume and sugar sweet honeysuckle note that lasts for a little while. After a little while there’s an unpleasant glue note that sneaks in.
Overall: This shows promise for me, a few more years and some oak influence and this could be something really good. As it stands it’s a little sugar forward and pretty much all sweetness to me. If that’s your game, you will like this. I suspect if you really like lighter bourbon-aged speysides, this would be right up your alley as well.
Rank: 4