Rum Review: R.L. Seale’s 10-Year Rum
R.L. Seale’s Finest 10 Year-Old Barbados Rum Review
R.L. Seale’s is made by Richard Seale at Foursquare Distillers on Barbados. Known for his sharp commentary and dry wit, Richard is a third generation distiller that cuts no corners and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. His namesake rum is similarly no nonsense; that is except for the bottle.
R.L. Seale’s comes in a jet black bottle with a slanted neck, a thumb rest, and a raised bronze seal. The odd shape (modeled after an antique leather flask) makes a big impression on the shelf, and is certainly a conversation starter. The black plastic cap tops a natural cork stopper. This true ten-year rum is bottled at 43% ABV and retails for $30.
In the glass, the rum is a deep copper bronze with brilliant flashes of gold. A swirl produces a razor sharp ring atop the glass, from which several droplets form and eventually begin to fall slowly. As I move in to evaluate the aroma, the vapors meet me well above the glass, announcing a host of tantalizing scents including banana, vanilla, almond and oak. The rancio notes are particularly striking. Subsequent passes yield more fruit including honeydew melon and cantaloupe.
As the rum washes over the palate, the spices kick in, delivering a dose of black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. While being very dry, the rum still manages to present a hint of sweetness that combines nicely with the vanilla and fruit flavors which now appear in the form of ripe stone fruit backed by citrus zest. As I continue to sip, the nutty characteristics prove their staying power by lingering alongside the oaky tannins in the very long finish.
So there you have it, R.L. Seale’s 10-Year Finest Barbados Rum. Nearly bone dry, possesses a complex set of organoleptic qualities, and is known to contain zero additives. A real rum lover’s rum? Yes, but also a fine example to share with the whisk(e)y aficionado in your life.
On to the scores:
- Appearance: 1/1
- Nose: 1.75/2
- Mouth feel: 1/1
- Taste: 3.5/4
- Aftertaste: 1.75/2
- Total Score: 9/10
What do you think of R.L. Seale’s 10-Year? Please let us know below.
Inu A Kena 
What a great day. Reviewing Seales 10 is a must for any serious rum reviewer, and buying and trying one is a must for any lover of rum. It’s so important that rum drinkers experience a true and real rum that uses no unlabeled additives – sugar, glycerol, artificial spices and flavorings, sherry et al. This is rum as it is supposed to be without the cheating and hidden alteration engaged upon by most other rums. Even our once beloved El Dorados – the 12 and 15 – have been shown to contain serious amounts of added sugar. What a disappointment. The same is true of the so-called premium Plantation, who has also been known to add sugar per the ALKO tests of Finland.
Not Seales. Any rum he makes, he bottles and is completely honest and true. What you taste is real rum, the way real rum is supposed to taste. His labeled ages are also true and represent the age of the youngest rum in the bottle. Seales 10 is one of the world’s greatest rum, and a perfect example of the Bajan style. BTW, this amazing rum is also sold for an amazing price, just $22 at Total Wine & Spirits.
It takes a lot of courage to call out rum “distilleries” on their practices in the lab, I mean the distillery. I’ve tried to remain even-keeled about this- but it’s difficult when even whisky (e) shows coloration, sugaring and god forbid, the addition of glycerin.
There are multitudes of rums of an uncertain provenance that clog the marketplace, it’s a fact of life in the liquor industry. This stuff, made in multi-thousand gallon lots- sells. And there is nothing that any rational person who writes or drinks craft spirits can do about it.. the market for authenticity is tight- as wealthy as people are, they don’t know any better as evidenced by Malibu type rum sales.. They are huge. I suppose that anything is better than that- so I should just say thank you that people appreciate the good stuff when it comes their way and stop being so snobbish about authenticity, it turns people off and right back into their Malibu Black and Coke.
Let people taste the good stuff at a fair price and always smile when you pour.