Holmes Cay is best known for its vintage-dated, single cask rum offerings, but with the new Infinity Cask, we’re getting something entirely different: A blend of aged rums from 13 distilleries in 7 countries, ranging from 20 to a whopping 47 years old. (Production took place between 1976 and 2003.)

How this rum came to be is an especially unique story:

With origins in Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Venezuela, and Brazil, the rums in this cask once belonged to the aged rum stocks of the Main Rum Company in Liverpool, UK. When samples were no longer required as flavor references, some were chosen and combined in an ex-rum cask. The final components were added and the cask sealed in November of 2003. This Infinity edition was bottled just over 20 years later. A truly rare and historic offering, only 100 full-sized (700 ml) cask strength bottles have been made.

Holmes Cay founder Eric Kaye says, “I am extremely grateful to the Main Rum Company for entrusting us with this special barrel. There is truly nothing like the Holmes Cay Infinity in the rum world. The components are a Who’s Who of the great distilleries of past and present. Legendary lost rums from Caroni, Uitvlugt, Enmore, and Gardel aged for 20 years with storied classics from Hampden, Long Pond, Diamond, Montebello and others. This incredible cask includes gems such as a 1976 Port Mourant from Guyana and a 47 year old Gardel rhum agricole from Guadeloupe. The rarity of some of these rums and their age in the cask truly make it one of a kind.”

We were fortunate to receive a small sample of the product for review, and it’s quite a doozy.

The dense, dark brown spirit showcases an instantaneously intense nose that is bursting with fruit. Bananas and charred orange peel lead the way, infused with ginger and nutmeg — plus ample, toasty barrel char. The fruit is hard to tamp down, however, evoking a candied holiday character that rips with spices. It’s a full-on tiki experience in the glass, before you ever take a sip.

The palate surprises with some sweetness, heavy on butterscotch and an apple cider donut character. Ginger notes are huge again, along with a smattering of baking spaces. Oddly, the body of the rum is a touch on the light side, particularly considering the 58% abv, though it’s plenty boozy throughout. Sweetness lingers on the finish, with coconut elements emerging late in the game.

At $1500, this is certainly not going to be a daily sipper for anyone — but as a window into the rum world’s past, it’s certainly a small thrill.

116 proof.

A / $1500 (700ml) / holmescay.com

Holmes Cay Infinity Cask

$1500

9.5

Rating

9.5/10

Related posts:

Review: Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum – Venzeuela 2007 and Barbados 2012 Port Cask Review: Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum – Belize 2006, Jamaica 2007 ITP, Australia 2012, and Jamaica 2014 EMB Review: Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum – Barbados 2002 and Fiji 2001 Review: Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum – Trinidad 2012 11 Years Old and Barbados 2009 Premier Cru