Rummed whiskeys seem to be in vogue right now; rum is the new sherry. Last week started with the Blood Oath Pact 5, then we hit the new Basil Hayden Caribbean Cask and now we’re turning our attention to this, the Trader Joe’s Highland Scotch Rum Finish.

There isn’t much available about this whisky except what’s on the label, quoted below, but the name pretty much says it all. Trader Joe’s, who sourced this through Hamish Robertson & Co., got some highland single malt that was finished in Caribbean rum casks which are tricky casks to work with.

If you go too light then you get something like the Irishman Founder’s Reserve Caribbean Cask which barely has any rum to it at all. If it’s overdone then it ends up tasting like the Basil Hayden Caribbean Cask where rum is all you taste.

But when it’s done just right it’s a thing a beauty like the amazing 18-yo Green Springbank. Where does this one fall? Let’s dig into this Scotch review and find out.

Trader Joe’s Highland Scotch Rum Finish Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Trader Joe’s Words:

Trader Joe’s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Rum Cask Finish: This single malt has been matured in traditional oak casks until it has achieved the perfect balance of aromas and flavours. The whisky is then transferred into first-fill premium rum casks allowing further development and increasing the depth of flavour.

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Highland, Scotland

Distiller: Undisclosed (guessing Glenrothes)
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Caribbean Rum
Age: NAS (3+ years)
ABV: 40%

Batch: Double Cask Rum Finish

Price: $16

Tasting Notes

EYE
Dark amber

NOSE
Overripe apricots, brown sugar, roasted nuts, malty sweetness, stale fruit leather and some spice.

PALATE
Overripe apricots, brown sugar, roasted nuts, cocoa, malt and a touch spice and melon.

FINISH
Medium -> Stale dried apricot, brown sugar and spice.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not fully balanced, light body and light feel.

Trader Joe’s Highland Scotch Rum Finish Review: Overall and Score

The rum is strong with this one. The Aroma has a sticky sweetness that runs against some overripe fruit notes and, at times, flirts with an artificial and cloying tone; Palate runs along a similar path with a bit more dimension thanks to the nutty tones; Finish picks up a weird stale note that fades to a pleasant brown sugar and spiced rum note.

The most unique aspect of the Trader Joe’s Highland Scotch Rum Finish is there’s a dark funky/earthy undertone that runs through the whole whisky that, in a weird way, makes me think of yellow curry spice. It’s interesting and helps keep this from being an overly sweet mess.

Not something I’d buy again, and will likely end up in an Infinity Barrel, but for the price, it was worth the gamble.

SCORE: 80/100 (B-)

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