Bedford Park New Yarmouth 2008 Madeira 16 Year Jamaican Rum
Reviewer: Tashtego
Distillery: New Yarmouth
Origin: Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
Bottle Size: 700 ml
Bottle Count: 305
ABV: 58.4%
Distilled: 2008
Base Material: Molasses
Still: Pot still
Aging specs: Aged 16 years in a first fill Madeira hogshead cask
Bottled: 2025
Nose: Pineapple, strawberry, apples, brown sugar, fortified wine
Palate: Pineapple upside-down cake, apple pie, plums, charcoal, fresh bread, Greek yogurt, lemon, rosewater
Finish: Pineapple smoothie, caramel
This is our second review of a Bedford Park New Yarmouth rum (see our review of their 5 year expression here). While that was a short-aged mid-range ester rum, this one is much longer-aged high-ester bottling. While there’s no official source for this info, we’ve heard from rum sources that this 16 year spirit is the Winston Kennedy mark, the highest-ester rum New Yarmouth makes (comparable to Hampden Estate’s DOK). Aside from the long age and the high ester level, the other notable aspect of this rum is that it was aged in a Madeira hogshead cask. That sweet fortified wine plays a key role in this expression.
On the nose there’s a big fruit hit that evolves from pineapple to spiced apple. There’s no doubt we’re in Jamaica here. It’s a welcoming aroma that incorporates the wine cask well. On the palate, I get various fruit desserts, but cooked pineapple is the primary first taste. It’s distinct from Hampden pineapple - more of a pineapple upside-down cake. Grilled fruits resolve eventually to some citrus on the back palate. A lot of crispy esters that are common to New Yarmouth rums add some maturity that complement the sweeter fruit notes. I like that the bottle depicts a bookshelf, because this bottle’s a thinker. There’s a lot to take in and a lot to process - all of it enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a lovely triangulation of tropical fruit, Jamaican funk and savory sophistication from the wine cask finish. On Taste, this gets a strong 4 out of 5. Assuming it is in fact the WK mark, it’s not quite as sweet and delicious as a great aged DOK from Hampden, but it’s delightful in its own way. For Haste, this suffers from a bit of a price problem. It’s available now in the US market from Raising Glasses for $190. We actually got it for a better price as part of a larger order from overseas, but of course anything sold in the US right now has been affected by tariffs, high shipping rates and other fees. Due to the high price, we’ll give it a 3 on Haste. If you want a great high ester sipper from Jamaica that’s not Hampden, and you’re willing to pay a premium, you won’t be disappointed by this 16 year New Yarmouth.
Taste/Haste Scale: 4 / 3
