For those who don't know me yet: I'm a barrel freak. I love making alcoholic drinks and combining different flavors. I have thousands of ideas in my head, free from any worry that I might run out of ideas at some point. On the contrary: I'm more worried that I don't know how to sell all these beautiful creations. I want the whole world to know about them.
By releasing a Wagemut Special Edition at the end of each year, I have at least found a way to share my highest quality creations with you. Always unique stories and strictly limited. The products will never be available like this again.
In 2021 we released our first bottling. A 16-year-old rum from the Foursquare distillery in Barbados, which I mixed with very old PX sherry and then had it blended again in the barrel. 914 bottles of this beautiful nectar were released, bottled at 50.9% vol.
Daring Special Edition 2021
Sales went well. Everything was sold out within 5 days. I was particularly pleased because we had created a new product and not just bottled a pure rum - so the connoisseur didn't really know what to expect.
But then everything went crazy. People started to understand what they had in their glass. I heard a number of stories about their wives drinking the stuff at home, plagued by the fact that their wife was now infected with rum and urgently needed more. The hunt was on and culminated in the bottle being auctioned off in Great Britain for more than €700! Ten times the original price of €75!! Wow! What had happened? I had only heard stories like this before about old Macallan bottlings, etc. And now with my own stuff?!
Trust was built. Even though I was very impressed with the 5-day sales in 2021, the 2022 bottling was sold out within a few minutes.
I have often been asked to finally produce more of them to meet demand. But that's not possible, because I said I would never release the special editions exactly the same again.
Apart from that, I always have to outdo myself. There is no other way. In every aspect of my life, I am convinced that everything has to keep getting better.
I would like to fulfill the wish of my valued community. But I would not release the material until I could do it even better.
So I got to work.
Using the process I had already used in 2021, I went in search of the perfect base rum and found a rum from the TDL Distillery in Trinidad: matured for up to 20 years in former bourbon barrels.
Very good. Even a few years older - a good start.
Of course, the sherry also had to age, that’s clear.
The blending of the deep black raisin nectar with the old, strong rum is a pure act of beauty.
But as good and harmonious as this mixture tastes, something is missing. That special something. The cherry on top.
I found what I was looking for in barrels made of walnut, my favorite wood from the barrel language series.
WALNUT BARREL
These barrel works of art are not only the most beautiful barrels I have ever seen - their aroma is phenomenal!
After a subsequent maturation in this special wood, I still haven't had enough. I want to achieve an even fuller result. When using sweetness, it is an art to ensure that it doesn't come across as clumsy.
A move takes place: from the walnut barrels directly into 500L Palo Cortado barrels. And it's not just this sherry specialty that is a rarity: the barrels practically don't even exist.
These are original barrels that were actually in use in Jerez for over 30 years.
The wood gives off an incredible maturity. The oxidative notes give my creation a lovely nuttiness. Wonderful.
Now it is done, I think to myself while taking a sample.
I did it. I reproduced the style of the 2021s, but the product is still different. And most importantly, I surpassed myself!
I am proud to say that this bottling is even better than the 2021 vintage. And if you were a fan of our Wagemut Special Edition, you will love this one!
DEEP, RICH, WARM, DARK, JAMMY,
NUTTY, CLOYING
Get your bottle here:
https://wagemut.com/products/aficionado-collection-maduro
