Y12 Jamaica

Young Cantillon lambic aged in Jamaican rum barrels, one of several similar experiments available at their taproom the last time I visited it. Thanks Jan for sharing. Egg-white, open but retaining ring of foam over a cloudy peach blonde robe with ochre-ish tinge. Aroma of indeed very clear white rum in a 'coconutty' way (aged coconut flakes), aged Parmigiano, wet oak wood, unripe peach, sour unripe orange, sourdough, raw quince, wet clay, light lemon juice accent, halfripe persimmon, green olive, minerals. Tart, estery, rich onset, gooseberry, white grape, green apple, yellow plum, medium carbonated with a persistent minerality underneath it all (like many contemporary Cantillon lambics have), vinous; supple bready-wheaty core under lively lactic tartness, a bit 'yoghurty' but also yellow-fruity, until that rum comes in again retronasally, with its spoiled coconut flake-like, almost cheesy but unmistakably rum-flavoured effects, feeling very genuine but also quite dominant. Bretty 'urine' and hints of green olive and old Parmigiano are there too, while the wood acts drying but softly so. Not being the greatest rum enthusiast, I guess this lambic was never going to be my cup of tea, especially with the rum being so obvious - a lot more obvious than e.g. the brandy or whatever other liquor is in that fantastic 50°N-4°E series, for example. Nonetheless, this one will have its fans, and there is no discussion about Cantillon's class and quality level being attached to it.