Black Tot Historic Solera Rum Has Landed!
This slightly unconventional release began as a passion project for Master Blender Oliver Chilton. He wanted to imbue the rum with deep, dark notes reminiscent of sherry, but a simple sherry finish just wouldn’t cut it.
Oliver decided to go all in and use genuine solera aging, just like in Jerez! The base is a blend of rum from Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados, which is first aged in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The blend is then aged in a three-tier solera system, where younger rum is gradually mixed with older rum.
The barrels used in the solera are authentic “solera casks.” This means they’ve been part of a functioning solera in Jerez, in this case for over 70 years! Such casks are incredibly rare, as sherry producers are reluctant to part with them. If a barrel is damaged, they repair it indefinitely rather than replace it with a new one. A typical sherry cask has not actually been used for long-term sherry aging; rather, it’s a new cask treated with sherry to absorb some of its characteristics.
The result is a truly unique rum—something we wholeheartedly recommend for all rum enthusiasts to try.
Bottled at 46.2%, non-chill filtered, and with no added sugar.
Color: Amber.
Nose: Decadent aromas of figs, plums, chocolate, and warm spices.
Palate: Velvety notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and tropical fruits. The exceptionally long finish reveals dried fruits and warm, spicy undertones.
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy neat.
The name Black Tot holds a special significance for historically inclined rum fans. It originates from the fateful Black Tot Day—July 31, 1970—the day the British Royal Navy discontinued its centuries-old tradition of daily rum rations. By then, it had become apparent that a daily issue of 7 cl of strong rum (54.5%) was incompatible with modern warfare involving nuclear submarines and missiles.
From that day forward, the Navy’s remaining rum stock was sealed in ceramic flagons and stored, reserved only for special occasions such as royal weddings or diplomatic events. Thus, Navy rum was all but forgotten for decades—until Sukhinder Singh of Elixir Distillers acquired a few of the original flagons containing authentic pre-1970 Navy rum. This ultra-rare liquid was bottled under the name Black Tot, and more recently, Sukhinder and his team at Elixir Distillers have crafted a modern blend inspired by the original Navy rum.
