Advice on cuts, specifically tails
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 10:33 am
Title says it... looking for advice, not someone to hold my hand or do the work for me. Yes... I've read all the guides.
Making cuts for the first time with Rum,
Won't get into all the details, other than 22L collected in 500ml jars, starting at 90% down to 38% (44 jars total)
First 500ml - 9o% to the solvent jar - labeling Jar Zero
Jars 1-13 (5 litres) 90% -> 82% - head cut
Jars 14-36 (10.5 litres) 80% -> 70%- started pretty neutral, got tastier the further along it got
Jars 37 (500ml @ 64%) something "off", can't place it. not nasty, just "off" - might remove this jar, and a bit on either side of it
Jars 38-41 (2 litres) 58% - 48% - very distinct smokey smell, almost like meat smoker. tastes good, there is a sharper alcohol "bite" than previous jars
Jars 42-44 (1500ml) 48% - 38% - at first it smelled like what I "think" are the tails, but after airing out all it smells like is molasses
I blasted the rest, 4 litres, (38% - 5%) and "tails" were obvious.
Long story short & question is, is the smokey smell a thing with Rum? I can't place it in the flavor, but the smell is there. Is this the start of the tails?
Simply looking for a guesstimate, or comments, on if my cuts are in the wheel house for that ABV range (I know you don't make cuts based on ABV) - and also the smokey smell
Cheers All, and TY in advance
Making cuts for the first time with Rum,
Won't get into all the details, other than 22L collected in 500ml jars, starting at 90% down to 38% (44 jars total)
First 500ml - 9o% to the solvent jar - labeling Jar Zero
Jars 1-13 (5 litres) 90% -> 82% - head cut
Jars 14-36 (10.5 litres) 80% -> 70%- started pretty neutral, got tastier the further along it got
Jars 37 (500ml @ 64%) something "off", can't place it. not nasty, just "off" - might remove this jar, and a bit on either side of it
Jars 38-41 (2 litres) 58% - 48% - very distinct smokey smell, almost like meat smoker. tastes good, there is a sharper alcohol "bite" than previous jars
Jars 42-44 (1500ml) 48% - 38% - at first it smelled like what I "think" are the tails, but after airing out all it smells like is molasses
I blasted the rest, 4 litres, (38% - 5%) and "tails" were obvious.
Long story short & question is, is the smokey smell a thing with Rum? I can't place it in the flavor, but the smell is there. Is this the start of the tails?
Simply looking for a guesstimate, or comments, on if my cuts are in the wheel house for that ABV range (I know you don't make cuts based on ABV) - and also the smokey smell
Cheers All, and TY in advance