Doc Swinson’s “Funky Drummer” Rye Whiskey Finished In Jamaican Rum Casks
Ever had a true Jamaican Rum? One with that funky flavor that ranges from overripe banana to plantain to bubble tape (or, if you don’t like it, less tasty descriptions)?
In Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Rye and the “Tres Amigos” Rye Finished in Rum and Tequlia Casks, Jesse Parker and the team use a mix of rums from the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.
For the “Funky Drummer,”, this is all Jamaica.
I love funky rums, to a point. Brands like Clarendon, Worthy Park, and Appleton all put out rums under their own labels with varying levels of that funk. Multiple independent bottlers take those brands and pull out some of the funkiest barrels available - just a few top ones are Habitation Velier, Rest and Be Thankful, and Holmes Cay, and those funks can reach levels equal to the peatiest of the peaty Scotches.
The casks Jesse chose are not (somewhat mercifully) from the bottom of the dunder pits in terms of funkiness, but are rather more approachable, focusing on the grassier and overripe banana rather than the less crowd-pleasing flavors.
Jesse wanted to find that balance, and I clearly feel like he did. Just one thing - this was the second batch, not the first.
Finishing is fickle. Some finishes need a short time, others months if not years. The base spirit, the environment, heat/cold cycles, and other variables can all affect the rate at which a finishing binds to the base whiskey. Finishing in Texas can take as little as a few weeks, whereas casks in Scotland can mature their entire life in a secondary cask.
Even the best blenders and finishers can sometimes get it wrong, and on a new episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, Jesse admits to dong just that. The first batch of what would become the Funky Drummer had been aging for several months, and Jesse let them go a little longer, thinking the flavor still had another step to reach - unfortunately, what he got instead was, as he described it, “chewing on some really gnarly grass.” Yum!
Doc Swinson’s isn’t a huge company. The team tastes and evaluates every cask in their possession and is hands-on for every step. Simply throwing away a batch isn’t financially responsible, but what do you do when a finish has gone too long?
The answer to that remains to be seen - the batch wasn’t dumped, though its fate is on hold. Instead of putting out a product he didn’t like, Jesse started from scratch with a set of new rum barrels. Eight months later, it was ready, and the Funky Drummer went into bottles. Instead of the gnarly grass notes - which Jesse admits some people might have liked - the result is a bright, grassy, almost tiki-style rum finish showcasing a younger Jamaican rum profile before the overly funky flavors become dominant.
That might be my only critique here, and a heavily caveated one at that. I happen to like lots of funk, so for me it was more a rum finish than a Jamaican rum finish. Having said that, if you’re a bourbon or rye drinker just getting into rums or finishings, this is a perfect starter, with just enough funk to let you know what that flavor is like without sticking your face in a dunder pit.
Thank you to Doc Swinson’s for providing this sample for review purposes without restriction.
Doc Swinson’s “Funky Drummer” Rye Whiskey Finished In Jamaican Rum Casks: Specs
Classification: Rye Finished in Jamaican Rum Casks
Origin: MGP, Doc Swinson’s
Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Proof: 106.4 (53.2% ABV)
Age: NAS (5+ Years Old on Website)
Location: Distilled and Aged in Indiana, Finished in California
Doc Swinson’s “Funky Drummer” Rye Whiskey Finished In Jamaican Rum Casks Price: $84.99
Doc Swinson’s “Funky Drummer” Rye Whiskey Finished In Jamaican Rum Casks Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Black tea. No rims, a mosaic of broken drops splotching the sides of the glencairn.
Nose: That’s a much different rum than the “Tres Amigos”! Almost get the smell of rubber balloons in the plastic package you buy at the dollar store. Those balloons are full of buttery rye, artificial vanilla, bubble tape with powdered sugar.
Palate: The rum turns spicy for a bit before mellowing to a pineapple- and banana-like ripe sweetness and funk. Not overpowering at all, just adding complexity to the piquant rye. The rye is fully present, never lost under the rum. Mouthfeel is textured, velvety, and a little like suede on the tongue. Lays heavily on one hand while the other part evaporates.
Finish: Mild, surprisingly so. Understated, medium-length. The rum might’ve needed another month or so, but according to Jesse that extra month might’ve been too much!
Overall: The balance is understated, almost to a fault. A Jamaican rum that could easily overpower the rye is tuned into the right frequency. Those who want a full-powered, hella-funky rum might be left wanting, but for those unfamiliar with Jamaican rum funk this is a great intro and an equally great finishing.
Final Rating: 6.5
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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