​In 2015 we were introduced to the first release from the Shark Bait company known at that time as simply Tiburon Rum.  It has since been relabeled Tiburon 8-year-old Rum.  The rum is fermented from molasses at the Traveller’s Distillery in Belize.  Column stills are used to distill the liquid and during the blending process, a small portion of the head cut is added to augment the flavor profile.  The rum is blended to 46% ABV before bottling.  A portion of every bottle sold goes to the Oceana Foundation in Belize, a non-profit organization that helps keep the ocean around Belize with its biodiversity and abundant marine resources. 


 Appearance

The 750 ml bottle is a tall, short-necked bottle with a black security wrap holding a black-capped plastic cork in the bottle.  The labels on the bottle provide the basic information about Ocean Foundation and Tiburon Rum Company.
The liquid in the bottle and the glass is crystal clear.  Agitating the liquid created a thin band that quickly dropped a few legs before beading up and evaporating, leaving behind a ring of pebbles around the glass.

 Nose
​
The aroma leads with a lovely floral note that reminds me of a butterfly garden.  Light fruit notes of melon, green apple, with a touch of lemon zest that is punctuated by a sweet vanilla scent that lingers in the nose for a moment before fading.

 Palate 

The first sip of the rum provides a strong vanilla flavor along with the expected bite of the alcohol creating the foundation for the tasting experience.  Additional sips reveal notes of sweet coconut, green apple, cantaloupe, rose water, and tart orange zest that creates a slight dryness on the tongue.  As the flavors of the rum begin to fade, I discovered the sweet vanilla note returned to dominance, mingling with a light copper mineral note.  These flavors merge and linger in a light metallic bitter finish.

 Review

As I have experienced many of the rums produced by the Traveller’s Distillery, I had hopes that White Tip would be a unique, flavorful offering as there is nothing else like it in their portfolio or private bottling. I have to say it surpassed any expectation or predisposition I may have had.  There is a lot going on in the flavor profile and some of it is no doubt due to the infusion of some of the head cut into the blend.  The higher proof provided a nice robust flavor without being overwhelming and killing the palate.  While I was aware that Tiburon was working on a new product for quite some time, I believe White Tip was well worth the wait.