First Impressions
HMS Formidable is the flagship of the Admiral Rodney fleet, and it lives up to the name. Named after Admiral Rodney's own flagship at the Battle of the Saintes, it blends column-distilled rums aged between nine and twelve years in bourbon barrels. At £84, it sits at the premium end of the range, and the quality justifies every penny.
Tasting Notes
The nose is immediately captivating. Dried fruit compote — figs, dates, and raisins — mingles with dark chocolate truffle and polished mahogany. Vanilla and orange marmalade add brightness, and there's a cigar box quality that signals maturity and care. This is a nose you could spend half an hour with.
On the palate, opulence is the word. Dried fruit is rich and generous, joined by chocolate ganache that coats the palate beautifully. Orange peel provides a citrus lift that prevents heaviness, while mature oak tannins offer structure without austerity. There's tobacco leaf in the mid-palate — not smoky, but warmly aromatic — and the depth of flavour is exceptional for a rum at this price point.
The finish is very long. Dried fruit and chocolate layer with cigar box spice, evolving over minutes from sweet richness to a dry oak close. It's a finish that rewards patience and contemplation.
How to Drink It
Neat, in a proper tasting glass, with time and attention. This is a meditation rum. If you're reaching for a mixer, you've bought the wrong bottle. A cigar is the only acceptable accompaniment.
The Bottom Line
HMS Formidable earns an 8 — it would be a 9 if it offered cask strength options. At £84, this represents exceptional value in the premium aged rum category. The depth, complexity, and length rival rums costing two or three times as much. The Admiral Rodney range is one of rum's best-kept secrets, and Formidable is its crown jewel.
