Requiem SS Ethel

Description

Now the Tin Shed boys (Ian and Vic) are nothing short of legends in the Australian Distilling world and we have been lucky to have them as mates of the Rum Tribe (and the Single Malt Whisky Club) since its inception. The Tribe has also been blessed several of the ‘Requiem’ rums from the boys over the last 5 years!

Strap on your Captains hat and take the wheel for the latest in the Requiem Rum series – the SS Ethel…a pure single rum from the hills of Adelaide.

The Requiem SS Ethel was fermented with a whisky yeast rather than a rum yeast like the Tom Brennan and therefore does not contain the rum funk found in Jamaican rums. Initially matured for 2.5 years in an ex-bourbon barrel followed by 2 years in a STR (shaved, toasted, re-charred) port-seasoned barrel and bottled at 44%abv for your drinking pleasure.

Each of Tin Shed’s Requiem Rums is bottled as a tribute – a liquid memorial to the ship whose name it carries, honouring the maritime tragedies that unfolded in South Australian waters. The Ethel is one such story. Built in 1876, this 711 ton, three masted iron barque began life as the Carmelo before meeting its fate in 1904, when a violent storm drove it aground while sailing from South Africa. Today, the Ethel’s skeletal remains rest on the shorelbine of Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula – a stark, salt bleached reminder of the coast’s unforgiving history. Tin Shed’s rum bearing its name stands as a respectful nod to that past, preserving the story in spirit form.

Interestingly, the Ethel rests just 200m from another wreck celebrated in the Requiem series (and featured by the Rum Tribe, of course, in 2021!) – the Tom Brennan

Tin Shed Distilling is one of South Australia’s most character driven small producers – a place where hands on craft, stubborn independence, and a love of honest flavour all collide under one corrugated roof. Founded by long time industry figures Ian Schmidt and Vic Orlow, the distillery has always embraced a “no fuss, no façade” philosophy: minimal automation, maximum flavour, and a commitment to doing things properly even when it’s slower or harder. Their Requiem Rum (and Iniquity single malt whisky for that matter) have become cult favourites for exactly that reason, they taste like the people who made them – bold, unpolished in the best way, and deeply expressive of South Australian climate and cask influence.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Nice and ‘round ‘on the nose with a big dark chocolate liquorice ‘bullets’ to start which deepens and broadens into salted caramel, biscuit spices, just a pinch of overripe funk, with Tin Shed’s signature new leather belt note as a solid bedrock.

Palate: Nice and oily (copper pot still oiliness at it’s finest!) with very well integrated alcohol – nicely warmong, but not hot at all. Rich caramel creme brulee with crispy burnt sugar and sweet vanilla custard on the side.
Finish: The finish sees the return of the fruit that the nose promised with a more funky fade out than I was expecting from the palate. There’s still oodles of caramel, black coffee and dark chocolate bullets for the fans of ‘the Aussie style’ don’t get me wrong, but this does have some tropical fruit messing around there in the finish.

Another bloody lovely rum from two of the nicest guys in the business. This is a very Australian rum with all dark, bitter flavours (espresso, dark, dark choc etc.) we love – but a generous dollop of creamy sweet fruit thrown in for good measure. It’s eminently sippable neat, but I can also attest it holds up bloody well to being murdered with ice and coke as well.

From Tin Shed Distilling

“Here at Tin Shed, we all have our favourites. Although we are known mostly for our whiskies, our rums are my favourite releases and fall into the category of “best kept secrets.” The Ferret probably rates as my all time favourite, but The Ethel is right up there with it. Kind of appropriate as it finished up running aground on the same beach, right next to the wreck of the Ferret!

This is a whisky drinkers rum, mildly challenging, thoroughly enjoyable and totally rewarding.

Nose: Molasses, cola, polished leather, vanilla, soft oak and coffee notes
Palate: Spicy warmth, molasses, honey, cocoa, raw leather hide and a pleasant alcohol tingle
Finish: Long and pleasant with burnt sugar dominant

A proper whisky drinkers rum with good balance and punchy burnt sugar caramel. A rum for grown ups