It wasn’t that long ago when I wrote about the Rest & Be Thankful Monymusk 2012, a really solid Jamaican rum with extremely fair value for money. Those who read or even have read the linked article will know that this is a blend of 24 barrels of pot still rums blended from Clarendon Distillery with the distillery’s own MDR Marque. Today I now have another Rest & Be Thankful in front of me, but with a few differences. (provided test product)*

The name of the rum, however, is not very different. That is to say: almost – although the Jamaican mountain from the Cockpit Country is also the name giver here (obviously one calls a whole series into being here), but the content differs in several respects. We can see that – if we look closely – even on the label. The bottles are very similar, yes, but where the aforementioned 2012 version had the word “Monymusk” emblazoned on it, we now find the term “Assemblage #1” along with an age statement of 13 years. And of course there is a reason for that (fortunately, Jamaican rums do not have things just like that on the bottles anyway; not every rum nation can claim that…).

Inside the bottle of this Rest & Be Thankful Assemblage #1 Pure Blended Jamaican Rum 13 Years (what a name) is a blend of 17 barrels from different distilleries. Clarendon Distillery is again present with a blend distilled in 2007 on column and pot stills. But also a 2005 pot still rum from the New Yarmouth distillery, also a 2005 pot still rum from the Long Pond Distillery, and a 2008 pot still rum from a distillery that must not be named, but which is based in Lluidas Vale (a rogue who suspects Worthy Park…). So, this results in a blend of products from all the well-known distilleries, well, if that’s not promising. By the way: this blend, limited to 5188 bottles, has also been aged for 13 years (bottled in September 2022 – if you subtract 13 years, depending on the month, you end up in 2008, the year of the youngest blend component from Worthy…er from the unknown distillery from Lluidas Vale).

Oh yeah: 46% by volume is what the Rest & Be Thankful Assemblage #1 Pure Blended Jamaican Rum 13 Years brings to the table.

The packaging is really beautifully designed.

Tasting Notes:

Aroma: Oh yes, this is great class. A Jamaican to fall in love with, no question. There’s a lot in the glass, especially exotic fruits with a hint of glue, especially mangoes, but also passion fruit and fermented pineapple, with some citrus and zest (especially limes) behind it. There are also “dirty” notes, reminiscent of a gas station stop on a freshly paved lane – who doesn’t love that? I find some mineral salt in the background.

Taste: Absolutely fantastic on the palate as well and right up my alley! In fact, fermented fruits dominate here again, pineapple and mango, but more diffuse, harder to pinpoint tones (guava? papaya?) come through as well. Plus a tiny dash of petrol, licorice, subtle vanilla and mineral salt. Plus a bit of oak. Lots of time to spend and have fun with here.

Finish: long and dominating with bananas, fermented pineapple, licorice tones and oak.

Of course, you can do a lot with a nice rum like this. Today I opted for a Drunken Helmsman, a cocktail I discovered some time ago on diffordsguide.com, where it is attributed to Jason Alexander of the Tacoma Cabana in Tacoma, Washington. The drink dates back to 2015, and what I particularly like here is the combination with Italian Amaro (the original uses Meletti Amaro, which I replaced with Amaro Nonino due to lack of availability) and Falernum, so it’s a full freight of spice and bitters.

Recipe “Drunken Helmsman” (adapted from Jason Alexander, 2015):

4.5 cl Rest & Be Thankful Assemblage #1 Pure Blended Jamaican Rum 13 Years.
1.5 cl Amaro Nonino
1.5 cl Falernum
3 cl lime juice
1.5 cl maple syrup

Preparation: Shake all ingredients on ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.

Glass: Tumbler

Garnish: mint sprig and orange zest

Buying sources: At specialized retailers or online

*The fact that this product has been sent to me free of charge for editorial purposes does not – in any way – imply any influence on the content of this article or my rating. On the contrary, it is always an indispensable condition for me to be able to review without any external influence.