Old St. Croix (A.H. Riise) Non Plus Ultra Black Edition

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Heavily charred Bourbon Barrels shape Old St. Croix’s Non Plus Ultra Black Edition. Matured distillates from various Caribbean and Central American distilleries are selected for the blend and undergo additional maturation in these casks. Charring caramelises natural sugars in the oak, contributing to the spirit’s concentrated, velvety character.

The mahogany-coloured Black Edition belongs to the Non Plus Ultra range, whose Latin name roughly means “nothing beyond”. Each batch comprises no more than 2,000 numbered bottles. The black, faceted decanter contains 0.7 litres at 42% alcohol. The edition’s international awards include a gold medal at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, peach and milk chocolate mingle with butterscotch. Lightly toasted Christmas spices then emerge.
• Palate: Milk chocolate leads on the palate, accompanied by hints of almond and orange. The spirit is very full-bodied and creamy, with a touch of tea-like tannins appearing towards the end.
• Finish: An impression of gingerbread with orange icing lingers on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The history of Old St. Croix begins with Danish pharmacist Albert Heinrich Riise, who opened a pharmacy on St. Thomas in 1838. He used alcohol made from local sugar cane in his medicinal preparations. This led to his interest in rum, for which the neighbouring island of St. Croix supplied the raw materials. The name Old St. Croix emerged as he expanded into Europe and the USA. In 1893, the brand received a gold medal at the World’s Fair in Chicago.

Today, Old St. Croix Spirits in Denmark brings together the brand histories of A.H. Riise and Old St. Croix. The historical name returned on the Non Plus Ultra collection in 2021, followed by the complete renaming of the brand in 2025. Today’s blends combine the selection of matured distillates from different distilleries with carefully targeted cask choices. For the Black Edition, the focus is on Caribbean and Central American origins and charred Bourbon Barrels.

Facts: