Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum
Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 2, 2014
Angostura Distillers Limited have been producing rum on the Island of Trinidad since the 1930s. Although the company was originally more famous for its production of Angostura Bitters, it has over time also become one of the major producers of rum in the Caribbean. Their rum is produced on a large 5 column still which is located near Port of Spain, on East Main Road, and (as noted on the Ministry of Rum) it is directly east of a coconut-processing plant. The five-column still used by Angostura is capable of producing many marques of rum which range from very light bodied to heavy bodied distillates. This varied production allows the distillery to produce many different styles of rum with differing characteristics depending upon the aim of the final product.
The Royal Oak Select is a light bodied, amber rum which does not carry an age statement. The Angostura website notes that the rum is: “a blend of carefully selected Trinidad rums aged for a maximum of 5 to 7 years by the Master Blender.”
Sloe Lime Daiquiri
I note that this statement stresses the oldest rum in the blend and not the youngest. I suspect (based upon my tasting notes) that this blended rum is on average, 3 to 4 years old.
You may read my full review of by clicking on the following review excerpt:
Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum
I hope you enjoy this review of the rum which many believe is Angostura’s signature rum blend. And of course, please enjoy my suggested cocktail which I have included at the conclusion of the review, the Sloe Lime Daiquiri.
4 Responses to “Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum”
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Brian Frontin said
Hey Chip, great that you’re (re)sampling the Angostura rum line from Trinidad. The company streamlined most of its bottle/labeling designs roughly two years ago hence the difference in the bottles (I personally preferred the former stout shape). You are correct, Royal Oak Select is a mixing rum mainly here, but compared to other local offerings, it’s perhaps one of the more smoother ‘young’/budget rums that can be had one ice with a dash of ginger ale or bitters.
Look out for the Angostura One which is a recent 12 year rum created mainly for export purposes.
Arctic Wolf said
Thanks Brian
Hopefully I will be able to get a few samples of the new Angostura Bottlings so that I can fill out my review section with more of the Trinidad Rums. It has been a glaring hole in my review line-up for a while now.
All the Best!
Ken Fraser said
Hi Chip. Great article on Angostura. FYI that Angostura Rums are being relaunched into the Alberta market in late Aug with the arrival of the 5YR Old, 7YR Old, the 1824 and the 1919 rums.
Arctic Wolf said
Thanks for the update Ken
I suspected that a distribution change had happened, Angostura is just too important of a Rum to be absent from the market. Please get in touch with me when the new shipments hit Alberta! 🙂