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Archive for the ‘Dark Rums’ Category

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Review: Ron Abuelo 12 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 1, 2012

Ron Abuelo Rum is produced by Varela Hermanos SA in Panama, Central America. This company has a history which dates back to 1908 when Don José Varela Blanco launched the first sugar mill in the then recently formed Republic of Panama. In 1935, the site began to distill sugar cane juice for the production of various kinds of spirits. Now today, the company produces an impressive array of products which includes over one million boxes of spirits and of course a strong variety of rums. The Ron Abuelo brand is just one brand from this wide assortment.

According to the website, the Ron Abuelo 12 Year Old is produced from molasses and aged in white oak bourbon casks. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… I allowed the glass to breathe and began to nose the rum one more time. The aroma has turned oaky and seems to have a bit of a cognac flair. Additional notes of marzipan, leather and baking spices have evolved as the rum seems to have gained both complexity and sweetness as it decanted… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Ron Abuelo 12 Year Old Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Plantation Guyana 1999 Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 29, 2012

The Plantation Guyana 1999 Rum is a pot-distilled, Demerara rum which is produced from molasses using an extra long fermentation period prior to distillation. The rum is first aged in Guyana in used bourbon barrels after which it is transported from Jamaica to France by Cognac Ferrand to be finished in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks.

Cognac Ferrand has long had a special relationship with a variety of Caribbean rum producers which is based upon the rum producer’s need for quality oak casks to age their rum. Based upon this relationship, Cognac Ferrand is able to acquire certain old and unique batches of rum from various Caribbean sources, which they bring back to France and finish in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks. This Demerera Rum was one such unique batch of rum acquired by Cognac Ferrand. It was bottled at 42 % alcohol by volume as part of Cognac Ferrand’s growing line-up of Plantation Rum.

Here is an Excerpt from my Review:

“…The initial nose from the glass is full of oak tannins which have been tainted with a woody spiciness, rich toffee,and orange peel. I smell light baking, an almond nuttiness, and a firm vanilla. I like the nose, it is spicy, and full of character…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Plantation Guyana 1999 Rum

Please enjoy the review and the wonderful cocktail suggestion I have for this fine rum!

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Plantation Guyana 1999 Rum

Review: Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 6, 2012

I was invited by the guys (and gals) at Riverbend Wine Merchants (Vines) to be the guest host for their “Discovering the Finer Side of Rum” Tasting event (held this past February 13). One of the perks for being the host was that I was allowed to select the rums for the tasting. Based upon my love for this particular Venezuelan rum, it was pretty much a ‘no-brainer’ that Diplomatico Exclusiva Reserva be part of the mix. Since I was allowed to take the ‘heels’ of each of the bottles home with me after the event, it seemed natural to me that I should revisit my original review for this outstanding rum produced by Distilerias Unidas, S.A. .

This is a re-publication of that original review, I have provided much more background information this time around regarding the history and the construction of the Diplomatico rums. As well I have re-written the original review to provide more clarity and to fix some annoying typos.

However my original scores have remained intact. (There really was no reason to change them.)

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… All the scents and smells from the nosing come through in spades when I taste the rum. There is a nice underlying nuttiness (walnuts and hazelnuts), some sweet caramel and some very delicious baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar)…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum

Please enjoy the Review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum

Review: Panamonte Reserva XXV

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 1, 2012

The Panamonte Reserva XXV is a new well aged Panamanian rum from PANAMONTE BRANDS. This is a molasses based rum produced from sugar cane grown and distilled in Las Cabras de Pese. The rum is very special, as every drop of the Panamonte Reserva XXV rum has been aged for a minimum of 25 years in used bourbon casks. It was handcrafted by Master Blender, Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez Perez. In case you are not familiar with Don Pancho, I should mention that he has built up quite an impressive track record of late, helping to bring to the market two of my more favoured rums, Panama Red 108  and Zafra Master Reserve.

I received my sample bottle of the Panamonte Reserva directly from Panamonte Brands shortly after the New Year. I immediately placed the bottle on my review shelf, and now I have completed the review.

Here is an excerpt:

“… As the glass sits, the impact of the oak gains momentum and stains all of the scents with its presence. The orange peel moves to marmalade; the brown sugars move to dark rich toffee; and the pungent spices move to smells of deep dark tobacco… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Panamonte Reserva XXV

Please enjoy this review!

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Panamonte Reserva XXV

Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 26, 2012

The Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum is a  pot distilled rum which is produced from molasses using a long fermentation period prior to distillation. The rum is first aged in Jamaica in used whisky and bourbon barrels after which it is transported from Jamaica to France by Cognac Ferrandto be finished in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks.

I had the opportunity to meet Guillaume Lamy, the Vice President – North America, for Cognac Ferrand in Miami last year where I was treated to a tasting of the Plantation line-up at a breakfast sponsored by Plantation Rum. I am not sure, but at that breakfast, I received the impression that the Plantation Jamaica Rum was one of Guillaume’s most favourite rums in the Plantation family. He spoke with particular passion about this rum and how, in his mind, it carried a certain extra appeal or ‘funkiness’ in the glass.

I have worked my way through seven of the eight Plantation Rum sample bottles which were given to me after that breakfast (each 200 ml in size), and I have finally arrived at the Plantation Jamaica. I hope to find the ‘funk’ that Mr. Lamy spoke so passionately of.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As I let the glass breathe the smells are pleasant with spicy toffee mingling with pungent baking spices. The impressions of tobacco grow in the breezes above the glass and a nice marmalade sweetness seems to have developed as well. Under everything else I seem to catch glimpses of a certain ‘mustiness’ which strangely enough compliments the overall aroma of the glass… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

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