Posts Tagged ‘Dark Rum’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 30, 2012
The year 1852 is proudly displayed on the label of each bottle of Bermudez Rum indicating the year in which the Bermudez family began to produce rum commercially. In fact, the Bermudez Rum has been produced in the Dominican Republic practically from the beginning of its nationhood making the Bermudez Distillery the oldest commercial rum distillery in the Dominican Republic. The Bermudez Anniversario is the premium rum in their range and my personal favourite from the Bermudez family. It enters the countdown as the 25th Best Rum in the World.
“… Initially, I receive a soft caramel and vanilla from the glass. This is followed by stronger aromas of oak tannin and spice. As I allow the glass to decant, an aroma of fragrant baking spices became more assertive over time expressing a rich molasses and a spicy toffee. There also appears to be a gentle smoke in the air with vague scents of dried fruit…”
The Ron Bermudez Anniversario has an elegant style reminiscent of cognac but it fully retains its character as rum. I have found this to be a completely unexpected treat.
Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Bermudez Rum, Dark Rum, Dominican Rum, Rum, Rum Review, Top 30 Rum | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 24 – Bermudez Anniversario
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 29, 2012
Rhum Barbancourt is distilled and produced by Societe du Rhum Barbancourt, in Port Au Prince on the Isle of Haiti. The word “rhum” is the French spelling for our English word “rum”. However, the differences between Rhum and Rum are often much deeper than just a twist in spelling. This is because the traditions of making rhum in the French West Indies differs from the traditions of rum production in the rest of the Caribbean. The major difference in the production of Agricole Rum is that it is distilled from fermented sugar cane juice rather than fermented molasses.
As far as Rhum goes, Rhum Barbancourt kind of breaks the mold and goes its own direction, but it is a direction which pleased the Judges and I so much that it landed at number 25 on the countdown list of the 30 Best Rums in the World:
“… The initial scents in the breezes are of butterscotch and sandalwood oak. As the glass breathes the aroma becomes more complex with some light baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon and cloves) and both citrus (orange peel) and dry fruit (dates, apricot and raisin) evolving… “
This Rhum displays a very nice balance of flavour with a more mellow style of oak which allows the flavour nuances within to shine.
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Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Dark Rum, Haitian Rhum, Rhum Agricole, Rhum Barbancourt, Rum Review, Top 30 Rum | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 25 – Rhum Barbancourt 15 Year Old Estate Reserve
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 28, 2012
Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve, is blended from rums which have been aged for a minimum of 50 years in hand selected, oak barrels. Only 800 bottles of this very rare, Limited Edition bottling were made available for sale around the world at a target Retail Price of US$5,000 per 750ml bottle. A few bottles trickled into my home Province of Alberta, and I was lucky enough to sample one with a friend from which I composed my initial review. I was also sent a media kit from Appleton Rum with a 100 ml sample. Using that sample my Judges and I tasted and scored the Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum in our search for the best rums in the world.
The Jamaica Independence Reserve checks in to my countdown at number 26. It is as well, the most expensive rum on the countdown list:
“… I sensed strong notes of oak and orange peel zest rising above the glass imprinted with deep dark brown sugar and baking spices. The dark brown sugar smells grow stronger over time as do the baking spices which display scents of spicy nutmeg, and cinnamon. I also smell walnuts and a strong impression of vanilla…”
The finish of this rum displays oak spice, orange peel, cloves and cinnamon that seems to linger forever.
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Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Appleton Rum, Dark Rum, Jamaican Independence Reserve, Monumental Spirit, Rum, Rum Review | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 26 – Jamaica Independence Reserve
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 27, 2012
According to the Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) website, The El Dorado 15 Year Old Special Reserve Rum is a blend of selected aged rums (some as old as 25 years), from the Enmore and Diamond Coffey stills, the Port Mourant double wooden pot still, and the Versailles single wooden pot still. It is blended and aged in old bourbon oak casks. (You may read about these ancient stills here.)
The website also makes it clear that the 15 year age statement represents the youngest rum in the blend. This is quite different from those rums which feature a solero style age statement which highlights the oldest rum in the blend and usually includes a high percentage of rum which is much younger in the blend.
“… The immediate nose brings forward rich oak filled notes of spicy toffee, dark dried fruit, marmalade, and vanilla into the air. As I let the glass sit, I begin to notice sherried aromas of raisins and dates, some dark bittersweet chocolate and a welcome but delicate scent of pipe tobacco.”
The longer the glass sits, the richer the flavour and aroma become!
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Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Dark Rum, El Dorado Rum, Guyanan Rum, Rum, Rum Review, Top 30 Rum | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 27 – El Dorado 15 Year Old Special Reserve Rum
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 26, 2012
The Ron Santa Theresa 1796 Antiguo de Solero is a Venezuelan rum which can trace its ancestry back to the year of 1796 when the Santa Theresa Hacienda was created. This is a true Solero rum with 4 rows of aging barrels set one atop each other. As the rum ages, a portion of the rum moves through each row until it reaches the final solero row at the bottom years later. The barrels are never fully emptied as only a portion of the rum from the previous or higher row is moved to the lower row each time.
The Santa Teresa 1796 Antiguo de Solera was well liked by my Panel of Judges making into the Top 30 Rum Countdown as the #28 rum.
“… the initial aroma seems to be hinting that the spirit at some point in its journey passed through an exotic wine cask which has left an imprint of fruity dark cherries and plums upon the scent of the rum. Rich aromas of butterscotch and light smells of molasses join with these fruity scents and the result is most appealing. Wood spices abound, and they are tart like cinnamon and cloves…”
The appeal of this rum is to visit it when something special is in the winds.
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Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Dark Rum, Rum, Rum Review, Santa Theresa 1796, Top 30 Rum, Venezuelan Rum | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 28 – Santa Teresa 1796 Antiguo de Solera
The Rum Howler Blog 