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Posts Tagged ‘Gran Reserva’

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Review: Atlantico Gran Reserva Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 12, 2023

When I first encountered Atlantico Rum, the brand had just launched, and I was fortunate enough to be treated to an information session hosted by Brandon Lieb, of the Atlantico Importing Company.  I was also treated to a tasting where I was able to try their only rum in production at that point, Atlantico Private Cask as well as two rums which were still in development at that time, a premium white rum and an anejo rum. Today line-up consists of 3 rums, the Altantico Platino, Altantico Reserva, and that previously mentioned Altantico Private Cask.  (I suspect the Reserva and the Platino respectively were early versions of those rums I tasted over a decade ago.)

It appears the brand ownership has changed  a little during the intervening years. Up until three years ago Atlantico was part of Ian Macleod Distillers‘ portfolio of spirits. It is unclear to me whether the brand has been acquired by another spirit’s company after Ian Macleod released its control; however the spirit is still sold at various internet retail sites and is often included in sample form in those Christmas Advent Calendars that are sold during the holiday season.

Here is a link to my full review and tasting notes for Atlantico Gran Reserva Rum:

Review: Atlantico Gran Reserva Rum

“… fine oak and somewhat grassy tobacco spice, some lovely marzipan and a touch of maple forming as well. The rum appears rich and somewhat sweet. This is a typical characteristic of solero style rums …”

Please enjoy the review, and stay tuned for my examination of the Atlantico Platino which will publish in a few short weeks.  Chimo!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Atlantico Gran Reserva Rum

Review: Rum Nation Guatemala Gran Reserva

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 8, 2020

Rum Nation is an Italian company created by Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied wine-making). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum, and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of limited edition bottlings. One such bottling is Rum Nation Guatamala Gran Reserva

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Rum Nation Guatemala Gran Reserva

“… the flavours are firm with heated oak spices mingling with citrus zest. A ribbon of orange liqueur, mint and menthol with dark treacle and dark licorice welling up from underneath. Herbal flavours resonate with the second sip with bitter chocolate and espresso come though in spades when ice is added …”

Please enjoy my review of this delightful but heated sipper.

Chimo!

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#Top100Rums of 2017: #11 – El Pasador de oro Gran Reserva Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 10, 2017

El Pasador de oro XO is a new rum brand brought into Western Canada by Charton Hobbs. The rum is a product of Les Bienheureux S.A.S. (in Paris France) and (according to the information sheets given to me) is a blend ‘grand reserva’ Guatemala rums. Selected barrels were chosen by Jean Moueix and Alexandre Sirech, and brought to France where the spirit is rested in used cognac barrels in the cellars of Les Bienheureux.

There is no age statement assigned to this rum. It is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to the review for the Rum Howler #11 Rum of 2017:

Review: El Pasador de oro Gran Reserva Rum

“… The breezes above the glass bring rich indications of fine oak spice and treacle alongside damp tobacco, orange peel and rich baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vanilla). I seem to catch a few glimmers of resin and tar climbing into the breezes as well …”

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We  have reached the top 20 rum spirits of 2017. I have reviewed and/or re-tasted each of these rums within the past three years. (All Rum reviews were based upon bottle samples either purchased by myself or provided to me by industry.)

You can continue to follow the countdown on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows daily by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

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#Top100Rums of 2017: #23 Ron Matusalum Gran Reserva 18 Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 28, 2017

Ron Matusalem prides itself on being a Cuban style of rum with a history in Cuba they trace back to 1872 when two brothers, Benjamin and Eduardo Camp, together with a partner, Evaristo Álvarez opened a distillery in Santiago de Cuba. According to the information I found last April on the Matusalem website, the rum they were producing began to win acclaim by the first quarter of the 20th century. The distillery apparently operated until the 1960′s when due to the Cuban Revolution the Álvarez family was exiled, and the rum they made disappeared from the landscape.

The brand was resurrected by Claudio Álvarez Salazar, who is the great-grandson of Evaristo Álvarez. Of course, it was not possible, given the political situation in Cuba, for Claudio to produce or bottle the rum in Cuba. Apparently, it is produced (presumably by a third-party as Ron Matusalem does not own a distillery) in the Dominican Republic, and then bottled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana by Proximo Spirits.

Here is a link to the review for the Rum Howler #23 Rum of 2017:

Review: Ron Matusalum Gran Reserva 18 Rum

“… I taste bitter-sweet caramel turning to treacle in my mouth with a light layer of vanilla keeping the rum smooth. A somewhat peppery, somewhat pungent oak spice is apparent which brings impressions of nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon to the fore with just a touch of spicy wood sap melded in …”

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We  have reached the top 25 rum spirits of 2017. I have reviewed and/or re-tasted each of these rums within the past three years. (All Rum reviews were based upon bottle samples either purchased by myself or provided to me by industry.)

You can continue to follow the countdown on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows daily by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

 

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#Top100Rums of 2017: #66 Zaya Gran Reserva

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 17, 2017

Zaya Gran Reserva Rum is a brand currently owned by Infinium Spirits. This rum brand was originally distilled and aged in Guatemala, but in 2008, Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala entered into a distribution arrangement with the Diageo spirits conglomerate which elevated some local brands such as Zacapa Rum, but which left other Guatemalan brands like Zaya without a similar arrangement. Because the Zaya brand was gaining a lot of momentum as a luxury sipping rum, the manufacture of Zaya was moved to Trinidad and Tobago where it is now produced by Trinidad Distillers Ltd.

Zaya Gran Reserva is apparently constructed from a secret recipe of several well aged rums to meet a specific taste profile which is very similar to the original Guatemalan rum. All of the rums in the Zaya blend are aged for a minimum of 12 years in small oak casks.

Here is a link to my recently re-scored review of the number 66 rum of 2017:

Review: Zaya Gran Reserva

“… rich vanilla, oak spice and pipe tobacco leading out into the air above the glass. Sweet caramel winds through the breezes, and I seem to catch accents of dry fruit, marmalade, marzipan and banana peel … “

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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

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