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Posts Tagged ‘Rum Review’

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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: El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6 Year Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 4, 2012

One of my very favourite of the white rums is the El Dorado 3yr Cask Aged Rum. In fact that particular rum is the highest scoring white rum on my website, and the only of these white rums (so far) which I have scored in the 90s. So it was with some excitement that I learned that Woodman Wine and Spirits was sending me a bottle of the even more premium El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6 Year Aged Rum for me to review here on my website.

This rum is meant not just to compete with the new strain of super premium white rums that have entered the market recently, it is meant to compete head to head with the super premium luxury vodkas which have garnered a good chunk of the market share in the distilled spirits category. According to the El Dorado Website, the Deluxe Silver Rum is blended from selected light to medium bodied aged rums which have been produced on Demerara Distillers’ 200-year-old wooden Coffey still (the last of its kind operating in the world today) and the company’s famous French Savalle still. The result is a fully aged, double-filtered, 6 Year Old White Rum.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial scents rising into the breezes above the glass carried a lightly candied sweetness with very mild minty undertones. I also noticed some more complex aromas which included banana and orange peel as well as some lemon and lime citrus zest which give the rum a freshness that I quite enjoy. As well a light butterscotch accent builds up slowly over time as the glass sits…. “

You may read the full review here:

Review: El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6 Year Aged Rum

I have included a couple of nice cocktails for this rum, including a new recipe I call the Silver Celebration.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail recipes!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: El Dorado Deluxe Silver 6 Year Aged 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

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2012

Flor de Caña has a history of rum production which is dated to 1890 at the San Antonio Sugar Mill, in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. The company was founded by Francisco Alfredo Pellas and today, over 120 years later, the company is led headed by the fifth generation of the Pellas family. It has grown to be not only one of Central America’s leading brands of rum, it is also one of the most recognized rum brands in the world.

According to the company website all of the Flor de Caña rum is produced with molasses from sugar cane harvested in fields adjacent to the distillery in Chichigalpa. It is distilled five times in a continuous column still process, and then laid down to age in small American white oak barrels in traditional aging warehouses built without air conditioning in an undisturbed environment.

The subject of this review, the Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum is a clear aged rum meant for premium cocktails and mixed drinks. I was given a bottle for review by the local distributor, The Kirkwood Group.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial scents rising into the breezes above the glass reminded me of a very light caramel molasses. I gave the glass a bit of a swirl, and this brought up a rush of astringency into the air, but once this initial astringency passed, I noticed some very nice complex aromas which included banana peel and butterscotch were left behind… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

I have included a couple of nice cocktails recipes with the review, the Lemon Muddled Cuba Libra, and Red Sky at Night.

Please enjoy the review and the two cocktails provided!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

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