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Caribbean Rum: Having sips of Caribe, one rum at a time

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Havana , Matusalem , Brugal , Bacardi

As we saw, rums are very hard to classify due to regional differences, so I am going to sort them by regions instead.

Cuba

Havana Club Añejo Especial

87
Havana Club Añejo Especial
Havana Club Anejo Especial Rum is a premium golden rum, a blend of rums aged for up to 5 years in the ageing cellars of Havana Club, under the watchful eye of Don Jose Navarro, Havana Club's Maestro Ronero.
As the name suggests, it is something special, a blend of old and young rums that results in a rich, warm gold coloured rum.Its character combines the lightness of white rums and the robust aroma of dark rums.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (84): more than average. brown sugar, wood, honey, spices.

Palate (92): . brown sugar, flowers, sugar cane, wood.

Finish (84): longer than average. floral, brown sugar.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Havana Club Añejo Especial with 87 points over 100.

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Dominican Republic

Most Dominican Republic rums are done using Cuban recipes because when Castro raised to the power in Cube many distillers flee.

Ron Matusalem 15 year

85
Ron Matusalem 15 year
Two Spanish brothers Benjamin and Eduardo Camp traveled from Spain to establish a distillery in Cuba. In 1872 the brothers, along with their partner Evaristo Álvarez, they founded the Matusalem brand in Santiago de Cuba. They combined their skills and experience in distilling and blending with the principles of Solera, which was originally developed for production in Spain of wine, sherry and brandy.

The name "Methuselah" was chosen to refer to the aging process the rum is subjected to get those flavors. It comes from the Spanish proverb "This is older than Methuselah." Methuselah is the patriarch as the Old Testament lived 969 years.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (85): average. sweet, floral, sugar cane, brown sugar, wood.

Palate (90): smooth. brown sugar, sugar cane, floral, a little fruity, wood, spices.

Finish (80): long. brown sugar, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ron Matusalem 15 year with 85 points over 100.

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Ron Barcelo Añejo

83
Ron Barcelo Añejo
This is a “Superior Blend” from a select group of premium rums aged naturally for up to four years in American oak barrels. Its smooth golden tones and soft aroma can be enjoyed straight or wisely mixed.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (84): more than average. brown sugar, honey, wood, floral, cinnamon, a little light.

Palate (84): smooth. brown sugar, toffee, cream, pineapple.

Finish (80): average. toffee.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ron Barcelo Añejo with 83 points over 100.

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Brugal Ron Extra Viejo

“Not a bad rum, but a bit light. Not my kind of drink”

83
Brugal Ron Extra Viejo
Extra Viejo, meaning extra old, is a sophisticated and elegant rum from Brugal which was available only in the Dominican Republic until 2009, when distribution in the United States began.

A blend of older reserves, it commands attention with its dark crystallized amber appearance and fragrant bouquet of vanilla, raisins, toasted oak and pipe tobacco notes. Its medium-bodied texture delivers long-lasting flavors that include roast coffee, warm toffee, cocoa and hints of nutmeg and anise.

Brugal Extra Viejo Rum, first released in 1976, is best when sipped straight or on the rocks. In a simple cocktail like the rum Old Fashion, it's bold and intense flavors stand up well with other ingredients.

This dram has a mahogany-like color.

Nose (84): average. sugar cane, citrus, brown sugar, spices, cinnamon.

Palate (83): smooth, oily. wood, burnt sugar, sugar cane, citrus, cinnamon. A bit light

Finish (83): average. burnt sugar, sugar cane.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Brugal Ron Extra Viejo with 83 points over 100.

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Ron Barcelo Imperial

“It is a good rum but it won't shake your world.”

85
Ron Barcelo Imperial
Distilled in state-of-the-art stills, then aged in oak bourbon casks in Barraques (a form of stacking and aging of barrels seen in the production of brandies and cognacs) and bottled at 8 years of age, this rum is part of a series, the others ranging from a unaged white to this, their oldest offering.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (86): strong. sugar cane, floral, a little brown sugar.

Palate (85): smooth, oily, powerful. brown sugar, sugar cane, floral, wood, a little cinnamon.

Finish (84): long. brown sugar, sugar cane.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ron Barcelo Imperial with 85 points over 100.

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Opthimus 25 year

“ Outstanding. So spicy rum, so well blended, so balanced. Really artisan stuff.”

93
Opthimus 25 year
OLIVER & OLIVER’S top rum. The best result of a combination of our best rums selected carefully by our Rum Masters. It has a very attractive dark cherry color and a very sophisticated bouquet, unique. Sweet and pleasant. Very well-rounded with delicate aromas and flavors, taste persistent. It is our flagship and we consider it the best rum in the world.

This dram has a treacle-like color.

Nose (92): strong. brown sugar and sugar cane, floral, spices, cinnamon.

Palate (96): smooth, oily, viscous, powerful. sweet, brown sugar, sugar cane, cinnamon, spices, floral, vanilla.

Finish (92): very long. cinnamon, honey, sugar cane.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Opthimus 25 year with 93 points over 100.

Puerto Rico

Bacardi Superior

79
Bacardi Superior
After 23 years of experimentation, Don Facundo Bacardi set the standard for all future premium white rum. Established in 1862 in Santiago de Cuba Bacardi Superior Rum became the world's first premium aged white rum. To produce such a superior spirit Don Facundo combined the best of dark spirits production techniques (ageing and blending) with his pioneering filtration process (charcoal filtration, now used by other white spirits) to create the perfectly balanced mixing rum that neither overpowers nor disappears in your drink.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (80): weak. sugar cane, floral, light, alcohol.

Palate (80): light. sugar cane, a little brown sugar, burnt sugar, a little floral, honey.

Finish (76): average. sugar cane, floral, a little honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bacardi Superior with 79 points over 100.

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Bacardi 5 year Añejo Superior

“Very light nose and a sharp taste that detracts of the final result.”

71
Bacardi 5 year Añejo Superior
It is different from the Barcardi Carta Blanca because this one has not been filtered and has aged for 5 years in oak cask.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (65): weak. floral, sugar cane. floral, sugar cane

Palate (78): light. toffee, sugar cane, floral. toffee, sugar cane, floral

Finish (70): short. toffee, sugar cane. toffee, sugar cane

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bacardi 5 year Añejo Superior with 71 points over 100.

British Islands

Ah! The true british navy rum. Really, if you like rum you must get one of these as they are superb. I do really prefer the non age statement as it is really cheaper and bottled at cask strength.

Nelson's Blood Hip Flask Pusser's Rum

85
Nelson's Blood Hip Flask Pusser's Rum
Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, Royal Navy, one of the world's greatest fighting admirals, never lost a major battle. At Trafalgar on October 21st, 1805, although outnumbered, he defeated the combined navies of Spain and France. In this fierce battle that would determine who ruled the waves for the century that followed, Nelson sank or captured 19 of the enemy while losing not a single British ship. Unfortunately, at the age of 47, he was mortally wounded and died three hours before the end of the battle with the knowledge that victory was his. For the journey home, his body was carried on board HMS VICTORY, his flagship. Legend has it that to preserve it during the long voyage, they placed him in a large cask of Pusser's Rum. Upon arrival in England, it was discovered that the jack tars (sailors) had drilled a small hole at the base of the cask and drank all the rum - thereby drinking of Nelson's Blood. This term is still widely used today by Navy and history buffs as their alternative name for Pusser's Rum.

Pusser's is the same rum that was issued on board ships of Great Britain's Royal Navy for more than 330 years. The gold medals won at the world's two most prestigious wine & spirits competitions in 2001 and 2003 attest to its unsurpassed quality. Unlike most other rums, Pusser's contains no artificial flavouring agents. It is all natural.

THE ROYAL NAVY TOASTS on the back of the flask are those that have been offered for more than 200 years. They are still offered today at dinner on board Royal Navy ships and shore installations.

The four flag signal to "SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE!" was flown to signify a double issue of rum. Today, to say to a friend, "Let's splice the main brace!" is akin to saying, "Let's have a drink!".

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (88): strong. sweet, roses, sugar cane, wood, grapes.

Palate (84): light, oily, powerful. sweet, roses, sugar cane, sugar candies.

Finish (84): longer than average. candies, floral, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Nelson's Blood Hip Flask Pusser's Rum with 85 points over 100.

Pusser's Navy Rum 15 year

89
Pusser's Navy Rum 15 year
A recent bottling from a historic brand, the original of which is based on the recipe for the official rum that was given as a tot to sailors in the British Navy. Pusser's is traditionally dark and strong, however this version is a more standard 40% abv. A bargain for a rum of this age and provenance.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (88): strong. fruity, grapes, brown sugar, raisins, wood.

Palate (92): smooth, oily, powerful. brown sugar, fruity, complex, wood, wax, syrup, tobacco.

Finish (88): long. brown sugar, fruity, raisins.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Pusser's Navy Rum 15 year with 89 points over 100.

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Antigua

English Harbour 5 year Rum

“An interesting rum. Delicious sugar cane notes along toffee and vanilla.”

82
English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum
Easy-going and sweet, but absolutely delicious and highly recommended if starting out with rum. Distilled in copper-piped continuous stills in Antigua, where the climate is particularly dry. 5-8 year old rum, and great stuff!

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (79): more than average. sugar cane, sugar, plastic, floral, a bit vanilla.

Palate (85): smooth, oily. sugar cane, floral, burnt sugar, vanilla, toffee.

Finish (81): long. sugar cane, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum with 82 points over 100.

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Martinique

Ron Negrita

73
Ron Negrita
The story begins in 1857. A young liquor maker of Limoges, Paul Bardinet, took an interest in the sugar cane alcohol imported from distant islands to arrive to port the old world. The 'ratafia' as they called in those days, lacked of great value for the pirates but under his apparent rudeness it hid big secrets.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (80): average. sweet, brown sugar, floral, alcohol.

Palate (72): light. sweet, alcohol, brown sugar, floral, alcohol.

Finish (68): very short. alcohol.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ron Negrita with 73 points over 100.

Barbados

Doorly's XO Rum

88
Doorly's XO Barbados Rum
With a rare Blue Hyacinth Macaw on the label, Doorly's is a rum that is finished in Oloroso sherry casks and blended with rums aged from 6 to 12 years old. Given 5 stars by Dave Broom in 'Rum'. Arthur agrees, and was very impressed by its silky, rounded and easy-sipping style.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (84): more than average. sugar cane, floral, brown sugar, fruity,a bit meat stock.

Palate (92): smooth, oily. sugar cane, brown sugar, floral.

Finish (88): longer than average. brown sugar, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Doorly's XO Barbados Rum with 88 points over 100.

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Hope you have enjoy this rums tasting.
On the next days I will post about continental rums.



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