This Tasting Contains 24 tubes of the following Rums:
Ron Barceló - Imperial Onyx
Dominican Republic
Just like the other rums by this brand from the Dominican Republic, Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx is made from 100% Dominican sugarcane juice rather than molasses. Its Imperial Onyx has aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels with a heavy char. However, there’s an innovative twist that sets this rum apart. After the initial aging period, Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx is filtered through onyx stones to obtain a rum “with intense, deep notes and a unique character.”
Appleton Estate - Reserve Blend
Jamaica
The Appleton plantation already existed in 1655, when the British captured Jamaica from the Spaniards. Since 1749, in addition to the cultivation of sugar cane, also rum is manufactured. This rum is a blend of 15 rums, all aged between 5 and 10 years in ex Jack Daniels barrels. After blending the rum is poured into new barrels and ripens a few months so that the different flavors and aromas merge well.
Ron Colón - High Proof Aged Rum
El Salvador
An overproof rum from Ron Colón Salvadoreño, at the heart of this expression sits column-still rum from the Licorera Cihuatan Distillery in El Salvador, a subsidiary of one of the largest and oldest sugar producers in the country. There's also unaged pot-distilled Jamaican rum produced by Worthy Park, Hampden and Monymusk, as well as some age Worthy Park rum too. Tropical, full-bodied and lots of funk.
Goslings - Black Seal
Bermuda Islands
Goslings - Black Seal is a distinctive, dark rum blended in Bermuda. The rum ages for 3 to 6 yeas in re-charred American oak barrels that have previously been used to age bourbon. Goslings Black Seal is distilled in both pot stills and continuous stills and has been around since the 19th century. It’s called Black Seal after the black sealing wax that was used to seal the champagne bottles in which it was reclaimed from the British Officer’s Mess.
El Dorado, 8 Y
Guyana
El Dorado Rum is produced at Diamond Distillery, the last surviving rum distillery in Guyana. All El Dorado rums are made using molasses produced by the local sugar factory from 100% Demerara sugar. Diamond Distillery can produce a slew of different rums, which benefits the El Dorado 8-years-old. It is a blend of aged rums from no fewer than four of the traditional stills, including the original wooden Coffey still from Enmore, and the double wooden pot still from Port Mourant.
Abuelo, 12 Y - Gran Reserva
Panama
After the establishment of the republic of Panama, José Varela started a cane mill in Pesé in 1908. In 1935 he started making Rum. Abuelo is a recognizable Panamanian Rum in the Spanish style; soft with beautiful sweet influences. The Rum has matured for 12 years according to the Solera principle (the barrels are filled with new Rum every year). The Gran Reserva is fruity with herbs and nuts; a wonderful example of a Panama Rum.
Plantation - Original Dark
Caribbean Islands
Plantation Rum is an artisanal range of rums from the great terroirs of the tropics, founded by Alexandre Gabriel. Plantation Original Dark is a rum sourced from Barbados and Jamaica, distilled in both continuous stills and large copper pot stills. While the rum from Barbados has aged for 1 to 3 years, the Jamaican rum has spent 10 to 15 years in wooden casks. After a final period of aging in a wooden vat in France, Plantation Original Dark is born – a rich and intense style representative of the best Jamaica and Barbados have to offer.
Brugal - Anejo
Dominican Republic
Brugal Anejo is an experience, and to sip it will make any day a little more special. Don Andres Brugal Montaner had one dream: to perfect the art of rum-making. That’s how he came to move to the Dominican Republic in 1888. Currently the 5th generation of the Brugal family ensures that the high standards set by their forefather are being met. Brugal Anejo matures in ex-bourbon American oak casks for up to 5 years. The result is a clean, smooth and not-so-sweet spirit that you won’t soon forget.
Mount Gay - Eclipse
Barbados
In 1703, the production of Rum by the Mount Gay distillery on the island of Barbados was already a fact. This probably makes them the oldest working Rum distillery in the world. Traditionally, they still work in the English style with copper pot stills, in which they distil twice. Eclipse is named after the total solar eclipse and the appearance of the comet Halley in 1910. The roasted ex-bourbon casks also have light smoke notes.
Pampero - Aniversario
Venezuela
The Pampero Distillery was founded in 1938 in Caracas, Venezuela. The rum is distilled from local sugar cane molasses in Column Stills, in the tradition of Spanish style. The Pampero Aniversario was first made in 1963 in honour of the 25th anniversary of the Pampero distillery. The rum has matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. The difference in temperature between the day and the night is big in Venezuela, which gives an optimal ripening.
Flor de Cana, 7 Y
Nicaragua
Flor de Cana (flower of sugar cane) is the most famous rum of Nicaragua. The distillery was opened in 1890 and is located at the foot of the San Cristobal volcano in the northwest. The distillery was set up by the Pellas family. The fifth generation is now in power. Their Rums are made of sugar cane molasses in the Spanish style. The 7-year-old Rum is a Gran Reserva and has matured on ex-Jack Daniels barrels.
Bacardi - Reserva Ocho, 8 Y
Puerto Rico
Bacardí Reserva Ocho was created in 1862, making it one of the oldest private rum blends in the world. Since then, the Bacardí family has enjoyed it as their personal reserve—for seven generations long. Aged for a minimum of 8 years, this unique golden hued sipping rum is now available globally for everyone to enjoy. It works great neat, but don’t overlook the classic Old Fashioned cocktail—just with a rummy twist.
Opthimus, 18 Y
Dominican Republic
Oliver & Oliver is a Cuban company that originates in Cuba and buys Rums from 5 Caribbean countries. Located in the Dominican Republic, they release several Rums including the Opthimus. All rum for the Opthimus comes from the Dominican Republic. They leave this traditional Spanish-style Rum to mature long before they release it. The 18 year old is a wonderful example of this. They are limited editions; each bottle is numbered by hand.
Facundo - Neo
Cuba
Named after its founder, the Facundo Collection is a premium range of rums from Bacardí, one of the best-selling rum brands worldwide. Neo is the Spanish word for ‘new’. Its appearance is completely transparent, yet the Bacardí Facundo Neo is blended aged for up to 8 years. They are charcoal filtered to mellow the taste, which also removes the color. A beautifully balanced drink!
Havana Club - Seleccion Maestro
Cuba
Havana Club is the most famous Rum of Cuba, founded in 1878. Havana Club has asked a team of highly experienced Rum Maestro's to select their favourite Rum under the leadership of Don José Navarro. These Rums first mature separately in American oak barrels and together they get a finish on specially selected barrels. The Seleccion Maestro is an aromatic rich Spanish style Rum with tones of tobacco, leather and coffee.
Plantation - Jamaica 2007
Barbados
This Plantation – Jamaica 2007 was produced at the renowned Clarendon Distillery. Built in 1949, it is a relatively new distillery in Jamaica. It is situated on the Moneymusk Estate after which their popular brand Moneymusk is named. This funky Jamaican rum was distilled in 2007 in the distillery’s Vendome pot still. After 13 years of maturation in a tropical climate, a total of 28 ex-bourbon casks were shipped to France for a further two years in ex-Ferrand casks.
El Dorado, 15 Y
Guyana
The Diamond distillery in Guyana has existed since 1670 and is perhaps the oldest working distillery in the Caraiben. They produce Demarara Rum, named after the nearby river. Diamond's special feature is that they have 2 working wooden Pot Stills still and a wooden column Still, a unique feature in the world! This El Dorado is a blend of the various Diamond boilers and is a powerful English-style rum.
Ron Zacapa - 23
Guatemala
In 1944 Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala was created from a amalgamation of 4 distilleries and produced Rums of high quality. Rum from Guatemala belongs to the Spanish style, but is characterized by a complex, rich taste. Zacapa is a Rum blender who buys the Rum from the distillery. This 23 matures according to the Solera system. The average age is therefore between 6 and 23 years. This Rum rightly won many prizes.
Clement - L'Elixir
Martinique
Clement was founded in 1887 and is considered to be the founder of the Rhum Agricole of Martinique, France. They produce the Rhum from pure sugarcane juice (Rhum Agricole). The Rhum matures on French oak and is distilled in traditional French copper pot stills of French origin. The Clement - Elixir is a blend of beautiful Rhums and matures for at least 6 years in oak barrels.
Ron Zacapa - XO
Guatemala
Published in honour of the 100th anniversary of the town of Zacapa, located in eastern Guatamala. Unlike most rums, virgin sugar cane honey is used instead of molasses. Zacapa XO is a blend of 6 to 25 year old rums. The blend is extra matured in old French oak Cognac casks. The low temperatures cause slow maturation, while the low air pressure increases the wood contact. For the Solera system, Bourbon, Sherry and Pedro Ximenez barrels are used.
Dictador, 20 Y
Colombia
In 1913, Julio Arango y Parra founded the Destilería Colombiana in Cartagene. His intention was to make the best Rum of Colombia. Dictador is the exception to the rule that Spanish style Rum is made from molasses. Dictador makes Rum with pure sugar cane juice. They distil in copper pot stills and use American oak barrels for maturing. This edition has aged for 20 years on average in a solera system.
Facundo - Exquisito
Cuba
Named after its founder, the Facundo Collection is a premium range of rums from Bacardí, one of the best-selling rum brands worldwide. You won’t find a much older Bacardí rum than the Facundo Exquisito, which is a blend of rums that have aged for 7 to 23 years. The rum was finished in ex-sherry casks for at least a month.
Abuelo Centuria
Panama
A rum in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Varela Hermanos SA distillery in Panama. The 1908 sugar factory also started distilling Rum in 1935. Meanwhile, Abuelo is a well-known Spanish style Panama Rum who releases various varieties. Centuria is a blend of various barrels, the oldest of which have matured for 30 years. The use of toasted barrels of American oak leaves the Rum with a hint of smoke, vanilla and dried fruit.
Flor de Cana, 25 Y
Nicaragua
In 1890, the Pellas de Flor de Caña family started a distillery in Nicaragua. The fifth generation is now in power. After the political revolution in Nicaragua in 1979, the family decided that they should save Rum for uncertain times; to this decision we owe this Ultra Premium Rum. After more than 25 years of maturing in former Jack Daniel's barrels, this is a beautifully complex Spanish style Rum.
