Distilled in Guatemala from the first pressing of sugar cane juice (virgin sugar cane) at over 7,500 feet above sea level, and bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) is a blend of rums aged between six and 23 years using a “Sistema Solera” aging process where the rum is aged first for three years in ex-bourbon American White Oak barrels that are scraped clean first before they’re added to a large vat and mixed with older rums. This process is done a third time and then the blended rum is aged for a further two years in ex-Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks, which impart a lot of aromas and flavors. Before bottling, the blended rum is rested for six months in large (17-20,000 liter American White Oak vats to allow the flavors to marry. It is widely rumored that the rum has a significant amount of sugar added, though this is not without debate.
This tasting notes review is on a 50 ml mini bottle tasted in two separate occasions using a Glencairn glass.
COLOR: Very dark amber
AROMA PROFILE: The ethanol is barely discernible – the nose is very sweet with dark fruits (dark cherries, black currants, raisins), grapes/cognac, red wine/sherry, slightly sour apples, oak/barrel notes, licorice, citrus (orange), nuts, sweet tobacco leaf, & hints of dark chocolate.
PALATE: There is a consistent & steady dark sweetness throughout the sip, but it is not nearly as sweet as I was expecting from the nose. The sweetness is driven by the dark fruits from the nose mixed with dark raw honey, tobacco leaf, a hint of vanilla, prominent ginger, cinnamon, some black pepper, molasses/caramelized sugar, orange peel toasted nuts, semi-sweet dark chocolate, & oak/barrel notes.
FINISH: 6-8 seconds – the finish isn’t entirely drying, but it is more dry than sweet.
MOUTHFEEL/VISCOSITY: Buttery, but dissipates fairly quickly after several seconds.
VALUE: Introductory-level rum with some nice complexity of aromas & flavors that is on the sweeter end & at a good price point ($50 in my market)
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Probably not – this doesn’t taste bad, it’s just a bit sweet for my palate.
_________________
1792 Bourbon Agave Spirits American Single Malts American Whisky ArteNOM Añejo Tequila Blanco Tequila Blended Whisky Bourbon Whisky Bruichladdich Buffalo Trace Buffalo Trace Distillery Cocktails Código 1530 (Codigo 1530) Dulce Vida E.H. Taylor Elijah Craig El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila Four Roses Gin Glassware Glenlivet Irish Whisky Liqueurs Lost Lore Maker's Mark Mezcal Mijenta Mt. Defiance Distillery Patrón Penelope Reposado Tequila Reviews Rye Whisky Scotch Whisky Scotland Siempre Single Malt Whisky Spirits Tequila Tequila Ocho Virginia Virginia Distillery Company Whisky
Agave Spirits+ Journey 