Vodka Tower and Pot Still |
Their well know Seven Fathoms Rum has been placed into an Oloroso Sherry barrel for some final finishing. The results are very impressive, adding a rich fruitiness to the already wonderful Seven Fathoms expression.
Oloroso Sherry Casks |
Oloroso means scented in Spanish, a variety of sherry wine, a
fortified wine made in Jerez and Montilla - Moriles and produced by oxidative aging. It is normally
darker than other sherrys. Oloroso
is usually dark and nutty flavored. Unlike other sherries, Oloroso producers remove the flor yeast early in the process then suppressed
by fortification at an early stage. This
causes the finished wine lacking the layer of flor yeast to be exposed to the air
through the slightly porous walls of the American or Canadian oak casks, giving
it an oxidative aging. As the wine
ages, it becomes darker and stronger. Oloroso
Sherry is also the base for many of the sweet sherry developed for the
international market, such as Bristol Cream.
These barrels after they have reached the end of their life as sherry barrels
are often sold to whiskey, brandy or rum producers. Most of the warehouse managers and master
blender only use the Oloroso sherry casks for the finishing. Spirits
that are matured only in Oloroso casks is often to taste more like a liqueur,
and usually way too sweet.
Note the Color Difference of the Oloroso |
Rums finished in
Oloros casks usually pick up the dark flavors and nuttiness of the Oloroso
Sherry. It picks up notes of figs and
raisins giving the rum a fruitiness that is not found in the standard
expression that is ages solely in bourbon barrels. This gives the rum an oily and more viscous quality
that really smooths the finish. The
Oloroso casks will darken the rum rather quickly giving it a more mahogany
color and raises the eye appeal noticeably.
The other sherry
casks that are popular among rum blenders is the Pedro Ximenez Sherry
Casks. These also a a note of fruitiness
like the Oloroso cask, but it has more of a dried raisin flavor and dads a
syrup like viscosity to the rum. The
Pedro Ximenez casks don’t darken the rum as much as the Oloroso either. Both make for a great finish for quality
rums.
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