Today is National
Rum Day, so I decided to stick my neck out a little bit and let you know a
little about some of my favorite rums that are available in America. I get the opportunity to enjoy so many rums,
but many of them are just not available here in the United states. I thought for National Rum Day, I’d try
to pick my top ten. These are not in any
particular order, but they are the ten that I tend to gravitate toward and
enjoy on a regular basis.
Doorly’s XO is a blend of six to ten year old rums created and aged by
Richard Seale at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, Doorly's XO gets its
final finishing in an Oloroso Sherry cask.
The rum has a
deep copper bronze color with golden highlights. In the mouth, the
viscosity is somewhat light, This rum contains no additives of any kind. There is an initial spiciness that dies down quickly
revealing a fruitiness, that is coupled with oaky tannins that coat the palate and
a hint of sweetness. The long
finish is primarily spice and oak, and finishes with just a slight bitterness. Wonderful in a glass or mixed in premium cocktails.
Mount Gay Black Barrel is a small batch, handcrafted rum recently
created by master distiller Allen Smith. It is a blend of both matured double
pot distillates and aged column distillates which are finished in Bourbon oak
barrels. This blend has a bold and balanced flavor, that is not to sweet as what the nose would
have you think. The flavor of the oak comes
to the front over the palate, there are notes of orange, banana peel, almonds, baking
spices and vanilla. This is a good
sipper or mixing expression
Abuelo Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish is their wonderful 12 year-old rum that has been rebarrelled in
Oloroso Sherry casks for another 5 years.
This process adds to the already wonderful flavors of the original rum, yielding
a brilliant copper color with complex aromas and flavors of
polished wood, leather, sherry raisin cake, and dark roasted nuts. This is a vibrant, fruity full bodied rum
with a warm distinctive notes of fruit cake, spiced prunes and figs with some tea
and tobacco in the finish.
This one is a pure sipping rum.
Afrohead Premium Aged Dark Rum is born in the West Indies and authentically aged, sporting a silky smooth spirit
with notes of toasty oak and a hint of honey. The rum has notes of molasses and
Bourbon wood accents with a hint of vanilla with a smooth, warming, long
finish. It is authentically crafted with blends of rum aged 7 years or older in
once-used Bourbon barrels. Also a rum that can be sipped or
used in premium cocktails.
Diplomatico
Reserva Exclusiva has a heavy, rich, toasted sugar flavor, with a rich
and buttery hint of spice. Revealing a
medley of flavors that include caramel, allspice, almonds and molasses, vanilla
and leather that come together ins such a wonderful manner. It is a very
viscous medium-bodied rum that the flavor seems like it will never end. This is definitely a rum that is worth spending
time with as a sipper especially great with a fine cigar.
Cartavio XO has a brilliant mahogany color with woody aromas furniture shop. There are notes of tropical fruit, leather, cinnamon,
tannins, crisp, caramelized nuts, mango, orange caramel with a vanilla bean and
nutmeg finish. This is a very rich aged
rum that suits palates that prefer sweets rums.
Another that can be used as a sipper or for mixing premium cocktails.
Dzama Cuvee Noire is
one of a very few that can boast such a balance of
flavors that are achieved by this rum. You will find the notes of orange, vanilla,
coffee liqueur, citrus and bananas as you sniff and taste this unique rum from
Madagascar. This oak barrel aged rum is filled with
character and flavor that are unique to this rum. Sip it or mix it you will enjoy this one.
Damoiseau XO has a golden amber color, with a rich, complex,
oaky aromas, with flavors of chocolate, dried banana and mango, and some notes
of spices and fruitiness. This Agricole
Rhum has a light-medium body with a smooth, subtle, medium-length satisfying finish. A very
smooth and elegant sipping rum that is absolutely my favorite Agricole..
Plantation Barbados 5
Year Grande Reserve has a light sweetness in the
mouth with hints of butterscotch, caramel and molasses initially across the
palate with some sweetness followed by a sharp orange peel and baking spices
like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla along with a leathery mustiness. Other flavors like banana and marmalade, toasted almond, charred
coconut and notes of marzipan. This is a unique rum that can be enjoyed
across the spectrum, it works well in anywhere.
Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum has an aroma of molasses, baking spices and hints of
caramel. The flavor is sweet initially,
with lots of vanilla, caramel, and citrus that melt away to a pepperiness at
the back of the tongue. It finishes on
the dry side, medium-long, and slightly astringent, with the influence of the
Oloroso sherry finish coming to the forefront. This is unique in that gets its flavors not
only from the selection of fine rums, but also what is gained from the solera
blending method. Papa’s Pilar is bold
and works well as a sipper or a a replacement for bourbon in many of the
classic cocktails.
Three years ago I first ran across the Dzama (Pronounced "Zahm"). This rum won Gold in the 2011 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and Silver the following year. It wasn't until recently that the Dzama operation received their importation clearance to begin selling their fine rums here in America.
This is a very smooth rum boasting aromas vanilla and subdued aromas of oak, fruit, and a bit of alcohol. On the palate it takes on the taste of a flavored or spiced rum, but the makes of Dzama Cuvee Noire Prestige insist there are no artificial or additives in their rhums. Almost hard to believe with the strong flavors that are there. The vanilla is the final taste that you notice in the finish.
