Venezuela probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind when someone mentions “top-shelf rum.” While the rum from the islands in the Caribbean tends to draw all of the attention, the people on the mainland continue to toil in the same hot, sticky weather to make rums that are all their own and every bit as delicious as you might find on any wind-blown island.
Not only are the mainlanders making rum, they’re making damn good rum.
Ron Diplmomatico Blanco is the newest rum to be brought to us by Distilerias Unidas in Venezuela. For over 50 years the distillery in La Miel has produced several lines of rums which can be found all over the world. The Ron Diplomatico line of products has long had shelf-space in my collection. The Reserva [...]
Ron Abuelo 7 Años is a rum produced at the very bridge between North and South America: Panama. This particular brand of rums is produced by Varela Hermanos, makers of numerous Panamanian sugar cane spirits – including a sugar cane-based gin! The Ron Abuelo line of products consists of 3 rums, the Abuelo, the 7 [...]
The Dominican Republic is home to a number of wonderful rums. One of their best-known producers is Brugal, whose Siglo de Oro has already been reviewed here. A few months ago I was asked to pen an article for Cigar Snob Magazine and give some thoughts on various rums. One of the initial rums requested [...]
The other day I was contemplating a drink and found myself near the Appleton section of my rum shelf (yes, there is an entire section dedicated to Appleton rums, just as there are sections dedicated to El Dorado, Clement, Havana Club – you get the idea). I had recently reviewed the Appleton Estate Extra 12 [...]
Also known as Appleton Estate 12 Year Old, the Appleton Estate Extra is easily one of my favorite rums, and thus long overdue for some analysis in this space.OK, perhaps I’m giving away a bit much with such a lead-in, but I can’t help it. I’ve never really kept it a secret that I heartily [...]
Rum is always considered a tropical spirit. Generally when people think about rum their thoughts take them immediately to the Caribbean – to islands like Jamaica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Rum, however, is a truly global spirit, produced anywhere people have access to sugar cane or its byproducts.Distilled, blended, and bottled by Haleakala Distillers, Maui [...]