Cuban Inspired Rum
Oak Matured
75.5% ABV (151 proof)
gift, but MSRP is ~$40
"does not contain coloring additives. does not contain flavoring additives." (this is a big deal, because lots of rums add sugar)
Color: medium chestnut brown (the black wrapper on the neck makes it look way darker in the bottle).
Smell: absolutely massive. You pour this out, and the room smells like rum. Sticky, sweet caramelized bananas is the main note for me. It smells like a banana dessert dish with a ton of brown sugar sweetness. There's also some overt woodiness that stands up to the sweetness somewhat, giving it a toasty element. Also, obviously some alcohol heat (it's a 151 proof rum, after all!), but this is shockingly muted. After the initial run through, I added water and noticed more leather, burning marshmallows, and funky sweetness. It's a blast.Taste: tried this at full proof first, and it's too hot to handle. There was still noticeable molasses/brown sugar sweetness and the bananas foster thing going on, but the alcohol is too overpowering for me to get much more out of it. I added enough water to bring it down to 50% ABV using this handy dilution calculator. And then...bam. Super smooth on entry, with the characteristic bananas foster sweetness from the nose. The transition brings in some wood influence, but for me it's more driven by golden brown marshmallows and sticky, caramelized banana dessert. It's a little tannic on the finish, with a bit too much oak for me.
Overall: I haven't tasted enough rum yet to contextualize or rate this, but I get the distinct impression that this is very special stuff. Well worth tasting if you get a chance!
