Tastes

Nose: Oak, molasses, tar, baked vanilla, pipe tobacco, canned pineapples. If you give it time to breathe, there’s a little bit of dill and rubber coming through. Taste: Smells sweeter than it drinks. Rather tannic and oaky but elegant. Vanilla spice, allspice, molasses, a hint of smoke with a subtly sweet baseline of overripe tropical fruit holding it all together. Finish: Warm and spicy with liquorice root, tobacco and notes of leather polish. A very balanced rum. Warm Caribbean spices accompanied by a very moderate amount of Jamaican funk and fruity ester notes presented in a very formal and smart oak framing.

Given the name and visual presentation, I went into this expecting a maritime experience similar to certain whiskies from up North only to be proven completely wrong. Nose: Tomato juice, vegetal, parmesan, savory notes that are strongly reminiscent of lobster bisque or bouillabaisse, hints of parsley or dried celery. Very unique. Taste: Not as intense but pretty consistent with what you get on the nose with the addition of a light floral sweetness and some sugar cane. Kinda incohesive as a whole, disharmonic collage of flavors with no typical "funk“ to make up for it. Finish: Not very long, briney and herbal. Let me tell you I’m not a huge fan of this so I’ll just keep it around as a sipper for when I’m in a funny mood until the bottle goes empty. I certainly will not be getting another, though. Due to its tomato notes, I imagine this could make for an interesting Bloody Mary or as an addition to seafood dishes

Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, some dark fruit, a little bit of tar. Palate: Caramel, chocolate, alcohol soaked cherries, vanille. Very liqueurish and thick. Finish: Spices, clove, vanilla, mokka. I bought this on recommendation from the liquor store staff when I was still quite new to rum and had no idea about "Spanish style" rums and their affinity for added sugar. And while it certainly isn't bad, I can say that this particular style doesn't really suit my preferences. I can understand why cigar smokers like Ron Zacapa as it seems robust and bold enough to co-exist with tobacco smoke.