Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana

Bythefatrumpirate

Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana. This is the second cachaca up for review from the Fazenda Tupa which produces the Princesa Isabel range of cachacas. Hailing from Linhares, Espirito Santo state, Princesa Isabel is a family run business.

They produce their cachaca from two strains of sugar cane RB7515 and RB5453, which are suited to the climate present at Fazenda Tupa. The brand is named after the Cellia family matriach Isabel.

Husband and wife cachaceiros Adao Cellia and Maria Isabel de Moraes are helped by their children Maria Clara, Gabriela and Pedro.

Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana is the latest cachaca to be released by Princesa Isbael. It was first released in 2019 and is limited to only 2,000 bottles per year.

As with all the Princesa Isabel cachacas it is produced from estate grown sugar cane which is harvested manually. The sugar cane juice is extracted within 12 hours of the harvest. The sugar cane juice is then fermented with commerically available strains of yeast (I am unsure for how long), before it is distilled on the Copper Pot Still at Fazenda Tupa.

Cachaca Princesa Isabel are a relatively new producer – they have been producing cachaca since 2016. When you look at the tall sleek bottles and the occasionally rounded stubby style bottles, you can see that they are taking a more modern approach to their presentation. This is perhaps not surprising as daughter Gabriela is in charge of the marketing for Princesa Isabel.

So we have a very sleek tall, thin bottle with wonderful watercolour art work of the birds and fauna surrounding Fazenda Tupa. The branding and appearance is modern and in line with brands such as Leblon, Novo Fogo and Yaguara. All of which are produced for the European and/or US market. A 700ml bottle will set you back around R$140 in Brasil which is just over £/€20.

Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana Rum Review by the fat rum pirateIt is noted that Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana is made using a rare and difficult to grow strain of sugar cane. I am not sure which variety it is of the two strains they are noted down as using. I translated “Cana Caiana” and all I got was “Cane Cane”. So that wasn’t particularly helpful.

Should you want some more helpful/useful information on Cachaca Princesa Isabel, then they have a website which translates reasonably well into English.

Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana is not aged in wood once it has been distilled. It is rested in stainless steel tanks for 12 months. It is then bottled at 44% ABV. Although cachaca can be produced at an ABV up to 48% ABV, it is not common for a “White/Silver” cachaca to be bottled at 44% ABV. Quite commonly the minimum 38% ABV is used.

In the glass Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana is a completely clear spirit. The nose is bursting with sweet sugar cane aromas, vanilla and double cream. It’s rich and vibrant and the nose is big and bright.

Taking a sip, this is a very flavourful spirit. Lots of fresh, sweet sugar cane flavours. Very much like a higher ABV White Agricole. There is a slightly earthy and grassy note as well. This is backed up with some vanilla. I’m not getting much of the creaminess I got on the nose. What I am getting though particularly on the mid palate is a very nice chilli like burn. With all the sweetness going on this is a nice counter point and very much adds complexity to the spirit.

The finish moves into a nice slow burn of sweet sugar cane and that chilli spicy heat. It slowly feed leaving behind the more grassy aromas and something a little mineral like. It’s a decent length and overall this is quite a nice little sipper.Cachaca Princesa Isabel Cana Caiana Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

Or perhaps more a palate cleanser? It’s a nicely balanced cachaca and doesn’t have a great deal of acidity – I’m not getting any citrus notes I sometimes get with young cachaca. The chilli heat seems to have replaced this with this spirit.

As a mixer it performs really well. Working nicely in a Caiprinha or a Ti Punch or even just with some Lemonade. So its a versatile cachaca. I’d probably head more towards sipping though if I had a bottle.

All in all a very tasty well rounded and nicely balanced white/silver cachaca.

Similar Posts

  • Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum review by the fat rum pirateBlack Ven Distillery Dark Rum. There has been quite an explosion of rum production in the UK over the past 5 or so years. Many of these rum “producers” are doing little other than “spicing” an existing imported Caribbean rum base and then proclaiming it as British, English or Scottish or even Welsh “rum”.

    I’ve not focused very much on such offerings, though I have tried quite a few of them. It’s just not something I really wish to encourage or “promote” if you like.

    What I am interested in however are the actual distilleries in the UK that are producing their own rum from scratch.

    Black Ven Distillery in Lyme Regis, Devon is one such operation. The ethos behind the brand led by John Tucker is refreshing and in line with what a lot of Rum Enthusiasts are seeking nowadays. Tired of being deceived by so-called Premium (and Ultra Premium) brands and bored with the never ending cycle of Spiced Rums.

    I reached out to John upon trying his Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum and he provided a lot of quite “geeky” information on his distillate. I will share that with you in this review as it is refreshing to get so much information from a producer.

    Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum is handcrafted from scratch in a small distillery housed in a converted artist’s studio. The distillery/studio itself is flooded with soft natural light with high ceilings and far reaching views of the Black Ven cliffs. Which give the distillery its name. The rum is aged nearby in a small eco-friendly warehouse.

    The molasses used in the production of Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum is sourced from a local bakers co-operative. Black Ven is currently the only distillery customer. The molasses is not overly processed which means more of the natural sugar remains.

    The rum is produced in small batches. Typically around 900 litres of rum wash at a time. Produced from 100% molasses. A healthy drop of dunder is taken from each batch and recycled into the next fermentation. This is typically done up to 10 times before the cycle is reset. This is because large amounts of dunder can make the fermentation overly acidic and begins to have an impact on alcohol yield.

    Once the fermentation is complete a Continuous Still is used to strip the wash. The whole strip takes around 8 hours to complete.Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    The spirit run is conducted on a smaller Hybrid Still. Once distillation is complete then the rum is diluted to 60% ABV. The rum is then aged for 4 years in oak or more specifically ex-French Red Wine Barrels.

    The final bottle strength is 50% ABV. Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum batches are typically around 250 bottles with the batch and bottle number hand scribed on the bottle. The bottle designs are from a local student (Jack Price) and the bottles are spray painted – labels are not used.

    Black Ven Rum Distillery Dark Rum is available direct from their own website. It is priced at £48 for a 50cl bottle.

    So there you have it. Thanks to John for supplying so much information. I hope you all have found it interesting. Don’t quote or question me on any of the technical aspects of what I have been told. I have long confessed to not being much a Rum Geek in that regard…..

    In the glass Dark Ven Distillery Dark Rum is a a very dark brown colour with an orange/reddish hue.

    On the nose you initially get molasses but perhaps a sweeter more “golden syrup” like note than you might be used to. Beneath this I am getting some tannins and some fruity red wine notes – blackberries and redcurrants. The nose is rounded off by a very light smokiness and a nice hit of oak spice and vanilla.

    It’s rich and very intense. The molasses note is particularly strong giving aromas of black treacle, caramel, treacle toffee and some dark chocolate. Its a powerful rich nose which reminds me of Navy Style Rum.

    Sipped at the full 50% ABV the rum packs a nice punch but the sweet fruity notes and the treacly molasses notes make it a very enjoyable sip. Its sweet but not overly so and has a niceBlack Ven Distillery Dark Rum review by the fat rum pirate weight of dark berries and acidic wine like notes to give it a more rounded flavour.

    This is backed up further by a drying on the mid palate. Which brings out more of the dark chocolate notes. Throughout the sipping experience you get a nice backdrop of oak spices. Followed by vanilla, which gives further depth to the sip.

    The finish is a good length and you get a nice hit again of the oak spices alongside a touch of zesty lemon and some vanilla. The molasses notes continue throughout right to the very end.

    As well as sipping this I was curious to see how this would fair in cocktails and in a simple rum and coke.

    Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum works brilliantly in a rum and coke giving a very rich and very intense taste experience. It certainly isn’t overshadowed by the coke that’s for sure!

    In cocktails again it seems to work well with cocktails calling for a “dark rum”. It works very nicely as a float in a Zombie.

    That said I would predominantly use this particular rum as a sipper. Although relatively young it does have a unique profile.

    At the price point I certainly think this is more than worth a punt. I’ve really enjoyed my bottle. I would be keen to see how this evolves. I feel longer ageing will further enhance the distillate. So maybe some longer aged releases are in the pipeline? It is a young distillery after all.

     

  • John Watling’s Single Barrel

    Bythefatrumpirate

    John Watling's Single Barrel rum review by the fat rum pirateJohn Watling’s Single Barrel. The John Watling Distillery is based at the Buena Vista Estate in downtown Nassau on the Island of New Providence, which is part of the Bahamas. Despite being called a distillery the estate does not actually distill the rum on site.

    Despite calling themselves a distillery, they are honest about the fact they import rum from other Caribbean islands/countries. Ageing, filtering and blending the rums under the guidance of their Master Blenders Guillermo Garcia-Lay and Pepin Argamasilla.

    The estate tours are very popular on the Cruise Ship circuit and you can visit the estate nearly every day of the year (aside from National Holidays).

    John Watling’s Single Barrel is a 4 (or 6 depending on where you get your information from) year old 100% Pot Still rum. Each batch is drawn from a Single Barrel. It is not a release of just one barrel. Seemingly they have a number of barrels with similar characteristics. Which means that this particular rum has been in production since 2017. Much like Cruzan’s Single Barrel offering. This is bottle number 10005!

    Although the company are happy to disclose they import rum from the Caribbean they do not disclose where the rum is from. So I do not have any details of what type of rum this actually is. The fact it is 100% Pot Still rum does cut down a number of options – where they always either blend with column distillate or simply do not have an operational Pot Still.

    John Watling’s Single Barrel is bottled at 66.2% ABV. It is available on site and in selected outlets around the Bahamas. In 2019 they expanded into the US market with this bottling. A 750ml bottle will set you back around $120 in the US. John Watling was a British pirate commonly associated with the Bahamas. For more information you can visit the John Watling’s Distillery website here.

    It is yet to make it into the UK or European market. None of the John Watling’s expressions are available. So your best bet for a bottle of this rum would be a trip to the US or the Bahamas.

    Presentation wise the rum comes in an eye catching stubby style bottle. Presentation is modern and is sure to appeal to tourists even if their rum knowledge is very basic. They produce the kind of product which people will buy because it looks premium. It is sure to be brand which is brought back and gifted on a regular basis I’m sure.

    John Watling's Single Barrel rum review by the fat rum pirate

    So with little else to say about the rum lets move on to the fun part………

    Colourwise we have a copper coloured liquid with an orange hue.

    On the nose I am hit immediately by notes of milky English Breakfast Tea, toffee, pecans and some buttery toast.

    Further nosing reveals banana, coconut and a note of pear drops and varnish. You can tell this has been bottled at a high ABV at the rum has a certain amount of aggression.

    Those familiar with my reviews might not be surprised to learn that this a rum sourced from Worthy Park (I haven’t had this 100% confirmed but they have told me they sold some rum to John Watling’s a few years back). I’m pretty confident this is Worthy Park juice.

    Sipping is a more “malty” experience with some more savoury note mixing in with the Breakfast Tea, Toffee and Banana. It’s quite spicy especially on the entry and you do feel the full affect of the 66.2% ABV.

    It certainly tastes quite boozy and you get a very substantial hit of alcohol which carries on into the mid palate. I’d say the 4-6 year age noted online is likely to be quite correct. I wouldn’t guess it to be much older. It does have a youthfulness to it.

    On the mid palate the spices grow and you get some nice oaked notes and some slightly roasted and smoky notes. Plenty influence from the barrel comes through at this stage. It’s rich and warming and certainly a few sips in the alcohol dissipates a little and I’m enjoying this a lot more. It maybe needs more time in the glass to settle. I’m and impatient man……..

    John Watling's Single Barrel rum review by the fat rum pirateFinish wise it’s a good length with more smoky notes and a touch of pipe tobacco, warming oak and a nice hit again of stewed Breakfast Tea and burnt banana. The finish is long and slightly heated.

    With this being at an ABV of 66.2% there is certainly room to add a spoon or two of water. I found this less aggressive at around the 55% ABV mark by adding a drop or two of water and checking the ABV with my Hydrometer. Another plus point for this rum is it is unaltered, no colouring or additives.

    All in all John Watling’s are probably losing out not noting this is a Worthy Park rum (they maybe can’t) as it would certainly spark more interest in it. Sadly the market is limited to the Bahamas and parts of the US.

    A very solid offering though and a quite daring ABV. It’s a good example of Worthy Park but I think you can get better from their own bottlings.

     

  • Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum review by the fat rum piratePrivateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum. Thanks to increased distribution in Europe and very generous samples from rum fans around the world, I’m beginning to build up a nice set of Privateer Rum reviews.

    In this instance huge thanks to the person who sent me this particular sample of Overproof Rum. Very much appreciated. I often think I should thank people personally but I worry I may embarrass some. I could ask in advance I suppose…..

    Anyway, what we have here is another Single Barrel release in the Distillers Drawer series of rums being released by Privateer International. So the rum comes in the familiar tall thin Privateer bar style bottle with a cork enclosure and a wooden stopper.

    The front label details some information regarding the contents of the bottle. The handwritten style will be familiar to those who have had the Distillers Drawer series in the past. I like the presentation and the detail that is contained on the label.

    So I have release no#107 from Privateer, they release a lot of single barrels. Hand Selected by P. Newsom which has been matured in “Neutral Vessel”. It is not at 126 proof or 63% ABV. 420 bottles in total were produced. The retail price was $35. Unsurprisingly this particular barrel is now sold out.

    Further information on the Privateer website, reveals it was actually rested in a single stainless steel cask. On March 12th 2020 Kate Perry who works for Velier (who distribute Privateer in Europe) as a Brand Manager visited the distillery and helped with the production of this particular rum. She was also asked to select the final bottling proof. The rum was released as a homage to that particular day.

    In the glass the spirit is unsurprisingly, crystal clear. Stainless Steel should impart no colour unlike a wooden barrel.

    Privateer International Letter of Marque Sisters in Arms rum review by the fat rum pirateThe nose is surprisingly creamy and quite soft after a little time in the glass. A quick swirl brings some fruitiness to the fore. Gooseberries, lime, some red apple and a touch of lychee. It shows its teeth a little more now!

    There’s a peppery note as well dancing over the top of the fruitiness. There’s also a strong note of molasses and what I can only describe as booze!

    Moving into the sip, Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum is quite sharp and very spicy. Lots of dark pepper, chilli like heat and some strong notes of caramel and molasses. At the full ABV it’s certainly a bit of an assault on the senses.

    Luckily a couple of sips in and my palate is adjusting to the alcohol. Which is good because beneath that is a really nice balance of dark fruits, vanilla and some punchy molasses. I’m getting some tangy fruit notes – lemon/lime, sour grapefruit and those little Haribo “Tangfastic” sweets. (I’ll have to pinch a packet off the bairns after this)

    The mid palate develops into a sweet caramel and almost honeyed sweetness. Then just as you think it’s mellowing out a little – it starts to heat up again. There’s also a big sweet/sour bourbon mash type vanilla flavour going on. As the heat builds you realise you are working towards the finish.

    Whilst the rum finish isn’t long per se it is still very enjoyable. It builds into a fiery heat of chilli and black pepper and dark treacle – more intense than the molasses previou

    Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum

    sly. Due to the proof the “buzz” remains in your mouth for sometime but the overall flavour and heat fade quite quickly.

    Trying to compare this to other Overproof White Rums in the mould of the traditional Jamaican rums. It’s just not like that at all. It nods more towards a Demerara Overproof but again – no not really. Closest thing to this I can think of taste wise would probably be Habitation Velier Foursquare 2015, which was also limited to around 400 bottles. I prefer this bottling to be honest.

    In terms of mixing this – I did try it with a little cola and it did pretty much blow my socks off. In a good way. So probably a handy rum to have around for a bartender or mixologist.

    Were we to see a Overproof White from Privateer become more commercially available and for sub £50 over here, I’d be buying one.

    I certainly feel like I’ve put a few hairs on my chest today……..

  • El Dorado 21 Year Old Finest Demerara Rum – Special Reserve

    Bythefatrumpirate

    El Dorado 21The jewel in the crown of Demerara Distillers Limited, certainly for those of modest means is the El Dorado 21 Year Old Finest Demerara rum.

    The rum is made up of a blend of rums from Demerara Distillers world-famous stills, the Enmore (wooden Coffey still), the Versailles (single wooden pot still), and the Albion (Savalle still).  It is worth noting that all the rums in the El Dorado range boast differing components in their blend.  It is not a case of the same rum(s) being aged longer.

    The presentation of the 21 Year Old is in keeping with the 12 and 15 Year Old. Same shape bottle and similar box.  The difference really is the colour scheme.  For the 21 year old they have opted for a very vivid blue.  The age statement on the El Dorado 21 is also worth mentioning.  Unlike solero style rums DDL guarantee that 21 Year Old is the age of the youngest rum in the blend.  Some of the rum contained therein maybe considerably older.

    Doubt around the age statements have been suggested (by the usual suspects in the rum world) however when you consider how much “bulk” rum DDL produce and either bottle themselves or sell on, I would suggest that such a thriving business concern can world-famous stills, the Enmore (wooden Coffey still), the Versailles (single wooden pot still), and the Albion (Savalle still).certainly afford to age their rums.

    In the UK the rum retails at around the £70-80 mark.  It is bottled at 43% ABV.  This is not really bad when you consider the 25 year old retails at around £380 per bottle.  The rum comes in a beautiful stubby blue bottle and you get cork stopper with plastic topper which has the El Dorado brig printed on the top.  A blue solid card sleeve adds the luxury of the presentation.  You feel a bit pirate with the bottle in your hand.

    I’m a huge fan of Demerara rums and El Dorado rum in particular.  This bottle was a very welcome Christmas treat.  It has long been a rum I simply must try.

    I’ve never explored the stills used by DDL in too much detail.  I’ve tried reading about them but to be honest I find it difficult to remember much when I read it.  I guess I mustn’t be that interested.  I’m determined not to compare this rum to the 12 and 15 for the purpose of my review so I will get the following out of the way.  The 21 in terms of overall profile reminds me of the 15 the most.  I don’t know (and I haven’t and won’t check) if the rums blend is from the same stills as the 15.  This is purely how I view the overall feel and taste of the rum.  Certain notes I believe are due to the extra ageing of the 15 and 21.

    EL Dorado 21 Year Old Demerara Rum review by the fat rum pirateI’ve taken my time since getting this rum in writing the review.  It’s certainly not a rum I’m going to review whilst downing half a bottle like I have some!  This rum has been visited a few times now in moderation.  I have a bottle of ED8 Year Old for when I want the sweet notes of Demerara in more liberal doses.

    As pictured the rum looks very dark in the bottle but lightens up once poured in the glass.  The rum is a deep rich mahogany colour.  The nose is that classic Demerara but more specifically El Dorado nose.  Anyone who has tried an El Dorado rum will recognise the rich, fruity notes.  The brown sugar and spices.  Lovely.  Very inviting.  Even once the rum is gone nosing the empty glass is a joy.  There is nothing in the nose which is off putting or feels like it shouldn’t be there.

    When tasting the rum for the first time, the extra ageing of the spirit is clear.  There is an extra layer of oak in the profile compared to the younger expressions.  The 21 exhibits all the classic rich dark dried fruits and warm spiciness of classic Demerara rum.  It is rich and sweet almost like a Christmas Pudding in a glass.  Notes of oak and a slight spiciness also comes through.  The rum is very smooth and easy drinking but complex enough to ensure you savour each sip of the drink.  The finish is long lasting and very enjoyable.

    El Dorado 21 Year Old rum review by the fat rum pirateThis is a complex and rich sipping rum.  It is not a rum which I would consider mixing.  It is so enjoyable on its own and the younger El Dorado rums make such excellent mixers you would be a fool to yourself to mix a £80 rum.  It’s without doubt one of the best rums I have ever tried.

    It is smooth, yet still has a spice and oakiness in its profile.  It’s a very well blended rum.  Of course comparisons will be made by anyone who drinks it with the 12 and 15.  I would say I enjoy it slightly more than the 12 and pretty much the same as the 15.  However it is different.  It’s different enough to consider a purchase.  It may initially not seem that much better than the 15 year old for the money.  Then again it just re-inforces what fantastic value the 15 Year Old is.

    If you like Demerara rums there would be few better ways of really treating yourself.  A classic.

    4.5 stars

     

     

     

    This rum is available from

    image

  • Tilambic 151 Overproof Aged Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Tilambic 151 Overproof Aged Rum review by the fat rum pirateTilambic 151 Overpoof Aged Rum. The world of Overproof rum is quite an interesting one. Bottlers producing rum, which you are then advised not to take neat, as it may be hazardous to your health.

    The most famous examples of Overproof 151 (75.5% ABV) rum are Bacardi 151 and Lemon Hart Demerara. Whilst Bacardi 151 seems to be most common in American frathouses – Lemon Hart has built up quite a following amongst Tiki bartenders who use the rum sparingly, as a float in drinks such as Zombies.

    Other less severe versions of Overproof rum exist, in the shape of Navy Rums such as Pusser’s 54.5% ABV/109 proof and Woods 57% ABV/114 proof.

    An even more extreme example can be found in the form of Sunset’s Extra Strong White Rum 84.5%ABV/169 proof. If that still isn’t strong enough for you then try Marienburg Rum, which is bottled at 90% ABV/180 proof. Very close to being neutral spirit if we are being honest.

    Tilambic 151 Overproof is different to a lot of these Overproof rums. It has has been given some considerable time, ageing in Oak Casks. Up to 7 years.

    The rum is produced by International Distillers Mauritius, from molasses on their 30 foot Column stills. It is not available domestically. The rum is actually produced under license for Green Island who import a number of Mauritian products into the UK.

    The rum has recently been re-branded and the design is now a bit flashier and bit more up-to date. The tall bar bottle is nice and the screw cap is of good quality – not cheap and flimsy like some. In the UK a bottle retails at around £35 which is pretty standard for an Overproof.

    Tilambic is acutally the old Creole word for “Moonshine” – strong rum, was originally produced by the people of Mauritius, on small alembic pot stills. Tilambic 151 Overproof has reTilambic 151 Overproof Aged Rum Review by the fat rum pirateceived some favourable reviews from both Lance and Steve James at Rum Diaries Blog. Also the sticker on the bottle shows that Tilambic 151 Overproof won a Gold at The Spirits Business Rum Masters in 2015. So it would seem this Mauritian Rum isn’t to shabby at all.

    In the glass Tilambic 151 Overproof is a light/golden brown colour. It doesn’t appear to have had much colouring added.

    The nose is pretty boozy with some sweet alcohol notes – were this a younger rum with less ABV, I would but that down to young sweet alcohol. As it has been aged, it must be mostly due to the ABVy. It is, despite this relatively speaking, quite light and sweet on the nose. There is a slightly herbal note about it and a fair amount of sugar cane, some light caramel and a touch of molasses.

    Sipping this at full ABV, is not as brutal an experience as you might expect. It is very hot and boozy on the palate with a really big hit of sugary alcohol on the sip but it isn’t too unpleasant to be honest. Just sip very slowly and infrequently!

    Once the intial sweetness subsides, you can taste some smoky notes and light spicy oak. Some of the herbal notes on the nose return as well. The finish is short as far as I can tell but by this point my palate is pretty much numbed.

    Returning to this rum at a later date – and with a few drops of water I can appreciate the actual flavours of the rum. In many ways it sips more like a Cask Strength rum than a 151 headbanger. It has a fair amount of subtlety to it.

    The mid palate and finish especially are much more complex with a real weight of oaky spice and some slightly grassy/herbal notes.Tilambic 151 Overproof Aged Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    Whilst it is not bad as a sipper – it’s not really the greatest you will ever taste. It’s still a bit short and sharp particularly on the finish.

    Where Tilambic 151 shines is in mixed drinks. A rum and cola or even a rum and lemonade with Tilambic 151 are very tasty drinks. In terms of a 151, I believe it would be useful to any bartender looking to add a bit oomph to a cocktail but not wanting to effect the aesthetic, by using a caramel coloured 151 (as many are).

    That said, it’s a lot more complex when mixed than a lot of Overproof or 151 rums. It’s got a really distinctive note to it, that I can’t describe beyond “herbal”. It also has a light smokiness to it which is a really nice addition. The sweet notes of toffee and molasses also shine through when mixed even with heavier mixers such as Ginger Beer and Cola.

    It has a nice balance to it and it is very dangerously drinkable like this. Go easy, as once you start making rum and cola’s with this it can disappear very quickly – much quicker than your hangover the next day!

    It’s a distinctive rum and one I have enjoyed a lot. I would recommend trying this if you are seeking out a 151 style of rum with a bit of a more subtle nuanced profile.

     

     

     

  • Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Cachaca D'Lourdes Carvalho Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho. This cachaca hails from perhaps the most famous cachaca producing state in Brasil – Minas Gerais. However, this cachaca does not hail from the more common city Salinas but even further inland, in the city of Congonhas do Norte.

    Production of cachaca in this area is second only to raising cattle in terms of employment. Around 5,000 people live in the city and its surrounding farms.

    The distillery is situated in the 7ª Reserva Natural da Biosfera dentro da Serra do Cipo, (7th Biosphere Nature Reserve within Serra do Cipo)

    This cachaca is produced from sugar cane grown on the estate. It is harvested and the sugar cane juice is extracted within 24 hours of harvesting. The sugar cane juice is fermented with wild yeasts prepared with local microbiotics.

    Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho is distilled on 2,000 litre capacity Copper Pot Stills. The oak barrels are from Europe (likely French Oak then). Some of the barrels used in the ageng of this cachaca are virgin oak. Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho is aged for around 18 months it is a blend of various cachaca’s produced at the distillery. It is bottled at a very respectable 42% ABV.

    This is available in a 670ml bottle and should cost around R$50 as per this webstore. It comes in a tall, short necked clear bottle. Cachaca D’Lourdes Carvalho has a metallic screw cap enclosure. The presentation isn’t particularly enticing or up to European expectations but this isn’t a hugely expensive cachaca. As well as producing this gold/ouro cacahca D’Lourdes also have a Prata expression, which comes in a very similar bottle.

    In the glass we have a very light coloured spirit – white wine. The nose is full of double cream and icing sugar. It’s light but nicely defined and the extra ABV definitely adds some body to the cachaca.

    The nose has some of the wood influence – their is a touch of ginger and a hint of spice but it’s pretty deep in the mix.

    Sipped – this is a very flavourful cachaca.The initial entry is much spicier than the nose with stronger notes of ginger and white pepper. A touch of cumin and maybe some turmeric. The mid palate has a slightly mineral like note which adds an extra layer of complexity.

    The creamier notes that were present on the nose stay with you throughout the sipping experience. They meld nicely with the spicier notes in the cachaca giving a sweetness and a balance which makes this a very easy cachaca to sip.

    Cachaca D'Lourdes Carvalho Rum Review by the fat rum pirateFinish wise you get a lot of the mineral notes and the spicier elements. It’s a reasonable length and makes a nice finish to the experience. Overall this works nicely as a sipper but it isn’t as complex as you might want from a sipping experience.

    In mixed drinks this cachaca works much better – the woodier and spicier notes really stand out in things like a Ti Punch or a Caiprinha. The extra ABV is a bonus and gives it just an extra little bite.

    This is a very decent sipper/deluxe mixer style of cachaca. Another hit from Minas Gerais.