Delicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years

Bythefatrumpirate

Delicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years Cachaca review by the fat rum pirateDelicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years. We are back on the cachaca trail. However, in this instance I am introducing you to a cachaca brand from Germany. No, the cachaca obviously is not produced in Germany, but the brand owner Bert Ostermann hails from Friedberg, Germany and the cachaca is bottled there.

As a result of this we also have a cachaca which is readily available in the EU. So good news for all of us that can shop within the EU (I can for now at least!). Delicana have won numerous medals domestically and are beginning to expand outside of Germany.

They exhibited at the London Rumfest which was the first opportunity I had to try this cachaca. Since then my “cachaca contact” Leszek Wedzicka has secured my a few samples from Delicana’s range.

As you can see from the photo Delicana Balsamo comes in 3/4 stubby style bottle with a short neck and wide shoulders. The presentation overall is minimalist but very modern and the bottle is very sleek. Unlike many domestic Cachaca brands this is ready for the European market.

Delicana have their own website, where you can buy their cachaca and a variety of other spirits. Delicana Balsamo retails at around €35-40. It is bottled at 40% and as noted in the title Aged 10 Years. The ageing takes place solely in Balsam barrels.

As noted earlier as this is cachaca then it must be produced in Brasil. Delicana Balsamo is distilled on Copper Pot Stills in Salinas, Minas Gerais. It is distilled at a well known distillery which also produces cachaca under its own brands. I have been asked not to reveal the exDelicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years Cachaca review by the fat rum pirateact distillery or location.

So, I’m not left with a great deal else to say about this cachaca. As a result, we may as well just get on with seeing what the contents of the bottle are like!

In the glass we have a cachaca which is a shade or two darker than a white wine. It’s quite light for a 10 year old spirit. Still it is a good sign that as well as not being “sugared” it also has no colouring. This is not a Cachaca Dulce and has no added sugar.

Nosing Delicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years is a light creamy experience. White wine, vanilla custard and a slight touch of white pepper. It’s not a big beefy nose but it is very nicely balanced.

It’s clean and well put together. Sipping Delicana Balsamo is a similarly well balanced experience. I’m not sure I have had a bad cachaca from Salinas, Minas Gerais and this once again lives up to the expectation. The initial entry is quite sweet with lots of vanilla custard and some light peppery notes. This moves onto a more creamy, milky mid palate with less vanilla.

Finish wise it’s also pretty good. The length on the finish is nice and quite refreshing. The integration of the wood is most apparent here. The finish is long and quite woody.

Delicana Balsamo Aged 10 Years Cachaca review by the fat rum pirate

In a nice way though. This is a cachaca to spend a bit more time on.

At a higher ABV this could be a real contender for one of the best cachaca’s I have tried. I do find that lighter more balanced cachacas such as this one do benefit from an ABV of around 50% ABV. It just gives them a bit more body, a bit more “beef” if you like.

As far as availability is concerned this cachaca is a great purchase for anyone in Europe. A lot of readily available cachaca is unaged/white there isn’t a great deal of aged cachaca available.

That said this is also a very good cachaca – price wise it is certainly well worth the asking price. This is one of my favourite cachacas so far on my own journey.

 

 

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  • Hampden Estate Overproof Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Hampden Estate Overproof Rum Review by the fat rum pirateHampden Estate Overproof Rum. Rum enthusiasts should need little introduction to the Jamaican Rum Funk that is delivered by Hampden Estate, Trelawny, Jamaica. For many years now those “in the know” have been seeking out Independently bottled Hampden rum.

    So why have enthusiasts been seeking out Independent bottlings you may ask? Why don’t they support the distillery and buy their own bottlings? Well let’s first take a look at exactly what this Hampden Estate Overproof Rum actually is.

    Hampden Estate Overproof Rum is the first aged rum to be released directly by Hampden Estate. Until the release of this and the “standard” strength bottling in 2018 Hampden Estate had not released an aged Hampden rum. Their only widely available current bottlings are Hampden Rum Fire. Which is an unaged white overproof and Rum Fire Gold. Which is the same unaged rum diluted down to 40% ABV and a drop of caramel colouring to make it “Gold”.

    As you may not from some of the photos, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Launch Dinner of these Hampden releases, at the Four Seasons Hotel in London. The dinner was hosted by Luca Gargano and La Maison du Whisky. They are working together on distributing the rums in Europe and beyond. Andrew Hussey and Christelle Harris of Hampden Estate were also in attendance. Both were very passionate and humble at the same time, about their rums. A joy to meet and chat with.

    At the event I was in familiar company in the shape of some of my fellow rum writers and bloggers. It was a real honour to be in attendance and I had to pinch myself a couple of times. At the event, we learnt that these Hampden bottlings are the first aged rums to be released by Hampden Estate. We were also taken through the “Rum Tasting of the Century” which was a real event in itself. But that is perhaps for another day….

    Hampden Estate Overproof Rum as I understand it (please anyone with more information correct me if I am wrong) is going to be an ongoing release. Think like R L Seale’s 10 Year Old or Havana Club 7. This and the standard bottling will always be available.

    As a result this Hampden Estate Overproof Rum Review by the fat rum pirateis not a single cask rum or a rum which Hampden Estate will struggle to replicate. The current vintages are a blend of rums from 2010. Obviously as time goes on this will move but the flavour profile identified by Vivian Wisdom Master Distiller at Hampden Estate will remain the same/similar. All the rum in the blend is Pot Still distillate. The rums were aged for almost 8 years entirely in Trelawny, Jamaica. They estimate on the rear of the bottle that this is equivalent of 25 years European ageing. Please note this is not scientific. The Overproof rum is presented at 60% ABV.

    In the UK Hampden Estate Overproof will set you back £80. Enthusiasts have been waiting for the Caribbean distilleries to really start pushing their own products. The past few years have since the likes of Saint Lucia Distillers, Worthy Park and Foursquare really push their own brand products. With a lot of success as well I must add!

    Presentation wise the Velier influence is noticeable. They are using the same bottlings you will find Velier Caroni and Demerara housed in. The labels are a little more colourful and they are much less “clinical” than the Habitation Velier releases. More colourful but equally informative. The front and rear label tell you all about Hampden Estate’s/Trelawny’s rich history and give you some details about the contents in the botte.

    In the glass Hampden Estate Overproof is a golden to dark brown colour.

    The first thing I notice about the nose on this, is that it is much less funky than some of the European Aged Hampden’s. I’m getting a lot more oak and woody notes. I’m thinking of Worthy Park rather than Long Pond level funk. Milk chocolate, cocoa, a touch of caramel and some sweet milky tea.

    Further nosing reveals some over brewed tea, bananas and towards the end a slightly sharp almost petrol like note. A note like escaped gas – no not a fart more when the hob doesn’t light and the gas is released. Hampden Estate Overproof Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    As the rum is not over the top funky it is actually very pleasant and very easy-going on the nose. Which has led me to spend more time than usual nosing this particular rum. Another further nosing reveals some pineapple juice and a touch of red berries.

    Moving onto the sip at the full 60% ABV. This is much more funky than the nose had suggested. It’s not massively funky but it’s very certainly a Jamaican rum and it’s still quite a bit more “dunder” heavy than the likes of Appleton Signature.

    The tropical ageing is again very evident – quite a lot of oak but it is complimented by a really nice weight of flavourful spicy notes – ginger, cinnamon and a little bit of tree bark.

    The mid palate is dominated by some slightly bitter banana and some slightly waxy pineapple notes. Once again I’m getting that over stewed breakfast tea note which is taking me into Worthy Park like territory.

    Certainly the Tropical Ageing and the blend of rums used (again correct me if I am wrong on this) seem to give this rum quite a different character to the European aged Hampden’s.

    The finish is really nice and warming. Again with some really nice oak aged notes and a really nice balance. Even at the full 60% ABV. This is quite a savoury tasting rum. There are some fruity notes, which balance it out and stop it becoming overly bitter or whisky like. They never take over the way they often do with other Hampden rums though. The finish has a really nice length – as you might expect from an overproof.

    If you can handle this rum at the full 60% ABV but I found a drop or two of water opened it up a bit more. It’s very drinkable even at 60% ABV but it is not diminished by a few drops of water in any way.

    I don’t think this is a huge ester heavy rum. It is certainly not in the league of some of the Hampden bottlings I have tried lately from Indie bottlers. You can’t smell this in the next room. But it is still a funky Jamaican rum. We haven’t lost the funk down to Plantation’s Xaymaca levels.

    If you like Worthy PaHampden Estate Overproof Rum Review by the fat rum piraterk rums and the older Appleton Rums. The 12 but the 21 in particular. Then I think you will get a lot of enjoyment out of this. If you are after some insane ester heavy bruiser then give this a swerve. But please re-consider at a later date.

    Hampden Estate Overproof is a really well-balanced, beautifully put together rum. At 60% ABV it should satisfy anyone’s desire for “Cask Strength” rum. Also at £80 it is priced competitively alongside the Indie bottlings. I would certainly recommend picking up a bottle of this, instead of perhaps chucking £150 at a 20 year plus independent bottling.

    It makes a belting rum and coke as well……….

     

     

     

     

     

  • DropWorks Clear Drop Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    DropWorks Clear Drop Rum review by the fat rum pirateDropWorks Clear Drop Rum. Over the past 10 years the number of distilleries in the UK has grown rapidly. Whilst a lot of these have been riding the Gin craze and creating Vodka and (Spiced) Rum as a side project, a number are increasingly focusing more on rum.

    One such distillery is the DropWorks Distillery based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. Which also claims to be the largest distillery in Europe. Capable of producing 2 million bottles of rum per year and up to 10 barrels per day.

    Today I am reviewing DropWorks Clear Drop Rum which is their unaged and un-adulterated White Premium Rum. You can pick up a 70cl bottle of this rum direst from DropWorks Distillery for £39.50 or if part of a larger order The Whisky Exchange has it in stock. The rum has been bottled at 45% ABV. The rum is distilled on DropWorks bespoke Double Retort Still.

    The owner of DropWorks distillery is Lewis Hayes who has been in the hospitality business for over 20 years. Lewis owns and operates two of the more popular Rum focused bars in London – The Black Parrot and Merchant House. The Head Distiler at DropWorks is Shaun Smith who has worked at and launched several distilleries here in the UK. As well as producing rum the distillery also runs distillery tours for visitors.

    DropWorks use 3 different wild yeast strains that they have developed to produced their rum. The rum is produced from imported Caribbean molasses. Some sourced note that they import “Cane Honey”. I’m not getting involved in that kind of nonsense.

    Presentation wise DropWorks Clear Drop Rum is very distinictive and very modern. It reminds me a little of sweet or bubblegum wrappers. I can imagine it may appeal the younger segment of the market. Though at £40 a bottle I doubt many underage drinkers will be replacing their Lambrusco and Kopparberg and cheap Supermarket Vodka with this…….

    I like the 3/4 style rounded stubby bottle and the synthetic cork with a wooden stopper is nice and sturdy.

    Further information can be found on the DropWorks Distillery website and there are also a couple of reviews of other rums from the DropWorks cannon over the The Rum Barrel site.

    DropWorks Clear Drop Rum review by the fat rum pirateSo without further ado we may as well get on with the fun part.

    DropWorks Clear Drop Rum is as expected completely “crystal clear” (as their marketing attests to). Which is to be expected of an unaged rum.

    Whilst DropWorks allude to their rum being “different” upon nosing the rum I am experiencing quite a lot of familiarity.

    Over the past few years I have tried quite a few unaged white rums from the UK. Particularly from Scotland. Whilst there are noticeable difference between these rums there are familiar traits and similarities in their profiles.

    I would say much like Rhum Agricole from Martinique or Kentucky Bourbon – whilst each distillery/expression is different there is a lot of common ground solely from the base materials used in distillation.

    So upon nosing DropWorks Clear Drop Rum I am immediately getting familiar notes of caramel and treacle from the molasses which impart sweetness alongside a very slightly vegetal note. Which isn’t a bad thing as I definitely prefer these types of white rums.

    For so long white rums such as Bacardi have dominated the scene and created a view for many that white rum is at times almost interchangeable with vodka. In fact many people think Bacardi is well Bacardi. They don’t even know it is rum! You’d definitely notice the difference if you swapped this out in a vodka cocktail!

    Further nosing reveals a hint of black pepper and some citrus. A touch of freshly mowed grass. I wouldn’t say it is particularly funky but it is leaning that way with hints of Pineapple and Passion Fruit.

    Sipped at 45% and unaged it is quite punchy. It is however more refined than you might expect. It’s relatively smooth without feeling in any bland or “thin”.

    As you sip you will notice that the mid palate becomes a little bitter and slightly metallic. Theres a little hint of menthol as well which carries down into the finish.DropWorks Clear Drop Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    Finish wise DropWorks Clear Drop Rum is a little short it certainly pulls up a little quicker than I was expecting. That said its not at all bad.

    It’s probably not quite “out there” enough to really recommend as a sipping experience. It’s certainly flavourful but it doesn’t grab you the way an unaged Clairin or Jamaican Overproof can.

    It is in more Premium cocktails and Mixed Drinks that DropWorks Clear Drop Rum is to be used. For such drinks it gives the drinks just enough punch and oomph to feel “rummy” without potentially alienating those note accustomed to the extremities of the Rum Scene.

    It works really nice in my standard rum and cola. Standing up enough to deliver something way more satisfying than most generic white rums can. We are well away from the Spanish Style White rum produced by the likes of Bacardi.

    DropWorks do have more funkier offerings in their portfolio. So it will be interesting to try them. The distillery has a clear vision and a good background in rum. They seem to have their finger on the pulse in terms of what is “trending” for those who have really got involved in rum over the past 10 or so years. Which is nice to see.

    This is a really solid start for me trying their rums.

     

     

  • S.B.S – The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Venezuela 2006

    Bythefatrumpirate

    S.B.S - The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Venezuela 2006 rum review by the fat rum pirate. Another bottling from our Danish Friends 1423. This time I’m trying some single cask rum from Venezuela. I don’t think I have covered much cask strength Venezuelan rum over the years. I’ve extensively covered the more commercial Diageo puts out such as Cacique and Pampero.

    I have also, of course reviewed the various Diplomatico offerings and Santa Teresa. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag. I don’t mind some of the younger rums for mixing and the some of the aged rum Santa Teresa 1796 and Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva I thoroughly enjoyed – and still do.

    It’s easy to dismiss Spanish style “ron” as being heavily dosed light rubbish. Quite a lot is but there is some good stuff. I think you also have to take into account when you are reviewing rum what the producer has set out to do. There’s no point in my mind complaining about a Venezuelan rum not being funky because that’s never the intention.

    Anyway let’s get some facts together about this rum. It is produced as Corporation Alcoholes del Caraibe S.A. Rums from this distillery are often noted as being from C.A.C.D. by independent bottlers. There are quite a few different bottlings around at the moment. The distillery is based in San Felipe, Yaracuy state. Apparently, the first mixing of Angostura’s formula for bitters was mixed here. The distillery produces the Cacique brand, which is popular in Spain.

    This is a single cask which yielded 304 bottles. It is a column distilled rum and has been bottled at 55% ABV and non-chill filtered. The hydrometer shows no sign of “dosage”. It is available via Amazon in the UK for £89.99. I am unsure how long this was aged in Venezuela before coming to Europe.

    In the glass the rum is a dark brown, with a red tinge around the edges. It’s likely been coloured but at the same time its a 12-year-old rum, bottled sometime in 2018.

    The initial nosing reveals a lot of leather and some spicy woody notes and quite a bit of smoke.

    Further nosing reveals dark chocolate, mixed nuts and some hints of raisin.

    It reminds me quite a lot of Flor de Cana rums. It doesn’t blow you away in terms of the nose but everything is nicely in order and it smells “old” or mature.

    The extra ABV compared to the standard 40% I have been used to certainly gives the rum a bit more oomph. It’s quite “hot” and boozy which I don’t at all mind!

    Sipped at full strength the rum is initially quite smoky with notes of shoe leather, tobacco and some chocolate raisins. It has a slightly perfumed element to it which leads into a very spicy mid palate of ginger and chilli. Notes of black pepper also come into the mix.

    Finish wise it has a very long, very full finish. This is very much a “cigar” kind of rum. It’s certainly not as sweet as some of the Venezuelan brands. The extra ABV of this has certainly allowed for a longer and more complex finish. Spicy woody notes mingle with ginger and nutmeg. Tobacco and leather add a smoky note and the rum slowly fades out very nicely. You can really take your time in between sips with this one.

    S.B.S - The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Venezuela 2006 rum review by the fat rum pirateAs this is bottled at Cask Strength it gives the distillate a bit more room for manoeuvre. If you want to dial it down a little – you an and unlike the standard 40% ABV variants you won’t end up with something too weak and insipid.

    This shows that not all column distilled Spanish style “rons” have to be sub-standard or follow the more popular path.

    An interesting bottle and proof of what the producers in these countries could be coming out with – if they were a bit more daring.

    Kudos to 1423 for seeing the potential with this one.

     

  • Old Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirateOld Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum. Old Brigand Barbados Rum is synonymous with the island of Barbados. Originally Alleyne Arthur’s Old Brigand Barbados Rum, it is now called R.L Seale’s Old Brigand. It is produced at the Foursquare Rum Distillery. This is the older brother of that rum.

    The “regular” Old Brigand is commonly known as One Eyed Man .or Pirate on the island. As you can see from the photo he doesn’t need an eye patch for this bottling. Presumably as this is a more refined rum the picture has been modified to show a less aggressive brigand.

    The rum is available on Barbados and parts of the US. It seems to retail at around $15 so its pretty inexpensive much like its younger brother. Presentation is a little “eighties” it kind of reminds me of the old 80’s style Captain Morgan bottles albeit in a much stubbier rounder form. Despite the use of a seal on the lid it is a screw cap underneath rather than a cork. Overall its quite “old school” but it has a certain charm and simplicity.

    As with most (if not all) Foursquare products it is a blend of Pot and Column distilled rums. Percentage wise I am not sure the ratio. It is aged for more than 5 years – again not sure of the exact variables, in ex-bourbon barrels. There is no age statement much like Mount Gay Eclipse or Black Barrel, as it is a continuously available product. As a result the same age of rums in the blend, might not give the flavour profile sought by the blender over time.

    Old Brigand were historically distributed by Alleyne Arthur, when the company ceased trading in 1993 R.L Seale and Foursquare Rum Distillery bought the rights to the brand.

    Despite this being the “older” of the two Old Brigand Rums this is the one that seems the least talked about. I’m not sure I had heard of it until a friend bought a bottle back for me from Barbados. Thanks very much Mr Murray. I have been unable to find any reviews on this rum other than on Rum Ratings. No reviewer seems to have reviewed this rum or if they have its not showing in a Google search. Diffords Guide provided some basic information.

    So with little else to say lets see how this “staple” Foursquare rum compares to the recent competition……Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass we have a vivid golden brown rum with orange/red around the edges of the glass.

    Nosing Old Brigand Black Label is a very familiar and very pleasant experience. A classic Barbados rum. In fact I would go as far as to say that is what an classic aged rum should nose like. This is rum!

    Light vanilla and toffee notes mingle alongside a slightly charred oak spice and some spicy ginger. There are no tricks involved in this rum, no extra maturation it has been matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and that is all that is needed.

    As a sipper it is certainly smoother and less rough around the edges than it’s younger brother. The lower ABV may play it’s part as well in making this easier to sip. The initial entry is quite oaked with a fair amount of barrel char and spice.

    Touches of black pepper. The mid palate reveals some fruity notes of raisin and a touch of slightly tart raspberry. Milk chocolate and toffee develop as you go building into the finish which is a lot smoother than I was expecting. The rum despite its quite oaky profile, has a little bit of honey in and around the mid palate and the finish.

    The finish is a good length and once the milk and dark chocolate notes begin to fade you are left with a very nice oak spice which stays with you for a long time. Gently burning the throat (in a very pleasant way).

    Old Brigand Black Label Superior Rum review by the fat rum pirateAs is to be expected, this rum is another classic style Barbados Rum from Foursquare Distillery. There are no faults. Personally, I do not think a much higher ABV would be to this rums benefit. It might be a touch too woody, if it were noticeably higher. Though 43% or 46% ABV might work nicely.

    An easy drinking, fairly uncomplicated rum. An everyday sipper or mixer. It’s a shame this rum isn’t available more widely. That said I can’t really complain about the Foursquare rums available here in the UK.

    A definite purchase should you visit Barbados. Along with everything else……….

  • S.B.S – The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006

    Bythefatrumpirate

    S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateS.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006. I’ve not been seeking out rums from Panama lately. Personally, they aren’t the type of rum that excites me.

    On the whole I haven’t really been bothering all that much with “ron” from Spanish-speaking countries. This is partly due to the fact they just don’t interest me but mostly because you never quite know what nonsense they have added to their “ron”.

    I believe, this is a position many Rum Enthusiasts will also have experienced. Having said that, I still seem to find space on the blog to write about “ron” and when travelling abroad, I find the Spanish style rums are often the most accessible. So I end up buying a few “cheap” bottles. Mostly they end up getting mixed on a weekend.

    S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006 is not a rum I am planning on mixing. This should be a very competent sipping experience.

    Bottled by Danish Importer/bottler 1423 this Panamanian rum was distilled at an unnamed distillery on a column still. Bottled at 55% ABV Cask Strength this shows no signs of additives, when using the Hydrometer. It is un-chill filtered. Only 311 bottles of this rum are available – it was distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2018. It is noted as being 12 years old. Whilst the distillery is not named I will guess that it hails from the Don Jose Distillery – who produce the Abuelo range of rums.

    The rum comes in the trademark S.B.S stubby bottle with a cut out card sleeve to store the rum in. The presentation is simple, yet striking and you get a decent amount of information about the rum on the bottle. No fairy tales, which is always good to see. The rum can be found quite commonly in Danish online stores but Skylark Spirits are acting as the importer in the UK. Currently some of their bottlings are available on Amazon and at Gerry’s in Soho. This rum retails at around the £90 mark.

    I think that pretty much exhausts my knowledge of this bottling and the people behind it, so lets see if this bottling can make me enthusiastic about Panamanian rum again.

    In the S.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006 Rum Review by the fat rum pirateglass S.B.S Panama 2006 is a dark brown colour with a slightly orange tinge.

    The nose is light, as I expected with a lot of toffee and vanilla. There is a decent amount of “potency” on the nose, with some nice spicy, almost aggressive booze soaked woody notes. Peanut crunch and milk chocolate line up alongside some milky coffee and some light aromas of citrus peel.

    Sipping the Panama 2006 is quite a spicy affair but one which is pleasantly surprising. The rum has a milky sweetness to it – like milky breakfast tea. This goes alongside a very spicy and ginger heavy mix of white pepper and red pepper as you move past the initial sip. There is a good hit of tobacco and tar on the mid palate which is balanced nicely, by the sweeter notes.

    Beneath this, I get a slight hit of menthol and some peppermint creams. This gives the rum an almost cleansing mouthfeel.

    Finish wise it is long, peppery and a little sharp. I quite like the sharpness to be honest. This is your typical Panama style rum, dialled up a notch or three. It has enough about it to appeal beyond those, who might usually go after the lighter Panama stylS.B.S The 1423 Single Barrel Selection Panama 2006 Rum Review by the fat rum piratee of rum.

    The more you sip this, the more you discover – cherries, cloves and coffee all put in an appearance, in what is quite a complex sipper. I didn’t need to dilute this rum in any way, as it was very drinkable at the 55% ABV.

    This is much better than I was expecting and I might not pass over some more Cask Strength Panamanian rum in the future. Like a couple of cask strength Nicaraguan rums I tried at Rum Fest, maybe their is a future for the “rons” amongst more serious Cask Strength junkies.

    This had a similar profile to the Mezan Panama releases albeit slightly less perfumed. The extra ABV certainly released a lot more of the flavours. I suspect head to head, I might find the lower proof Mezan a little thin nowadays.

    A pleasant surprise.

  • Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional Rum Review by the fat rum pirateCachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional. As I enter the website for Prosa Mineira I am informed that it is “The most awarded from Minas Gerais”. Now Minas Gerais is widely regarded as the “birthplace” of cachaca. For many it is the best region of Brasil to find cachaca.

    So its quite a statement to make. Or is it? Is a brand really recognised by the number of awards it wins. I know of one reasonably well known rum brand that proclaims itself as the “Most Awarded Rum Brand in 2018/19”.

    The thing is that these awards are largely pay to play competitions, where entries are invited. I can’t think of one competition that hand picks entries in a sense that they don’t have to pay or at least put themselves forward for the award.

    So yes you can win the most awards but as so many competitions give out awards to virtually all participants, is it really an indication of quality to a consumer?

    Of course its not and people should do well to research more. I certainly would not recommend to anyone buying anything based on shiny gold medals and awards displayed on bottles.

    Anyway, I digress!

    Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional is part of a line up of cachaca’s that began in 2010. The branding used is quite “old fashioned” and I had assumed the cachaca Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional Rum Review by the fat rum piratehas been around for some time. Luckily for me as the brand is quite “new” they have a nice shiny website. Which has been useful for researching this review.

    Production of Cachaca Prosa Mineira takes place in the city of Santa Rita de Caldas, which is in Southern Minas Gerais some 456km from the state capital Belo Horizonte. Which if I recall correctly hosted some matches at the 2014 World Cup. I’m sure England played a game there.

    The sugar cane used to produced Cachaca Prosa Mineira is cultivated one site and is harvested and then grinded/cut within 24 hours. The sugar cane juice is then fermented using only natural yeasts for 24 hours.

    The resulting “high wine” is then distilled in a Copper Pot Still. Everything is done by hand no chemicals are used during any part of the process.

    Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional is then rested for one year in stainless steel barrels. It is not aged in woCachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional Rum Review by the fat rum pirateod at all. It is available in 50ml, 160ml, 250ml, 500ml and 700ml bottle sizes.

    When researching the brand online I have struggled to find the cachaca at 39% ABV. it is definitely the Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional that I am reviewing. I have an “official” miniature from the distillery, rather than a sample from a larger bottle. It is noted on the website that this cachaca is 42% ABV. However, my miniature is 39% ABV. Running the Hydrometer Test shows my sample is indeed 39% ABV.

    Puzzling but we’ll press on and do the review!

    Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional presents itself as entirely clear spirit. Which is to be expected as it has not been aged in wood. Steel does not impart colour. Unless something rusts I guess…….

    The nose is quite vegetal with a lot of sugar cane aromas. There is a slightly sour fruity note as well- gooseberries and some tart raspberry. There is spiciness as well an aromatic, perfumed spice which is undercut slightly by a buttery note of shortbread and a touch of banana bread.

    It’s quite a light nose in terms of alcohol but its not in terms of aromas and complexity. It’s a really nice cachaca for nosing.

    Taking as sipper it is initially quite “mineral” like, its very easy going and remarkably smooth for an unaged spirit. It’s easy drinking unaged cachaca. It’s not hugely complex but what is there is pleasant.

    It is less vegetal than the nose suggests and is definitely on the lighter side (even for cachaca). There’s a nice zesty note to it – of lemon/lime which adds a bit of “oomph” to things and keeps it interesting.

    The finish and the mid palate aren’t particularly long but the Cachaca Prosa Mineira Cachaca Prosa Mineira Tradicional Rum Review by the fat rum pirateTradicional doe fade out nicely with a spicy kick and some more mineral like qualities.

    As a mixer it works as a good unaged cachaca should. It works nicely with the likes of a Caiprinha or a Ti Punch. It goes nicely with more simple cocktails and less “lighter” cocktails.

    I think I might have enjoyed the 42% ABV version of this cachaca a little more but this is still a more than satisfactory unaged cachaca. The balance and harmony of the flavours shows that the “resting” in stainless steels vats works.

    All in all a good cachaca but perhaps nothing too exciting.