Hampden Diamond H 2010 7 Year Old

Bythefatrumpirate July 3, 2018

Hampden Diamond H 2010 7 Year Old Velier 70th Anniversary. Quite a mouthful. I have chose to write out the “Diamond” part of the marque rather than as its shown on the bottle as WordPress doesn’t like you using those arrows and it strikes through the rest of the text.

Enough of my publishing difficulties though. Hampden Diamond H 2010 is as mentioned a 7 Year Old rum. It was released to commemorate the 70th Anniversay of Italian Importer and bottler Velier.

This is part of the Warren Khong series. Mr Khong designed the bottles – he did not take part in the production of this rum. Which of course took place at Hampden Distillery in Jamaica. This is a 100% Pot Still rum and it is a blend of 5 casks of the Diamond H marque. Yielding 1659 bottles in total. All of which were bottled at a Cask Strength 62% ABV. The ester count for this one comes in at around the 900-1000 g/hlaa – which is pretty high even by Hampden standards. It has been aged for 7 years in Jamaica in ex-bourbon casks. Upon release it was not imported to the UK so finding a bottle in mainland Europe and paying the courier costs to have it mailed would have set you back around £200. Pretty pricy but these things are in high demand. So you pay a premium.

As with Velier bottlings you get all the information you could need on the bottle so that just leaves me to give my thoughts on this particular rum.

In the glass the rum is a golden brown colour with a tinge of orange.

The nose is instantly recognisable as a Jamaican rum – the differences between what I would have previously thought to be a Long Pond distillery rum and a Hampden one are becoming increasingly blurred. Especially as the esther count increases.

Very sweet concentrated pineapple juice. Maybe slightly fermented but still showing its intense, concentrated sweetness. Black toasted bananas by the bucket full. Vanilla – yes concentrated sweet vanilla pods. Almost extract like its so intense. Mangoes, stewed bitter cooking apples and pears. Brown sugar, a touch of marzipan/almond.

All housed in a wonderful wrapping of fresh wet nail varnish and a touch of creosote. You could probably put a drop of this into a rum and vodka and have all the Jamaican funk you could ever ask for in such a drink.

I could nose this all day long.

Sipped it is slightly bitter at first but quickly rounds out into some intense sweet pineapple juice, stewed almost rotting apples, lemons and some really zesty lime.

It’s surprisingly spicy. With some allspice and cinnamon notes alongside intense ginger and a hint of chilli pepper. A decent amount of oak spice giving a very moreish mouthfeel. It’s sweet and dry at the same time. There is a lot of complexity going on and a lot to pick out.

In terms of balance it does tend to come in slightly too bitter for my palate. It is maybe a touch too dry . I prefer it with a couple of spoons of water to temper some of the spice and this also seems to make it less drying.

Even still its still very spicy and fiery with notes of chilli pepper and jalapeno. A lot of the sweetness on the nose. Unfortunately doesn’t follow through to the sip. The nose is better than the sipping experience.

The finish is good – nice weight of spices, combined with some of the sweeter elements and a good hit of varnish. Unfortunately it dries up pretty quickly leaving quite a lot of woodiness and funk behind. Compared to the intense taste explosion earlier it feels a little disappointing.

I like it a lot I’m being pretty critical of it – I’m aware – but it has so much competition from other Hampden’s. So it won’t be getting a top score from me.

If money isn’t an object then try and get a bottle. If not the Habitation Velier HLCF and LROK (and the combined offering) are available for less money. There are also some really good Hampden’s out there from the likes of Kill Devil. Also some banging Long Pond Jamaicans from Duncan Taylor.

This is probably best served up in a blend (with other marques). Rather than an individual marque. I’m being pretty finickity – its really good stuff. If you like your rums on the more brutal side you may find this more to your tastes than a fruitier Jamaican.

Don Q Anejo

Don Q Anejo
Bythefatrumpirate April 9, 2016

Don Q Anejo is one of the two more “premium” rums available in the UK from Puerto Rican producers Serralles. The Don Q brand has recently been re-vamped and they are actively trying to get a foothold in the UK market, which is currently dominated by another Puerto Rican concern – Bacardi and brands from Diageo such as Captain Morgan.

I won’t go too much into detail about the Don Q Brand as their own website will give you all the information you should need and I also gave some details in a previous review of the Don Q Gold.

When reviewing rums I always like to try brands full portfolios. It can be very interesting trying full portfolios and it has taught me not to judge brands solely on one expression. My best example of doing this so far is ignoring offerings from Mount Gay after not enjoying their Gold Eclipse rum. The difference between the Eclipse and the XO is night and day. In instances such as Appleton Estate you get a nice and clear increase in quality with each rum in their line up right up the line but this is not always the case.

If Don Q are to succeed in making inroads in the UK market then for me they need firstly to establish themselves as a popular and recognisable brand in pubs and clubs. Their entry level bottles – the Gold and Cristal are both very bartender friendly, as is this bottle.

Retailing at around £27-30 for a 70cl bottle Don Q Anejo is a blend of rums aged between 3 and 8 years. It is bottled at 40% ABV and as already mentioned, it comes in the same style bottle as the Gold and Cristal. The colour scheme is different being black and gold.

The Don Q Anejo is an obvious step up agewise from the Gold, which was a blend of rums aged between 2 to 5 years.

As well as the difference in colour scheme there is a different colour to the rum in the bottle and glass as well. It is noticeably darker and as the name would suggest it does look more aged. It is noted on the bottle that some E150 (Caramel Colouring) has been added. This is common practice amongst nearly all “commercial” bottlers and quite a lot of Independents as well (often they have no control as caramel can be added pre-distillation). Judging a rum on its colour is a dangerous practice.

The nose is more oaked than the gold. There is much less of the sweeter young alcohol notes and more woody and leathery notes. It has a nice almost Bajan like lightness and balance. Vanilla, hints of cocoa and dark chocolate. It smells re-assuring as rum should. Once again it comes up clean on the hydrometer test and there really is nothing at all in the mix which raises any suspicions of any additives or funny business. The Serralles family seem happy to make rum in the traditional manner.

Sipping the rum is another lesson in balance. Initially you get a sweet fruity entry which gives way to some very nice oak aged notes. Bourbon casks no doubt are where this rum has been aged. The mid palate of oak and spice is nice with some notes of vanilla and a slight bitter note. The finish is long and spicy but it doesn’t burn at all. It’s highly sippable and reminds me very much of Captain Bligh XO.

Perhaps the best compliment I can pay to the Don Q Anejo (and to be honest the other rums in their range) is what they remind me most of. Bajan rum and in particular the beautifully balanced, clean pure rums that come from Richard Seale’s Foursquare distillery. I’m thinking Rum Sixty Six and Doorly’s 5 in particular.

At £30 Don Q Anejo comes at my upper limit for what I would consider mixing – anything I pay over £35 I shouldn’t really have to mix. At £30 I don’t mind using the Don Q Anejo in an occasional Cuba Libre or a Rum and Ginger Beer. The balanced, slightly easy going nature of this rum means that it works very well in a Cuba Libre. It is a noticeable step up from the Gold.

It has added complexity when compard to the gold and it sits very nicely as a very versatile sipper and premium mixer. It is a rum which is clearly made with a flavour profile in mind rather than worrying itself too much about a definitive age statement. As with other blended rums which are released year on year the exact age/ratio of the blend can change over time to keep the taste as similar as possible.

Impressive stuff and to be honest until Don Q made a few noises on Social Media (I like it when brand owners get involved and make clear statements on their rums authenticity) it was a brand I would have overlooked. Which would have been a big mistake

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Pusser's Rum Spiced

Pusser’s Rum Spiced
Bythefatrumpirate October 17, 2014July 13, 2015

Pusser’s Spiced is probably the quickest rum purchase I have ever made. I heard about Pusser’s updating their line of rum earlier this year and in the press release it was noted that a “Spiced” variant was in the offing. I had waited patiently for the Spiced to go on sale and as soon as I saw it available, on Drinks Direct it was in the basket, ordered and paid with Paypal within 2 minutes! (along with the new 40% Blue Label).

I’m not a huge fan of Spiced Rum, but I am a huge fan of the Original 54.5% Blue Label Pusser’s. There is simply not a Navy Rum out there that can touch it. Pusser’s Blue Label is such a unique rum that I just had to find out what they could possibly do with the Spiced variant. The Blue Label was after all plenty spicy!

Pusser’s Spiced is presented in the classic Pussers bottle, the Blue and Red Label on the neck of the bottle had been reversed and the main label is as you can see Red and Gold. The Flag has also been simplified. The Spiced makes no reference to the Admiralty (this is not an old Navy recipe). The bottle is classic if slightly retro/kitsch and the closure is a nice plastic cork. Pusser’s Spiced is presented in a 70cl bottle and it retails at around the £20 mark. The rear label states “Pusser’s Spiced is the perfect blend of rum and all natural, locally sourced spices. Enjoy its distinctly smooth flavour neat or in a deliciously refreshing cocktail. What a bloody good idea!

In the glass the rum is a lovely amber colour. It is slightly lighter than the Blue Label. The nose is interesting. Ginger and cinnamon with zesty oranges and a little hint of black pepper and caramel. It reminds me a little of the regular Pussers and Pyrat XO. Despite being only 35% it still smells very spirity/boozy.

Pusser’s Spiced is almost 20% less ABV than the Original Blue Label (soon to be Gunpowder Proof) so it is of little surprise that the Spiced is much smoother. I don’t know what the make up of the rum in the blend is (please feel free to comment if you know) but I don’t feel I am getting much of the Jamaican or Demeraran notes you get in the standard Pussers. I have read that this, like the 15 Year Old previously, isn’t simply a variant of the original Pussers it is a different rum base.

The Spiced is extremely easy to drink. I am relived to say that there is no trace of any vanilla in the mix. The Spiced, when taken neat is spicy and zesty. It tastes predominantly of Steeped Ginger and Orange/Marmalade. There is cinnamon and a little white pepper and heat to the finish. It is very more-ish the citrusy notes leave you with a thirst. The finish is long and satisfying (if you don’t immediately top up your glass).

So, I have tried the rum as suggested by Pusser’s – neat, now time for their other suggestion in a refreshing cocktail. I think I really should begin with a Painkiller! For those who aren’t familiar a Painkiller is as follows

50ml/2oz Pusser’s Rum (It must be Pusser’s as it’s trademarked!)

4 parts Pineapple juice

1 part Orange Juice

1 part Coconut Cream (I used Coconut milk)

Garnish/top with fresh Nutmeg

As you can see from the lumps of Coconut Milk I probably should have blended the mix a little more. Still I’ve never claimed to be an expert cocktail maker! It tastes good that’s the main thing!

To be honest due to the Orangeyness of the Spiced and the Ginger/Cinnamon notes, I felt that the Spiced got a little lost in this cocktail. It was a bit like mixing Pyrat XO with orangeade. The Painkiller with the Blue Label Pussers is a winner all the way as the rum really shines through. With the Spiced, the rum just blended in with the juices and nutmeg. Still enjoyable but it could have as easily been vodka in the mix.

Still I will endeavour with the cocktail making. Next up was a simple drink over ice with some cloudy Apple Juice. Pusser’s Spiced was certainly noticeable in this drink. The Spiced gave the Apple Juice a huge spicy kick and this drink really did work. Very pleasant.

So up to now I think I have established that Pussers Spiced is a very pleasant, easy drinking sipper, however it is a rum so distinct in flavour (Ginger and Orange) that it cannot be used in just any cocktail. Particularly those which already have spicy or citrusy tones. This of course leaves my good friend Mr Cola.

No matter what rum I review it is always tested up against a dose of cola. Sometimes these are liberal amounts, other times less so. I have found that some rums can with stand a lot of cola others less so. Some really shouldn’t have cola anywhere near them! Now Spiced Rum’s are famous for being mixed with cola so surely the Pussers Spiced works well?

Of course. It’s great with cola. The Ginger and spiciness comes through as does the zest and orange peel. Despite its ginger and orange notes it is still like a rum. In some ways it is still like a Pussers. The spiced still tastes pure and clear.

If you know someone who loves Morgan’s Spiced, Bacardi Oakheart or Sailor Jerry – don’t buy them this. The complete lack of vanilla and the complex flavours held within the rum are unlikely to be appreciated. I find it strange to be being “snobbish” about a Spiced Rum but this is much more in keeping with Foursquare or Chairmans’ Reserve’s spiced offerings.

I can’t really compare this to another rum other than Pussers Blue Label. Both rums are completely unique. If I had tasted this blind I think I would have immediately thought it was a Pusser’s even though it doesn’t really have much in common with the Blue Label. I think its the pureness of the spirit. I personally do not like whiskey but the naturalness of this Spiced rum reminds me of whiskey. There is a lot of sweetness, spiciness and rummy-ness to Pussers but unlike many rums it all tastes so natural not confected.

Pusser’s Spiced overs a unique sipping and mixing experience. Forget the misconceptions about Spiced Rum. This is how it can be when it is done with care. by experts!

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Dead Reckoning "The Bosun's Persuader" Barbados

Dead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados
Bythefatrumpirate February 6, 2026February 6, 2026

Dead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados. Over the past few years Dead Reckoning have developed a bit of a reputation for bottling rums from Foursquare Distillery.

I would also argue that they have perhaps gained a reputation for bottling the BEST Independently bottled Foursquare Distillery rum. Don’t believe me? Well let me explain……..

Whilst the debate over Tropical and Continental ageing continues Dead Reckoning have quietly gone about getting the longest aged “bulk” Foursquare rum that is available on the market. So 8 Year Old Tropically Aged rum. Foursquare do not currently sell anything older in bulk.

It is then shipped to Tropical Adelaide rather than Sub Zero Liverpool or the slightly warmer and certainly more picturesque city of Amsterdam.

“Tropical Dry Ageing” as Justin Boseley the owner of Dead Reckoning terms it then occurs as the rum is matured again in another Tropical Climate. As we have seen from Foursquare’s own Exceptional Cask Series longer tropically aged Foursquare rum is a wonderful thing. Is Justin currently bottling the nearest thing to it on the planet?

I would say definitely.

So what have Dead Reckoning got for us to today? Well I would say this is a variant of the all ex-bourbon barrels ECS rums which began with the 2004 and have continued up to 2012 (I think)

Dead Reckoning “The Bosun’s Persuader” Barbados is a 14 year old ex-bourbon barrel rum. It has been aged for 8 years in Barbados and a further 6 years in Australia. All in -ex-bourbon. As with nearly all Foursquare rum it is a Single Blended Rum. Pot and Coffey Column still rum.

This is a single Cask Release I am drinking number 94 of just 200 bottles. The rum is bottled at a hefty 61% ABV.

No before anyone outside of Australia gets too excited – this rum has now completely sold out. It was pencilled in for a limited UK release but unfortunately due to demand in Australia this will no longer be happening………….

I don’t often review rum which is “unobtainable” but I had already started my review and notes when Justin informed me it had sold out.

For the curious amongst you a “Bosun” is a leader or supervisor of the Deck Team on a ship. The term is actually the phonetic spelling of Boatswain and is one of the oldest “ranks” still in use on board a ship.

So with that explained lets see if this Bosun can be persuaded…………

In the glass we have typical aged rum coloured spirit. A reddish/orange hue forms around the side. I do note that this appears quite a viscous rum. Thick and slightly oily.

On the nose you get some lovely wafts of vanilla ice cream, Creme Brulee and some slightly sharper winter berries.

Further nosing reveals traces of gingerbread, shortbread bisuit and some lighter summer fruits to go alongside the darker hints of raspberry.

At 61% it is an intense but not overpowering nose. The alcohol you might expect at this ABV isn’t as prominent as you might expect.

It’s a wonderful nose and really does remind me of those ECS releases mentioned earlier.

Sipped it is very drinkable. Almost dangerously so. It starts with some intense dark fruity notes paired with soft vanilla. You then get a nice warming hit of ginger and white pepper. There is a very nice hit of soft oak and some icing sugar.

As we move onto the second glass you’ll notice further development. On the mid palate especially you will get richer oak and smoky notes alongside some lighter summer fruits. A touch of strawberry alongside the stoned fruits such as Plum and Blueberry.

There is a lot going on with this rum and its surprising to my palate that this hasn;t been finished in something more exotic than an ex-bourbon barrel. Yes it is fairly “woody” and has a good hit of vanilla that sweet sour Bourbon tang but it also has a lot more going on.

FInish wise it is long and very satisfying with a lovely balance of warming oak and spice alongside light vanilla and some fruity notes. It is quite a dry finish which sets you up nicely for the next pour……

This is another excellent bottling from Dead Reckoning. No surprise it has sold out so quickly. With the sales being in Australia its unlikely many will show up on the Secondary Market in the US or Europe but you never know. Keep your eyes peeled you certainly won’t be disappointed.

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Cana Brava Reserva Aneja Aged 7 Years

Cana Brava Reserva Aneja Aged 7 Years
Bythefatrumpirate September 9, 2018

Cana Brava Reserva Aneja Aged 7 Years. This is a product from the The 86 Co. – Noise and Spirits is their tagline and they have certainly done well in recent years with their range of products. If you wish to read more about the company here is there website.

As you might expect from the slick appearance of The 86 Co.’s website they have also set up a pretty sleek looking site for the Cana Brava range – they also have a 3-year-old white rum.

Which is good because getting information on Panamanian rum can at times be quite difficult. I’d been aware of the Cana Brava brand for a while – though had seen few reviews of it. They first came to my full attention at Mancester Rum Festival in 2017. As part of their stand they had a huge photograph (framed and on a stand) of the famous Don Pancho. He forms a big part of the Cana Brava story. You can read it all on the website

Here is my shortened version. In the nineties Don Pancho or to give him his full title Francisco “Don Pancho” J Fernandez was exploring the defunct Las Cabras distillery when he discovered a discarded Copper Column Still from 1922. Using this he re-invigorated the distillery and started producing rum……….ok. So it was with Don Pancho that The 86 Co. teamed up with to help produce this rum.

Cana Brava Reserva Aneja Aged 7 Years is produced as mentioned in copper column stills from sugar cane molasses. It is then aged for 7 years in ex-bourbon casks before being bottled at 45% ABV. The hydrometer didn’t quite read 45% (around 42-43) so there maybe is a process not mentioned which results in an additive or two. But to be fair not an excessive amount. In the UK you will pay around £45 for a 70cl bottle. Or if you are lucky you might spot an American 75cl import on sale for just over £25. Yes, I bought this because it was on sale.

Having said that I like the presentation of this rum. I think the bottle is pretty classy and they have made an effort to give some information about the actual rum. Which is refreshing. The screw cap is good quality and the bottle shape is unusual but easy to handle. I find pours from this bottle are pretty large……

In the glass Cana Brava is slightly dull golden brown colour. It lacks any “orange” or “red” flashes as is very common. As has been said before – never judge a rum by it’s colour. Some rums look better in the glass but many are enhanced by a touch of E150. This for a 7 Year Old rum looks fairly “genuine”.

I haven’t drank a great deal of Panamanian rum of late. Being honest I began to find it quite similar and whilst always decent, it rarely really excited me. Cana Brava 7 Year Old was a rum I tried at Manchester Rum Fest in 2017 – and totally forgot about.

The nose is light in the typical Latin Style. The 45% ABV is noticeable however. The extra ABV in comparison to other Panamanian rums at 40%, is much fresher, for me its better defined. It has more clarity and the extra hit of alcohol I find welcoming.

Cana Brava 7 has a good weight of spice and the aforementioned alcohol on the nose. Which is good as it counter acts the vanilla and toffee. Which would have perhaps overwhelmed the rum had it been bottled at a lower proof.

From what I gather Cana Brava has been aged for 7 years in ex-Bourbon casks and the interaction with the oak has also given this rum a good deal of spice and bourbon like zest. It is vibrant and reminds me in many ways of Foursquare 2004. Admittedly with a sweeter edge.

Cana Brava has been dosed but not to the extent of some of Don Pancho’s creations. Around 8g/L of additives according to the Hydrometer.

Sipping Cana Brava, is a pretty spicy affair. You get an initial burst of tobacco leaf, bitter coffee note, a fair hit of white pepper and a hint of chilli powder. In the mid palate you get a lot of smoked notes. Maybe just a bit too much tobacco is present.

The finish is perhaps the most disappointing part of Cana Brava 7. Whilst it is long it isn’t very clean and its nowhere near as vibrant, as the nose or the initial flavour burst on the sip. It’s bitter and it all feels a bit old. Too smoky and to Tobacco heavy. It has a zestiness- a touch of lemon but it just doesn’t hang around on the finish. Nor do a lot of the notes of the entry and mid palate.

I did mix Cana Brava 7 Year and it did make a decent Cuba Libre – it should at the price.

Overall its pretty decent if it was £30 I would say its well worth lookin out for. Not for £45 though. A touch overpriced.

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Penny Blue VSOP

Penny Blue VSOP
Bythefatrumpirate March 10, 2017

Penny Blue VSOP is a rum from the island of Mauritius. The Penny Blue brand so far, have been a range or rather batches of “XO” rums. Each slightly different to the next.

They have also released a more expensive Single Cask Penny Blue and have now produced this VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale – a term used mainly in Cognac marketing) rum. Initially the VSOP was only available in Mauritius, it is now available in the UK for £24.

This is a collaboration between English Wine & Spirit’s Merchant Berry Bros and Rudd and the Medine Distillery in Mauritius.

Penny Blue VSOP is guaranteed to have no additives, is naturally coloured and is non-chill filtered. Penny Blue VSOP is aged for a minimum of 4 years. The rums in the blend come from a variety of scotch whisky (10%), bourbon (15%) and cognac casks (75%). The sugar cane is harvested, fermented and distilled, all at the Medine Distillery.

Due to the price point of this rum. It would appear that it may be intended more as a high end mixer rather than a sipper.
In the glass Penny Blue VSOP is a vibrant gold colour. As the company makes it claim – it doesn’t appear to have any additives, not even caramel colouring.

The nose is very interesting it smells a little like tree sap and it has a savoury note which reminds me of mushrooms. I don’t normally get quite so bizarre with my notes but I’m immediately thinking of muddy fields, trees and pine cones in a forest!

Thankfully there are more familiar aged rum notes – vanilla, some lightly spiced and slightly piney oak. It’s quite pungent – suggesting Pot Still rum but apparently this is a column distilled only product. Like the rums coming from the South Pacific Distillery in Fiji or St Lucia Distillers I find the Penny Blue rums have their own very distinctive and unique aroma.

As a sipper it is a little on the young side or so you may think. It is quite strong on the alcohol notes. Hot and spicy with a pretty sharp and quite bitter oak finish. A dry, but very honest rum definitely not “sweet and smooth”. It seems to get quite a lot of its flavour from the Cognac casks. It reminds me of other rums that have a cognac finish or maturation. This is where the sweetness comes from. A bitter/sweet almost red wine like flavour. Which adds an extra layer of complexity to the sipping experience

There is quite a lot going on with this rum. All the casks used in the blending process show their teeth – so you get an almost malty savoury hit from the whisky casks and a sweet/sour element from the bourbon which leads into the bitter/sweet red wine notes from the cognac casks. Or at least this is how I’m seeing it anyway!

For £24 it is a bit of a bargain as sipper. It has good amount of complexity and once you get used to the slightly “sap” like notes it becomes a nice tot. It’s well balanced though your palate will take a few drinks to adapt. Mauritian rum as mentioned previously is quite distinctive. It’s different.

I did try mixing this but it didn’t work too well especially with sweet mixers such as cola and lemonade. Soda Water was a better fit. The more “vegetal” notes of this rum just didn’t sit right in a Cuba Libre unfortunately.

Whilst Penny Blue rums have their own distinctive flavour I find these rums more in keeping with a Bajan style of rum making. Balance seems to be the key here. The production method – column suggests a lighter rum. This is a lighter style of rum but it does have a few rougher edges which give it a bit extra character.

At £24 it’s very good value. An everyday sipper if you like. I would urge anyone embarking on a “Rum Journey” and trying to save a few coppers to give this a try if they want something different.

At this price definitely worth a punt.

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Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos
Bythefatrumpirate July 12, 2021

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos. I use the exact naming convention adopted on the bottles I review, so apologies for the extra brevity of this reviews title. I guess much like me, these Cuban rum producers have a tendency to waffle…..

For those of you who are unaware and I guess this is where my review is designed to assist, Ron Santiago de Cuba (formerly just Santiago de Cuba) has begun working with global booze conglomerate Diageo. This has led to a re-brand and increased availability here in the UK and Europe.

Ron Santiago de Cuba was first brought to my attention by JBE Imports. It’s a bit of a shame to see that they are no longer involved. They did a great job getting Cuban rum beyond the Havana Club brand, more of an audience here in the UK. I’m pleased to see they are still importing Ron Cubay and many others spirits to the UK. I’ll be honest seeing Diageo taking over a spirits brand, rarely fills me with joy. Then again they don’t pay me to suggest otherwise…………..

Whilst Ron Santiago de Cuba was still being imported by JBE, I was able to review their Carta Blanca, Anejo and 12 Year Old. I did try this bottling at a Rum Festival or two but I never got to sit down at home with a bottle or even a tot. I heard a lot of good things about the 11 though on Social Media.

A lot of people rate it over the 12. I’ve always found it very curious that a brand would have a entry level white, an “Anejo” and then an 11 and 12 year rum. You wouldn’t expect to find all that much difference between rums only one year apart. Certainly it’s not common practice amongst brands to have continual releases, so close together alongside much younger rums.

Availability of Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos will increase. As I write I can only see it stocked at The Whisky Exchange for £55.95. I don’t think they are opening a ballot on this one so you should be able to secure a bottle. Even if you’ve never bought a rum before in your life.

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos is bottled at 40% ABV (quite commonly Cuban rum is bottled at 38% ABV). It is said to be the second best selling Cuban rum brand in the world. The first despite not being widely available in the US – one of the biggest rum markets is Havana Club (as in Cuban Havana Club NOT the Havana Club branded rum released in the US market by Bacardi).

The rum is produced from sugar cane grown in the Oriente province of Cuba in the Sout East of the island. Ron Santiago de Cuba is a molasses based rum. Following fermentation and distillation the resulting spirit is charcoal filtered before being transferred to white oak barrels for ageing. The new Santiago de Cuba website notes the rum is aged in “Don Pancho” warehouse which is said to be the “Cathedral of Cuban Rum”. Hmmmmm……..

In terms of presentation Ron Santiago de Cuba are now using 3/4 size stubby bottles with medium size necks. Thankfully the diffusors have now gone. In terms of presentation it looks more modern but not typically Cuban. Still I can imagine the re-design prompting the younger market to make a purchase should they see this in a bar. It fits in very nicely with the type of branding used in the Revolution de Cuba chain of bars here in the UK. Particularly their menu’s.

As tends to be the case with Diageo led brands. You get a pretty website, with some nice stories and some tasting notes and the very basics on the rum. However, there is little of any real substance. Pretty much what I have read about this rum I could have just guessed at anyway. I’ve learnt little new. Should you be interested in the changes to Ron Santiago de Cuba since they began working with Diageo the old website, is also still available.

I have seen in the past Cuba and parts of Cuba being referred to as “The cradle of light rum”. This theme is now being used by Ron Santiago de Cuba.

As far as marketing is concerned I’m always a bit suspicious but in this instance I think it is an important distinction to make from a consumer point of view.

Cuban Rum is lighter in style than a lot of other rums. It is also rarely bottled above 40% ABV by domestic producers. A lot of people shy away from such rums. I don’t buy a great deal of them but I usually try to have some lighter rum kicking about. As far as possible I try to make sure these are “additive” free but there are never any guarantees, sadly.

In the glass Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos is a dark brown almost mahogany coloured liquid with an orange hue.

On the nose I am getting quite lot of orange zest and some tangerine. Further nosing reveals some light spices, some subtle woody notes and some tobacco and leather arm chairs.

The nose is actually quite robust for 40% ABV. Whilst its not going to knock anyones socks off there is plenty there to be enjoyed. It is complex with notes of green apple, almonds, pistachio and some fennel.

It’s warm and inviting and nicely balanced.

As a sipper Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Extra Anejo 11 Anos is initially quite sweet with toffee and caramel. I’m also getting some zesty notes of orange again. It’s warm and fruity. Further sips build on the sweeter profile with more of oak and spice coming into play particularly on the mid palate.

Tobacco, oak spices and leather become more prominent and bring a drier and smokier profile to the rum. Making it a much more complex and enjoyable sipper than the initial entry might suggest.

Coffee and toasted almonds come in alongside some dark chocolate and a touch of raisin as the rum progresses towards the finish line.

Finish wise it is quite long and has a nice complexity. At the same time maintaining a good balance. It fades out gently with a lingering sweetness which is balanced by some of the drier tobacco and oak notes.

If you are looking to explore the “lighter” side of rum. I would recommend this as a sipper. It’s quite easy going but at the same time has enough going on to remain interesting. The balance of this rum is really good.

It is suggested on the rear label that can be enjoyed “on the rocks, in a luxurious cocktail, or even straight”. I don’t tend to add ice to my rum (personal preference only).

I was a little surprised to see that the neat option for this rum wasn’t seen as the starting point though!

Sure this works great in things like an Old Fashioned but I think its best enjoyed on its own. Cigar optional I only smoke when I’m on fire……..

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