Tellura Amburana
Tellura Amburana Cachaca. Tellura are a Cachaca brand from Campos de Goytacazes City, in Fazenda Abbadia, which is in Rio de Janeiro state.
They were producing sugar and Cachaca since at least the 1920’s at Abbadia Farm. However, they only recently re-introduced their Cachaca production. Which might be why their bottles are a little more contempory in the their design. More “Western-ised” perhaps.
Tellura as a brand have three Cachaca’s. A Prata (or silver/white), a Cachaca aged for one year in Jequitiba and this Cachaca Amburana which is aged for one year in Jequitiba wood and a further year of ageing in Amburana.
Their website also shows they have a Facebook and Instagram account. So they are definitely wired up for the current trends in Social Media etc.
Tellura Cachaca is produced in Copper Pot Stills and is distilled to 48% ABV. Only the heart of the distillate is used in the production of the final Cachaca.
Their Prata was a solid if unspectacular Cachaca but as this has been aged l am expecting something a little more interesting with this effort. As with most of the Cachacas I have been reviewing this isn’t available in the UK as yet but the look of it does suggest they are trying to being it to the Western market as it is very sleek and modern (not unlike Leblon) in terms of presentation.
In the glass Tellura Amburana presents itself as a very light golden brown – almost straw in colour or white wine.
Nosed you get what, is becoming more familiar to me – notes of Amburana wood. This is a delicate floral wood which gives this Cachaca a very light, floral approach. This sits alongside a nice burst of sugar cane juice and alcohol notes. Notes of vanilla and light honey rest nicely alongside a lovely nutty aroma.
This is easy going and approachable yet deceptively complex.
As a sipper its very floral and slightly soapy – mild notes of carbolic soap rest alongside more floral notes of rosepetal and a touch of sandalwood. It has a reasonably complex flavour profile. Much of which is promised on the nose transfer over to the sip. I’m getting a lot of cashew nut and some spiciness from the wo
od which adds a little depth.
I’m enjoying sipping this and quite surprised at how approachable it is for its age. Mixed Tellura Ambruana is a good substitute for Agricole rhum in a Ti Punch and it works nicely in a Caiprinha. It does seem a bit of a shame to mix this Cachaca though.
This is a kind of everyday Cachaca that I would imagine is not hugely expensive so you can mix or sip it and it works well with both.
Back to the sip and further sipping reveals some citrus and some hints of ginger. The only downside with this Cachaca is that the finish fades quite quickly and the mid palate is quite short. You’ll find yourself sipping this little and often (or a lot and often depending on how you do it!). It’s not a Cachaca which you might sit back and savour between sips for too long. The flavours simply do not hang around. The finish leaves you with a little spiciness and some zest but its just a touch too mild for my palate.
This is a softer, more approachable young Cachaca but a very enjoyable one nonetheless.
The Equiano Rum Co Afro-Caribbean Rum. I first came across this rum at the Boutique Rumfest in London. For those not familiar with London Rumfest, on a Friday afternoon they open up what they call the Boutique Rumfest.
you may find it a little “soft”. What is there is very nice and very nicely balanced, with a good length. Sadly for some it might not be a big enough smack in the chops.
Ron Montero is a rum producer from Motril, Spain. Ron Montero Gran Reserva is the premium end of their regular line up of rums. They also released a “Super Premium” rum to celebrate 50 years of rum making the “Ron Francisco Montero”.
The rum is then matured in a four tier Solera system. Similar to the one detailed at Santa Teresa in Venezuela. Aware of the controversy regarding age statements in the rum world, Ron Montero do not employ age statements. They blend and bottle their rums when they feel they have the right flavour rather than the right age. This claim has also been made by Caribbean producers such as Mount Gay for their XO.
Delicana 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.
act distillery or location.
Rhum J.M are rhum agricole producer from Martinique. Located in north of the island at the foot of Mount Pelée. Rhum J.M Blanc is one of the houses less expensive bottlings. It is a firm favourite amongst agricole lovers that like a bit more bite to their white rum.
glass we have a translucent spirit which is likely to have benefited from some filtration to give it a clear appearance.
John Frum’s Cargo Cult Spiced Rum. This is a Spiced Rum which has been making a few waves in the UK. This is partly due to it being available in Marks and Spencer. It is also available at the travelling “The Rum Festival” events – where it is proving very popular with consumers.
Presentation wise we get a standard bar style tall bottle. The branding is good – with a typeface similar to those used on Cargo boxes etc. A synthetic cork stopper is also a nice touch along with the label used over the cork. It looks all very nice and I can see why M&S stock it.
Mixed with cola it works pretty well and it does a good job with Lemonade as well. I would imagine it could be interesting for a bartender to use and work with cocktails with it.
Rum Bougainville Gold. Bougainville may not be familiar to many of you. It is a brand of rums from the island of Mauritius. Bougainville hails from the Oxenham Distillery. I have featured rums from Mauritius in the past – Penny Blue and Pink Pigeon both of which hailed from the Medine Distillery.
ng nose – not much alcohol or boozy notes with this one. It’s quite sweet with some white wine notes to it as well. Quite an interesting rum – not one I would have been able to place.
tter.