The Duchess Guyana Rum Aged 28 Years

Bythefatrumpirate

The Duchess Guyana Aged 28 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateThe Duchess Guyana Rum Aged 28 Years. The Duchess are completing their “Flower Series” of rums, complete with bottle design by Dutch artist Hans Dillesse, with their oldest rum to date.

Here we have a 28 year old rum from Guyana. More specifically here we have a rum bottled in 1990 at the now defunct Enmore Distillery. The rum was distilled on the Versailles Wooden Pot Still which by 1990 had moved to Enmore, before ending up at the Diamond Distillery (DDL).

This is a 100% Pot Still rum drawn from a single cask #49. Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2019. I am unsure of the weighting of tropical and continental ageing. It has been aged solely in ex-bourbon casks and a 70cl bottle will set you back around €250. Try this link if you decide you would like a bottle. It has been bottled at cask strength of 54.9% ABV. On release there were 202 bottles available.

Design wise this is a pretty stunning bottle of rum and there is no sign of the slightly odd colour schemes, we have come across with previous bottlings. Some of the colours used made some of the writing difficult to read for some people.

In the glass we have rum approaching golden brown a shade or two darker than straw. The nose if familiar, quite like a few other Enmore and Versailles labelled rums I have tried over the years. It’s quite savoury with big woody notes and a lot of pencil shavings and a touch of tar and creosote.  Sweetness is provided by some notes of raisins and sultanas. A hint of peach and some notes of lemongrass.

There is a slight sharpness to the nose and a touch of menthol cough sweets. It’s very oaky with lots of wood and some white pepper.

Sipped we get a very spicy rum with lots of chilli and all spice. Again you get a lot of wood and pencil shavings which dominate proceedings. It’s a very savoury almost malty rum at times.

The sweetnesss on the nose has disappeared and this is a very dry spicy rum. Little sweetness aside from slight hint of aniseed on the mid palate. The finish is very savoury and quite bitter at times. A slight tartness is there like gooseberries.

Further sips reveal some more subtle fruity flavours especially on the entry. Slight notes of white grape and more bitter gooseberry and a nice hit of quite woody licorice rootThe Duchess Guyana Aged 28 Years rum review by the fat rum pirate

It’s a very dry rum with quite a long finish. It’s complex but it is perhaps a touch on the “too dry” and oaky side for my palate. I prefer my Versailles rum with a touch more raisin and fruitiness. That said this hasn’t went as far as the Bristol 1988 Enmore which was too dry and oaky. I originally thought that rum was from the Enmore EHP still but I think I was mistaken at was the Versailles.

The Duchess Guyana Rum Aged 28 Years, has kept a good balance and hasn’t become overly woody. It’s a nice solid sign off from The Duchess. Price wise its not ridiculous bearing in mind we have a 28 year old rum. I’d imagine most people looking to drop this type of money on a rum like this will be pretty clued up on how it may taste.

A nice sign off for The Duchess’ Flower Series.

 

 

 

 

 

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  • The Whisky Barrel 19 Year Old Caroni Berry Bros & Rudd 10th Anniversary

    Bythefatrumpirate

    The Whisky Barrel 19 Year Old Caroni Berry Bros & Rudd 10th Anniversary rum review by the fat rum pirateThe Whisky Barrel recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary. For those unfamiliar with The Whisky Barrel, it is an online retailer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

    This 19 Year Old Caroni Rum is actually the fourth bottling in their 10th Anniversary series of whiskies and rums.  For this bottling not only have TWB looked to an iconic closed distillery they have also worked with a very much alive and kicking independent bottler, in the shape of the legendary Berry, Bros & Rudd.

    Presented here is a 19 Year Old Single Cask #165 of Caroni rum bottled 55% ABV.  There are 310 bottles available in this rum and priced at £90 it is unlikely they will last very long!

    Much like The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt, TWB’s main source of income is in whisky.  However like the above mentioned they also have a more than decent stock of independently bottled rums.  TWB have a particularly good selection of Hunter Laing’s Kill Devil range of rums.  As well as their own bottlings.  I reviewed a bottle of Rabbie’s Rum Uitvlugt recently.

    Beyond the information on the bottle I don’t really have much to add.  As the rum comes from Berrys Bros & Rudd stock I will guess that this Caroni will have been mostly European aged rather than aged in the tropics.  This makes quite a difference to both the Angels Share and often the flavour.  I won’t say one is better than the other as many more factors come into whether a rum is good or not.

    Presentation wise the rum comes in a standard “bar” style bottle.  The label is clear and uncluttered giving full credit to Berry Bros & Rudd for their part in the bottling.  A nice quality cork stopper tops off the presentation.  Minimal you could say but its still got more information on the label than some so called premium rums!

    Releasing a Caroni Rum as part of a whisky sites 10th anniversary is quite a shrewd move.  The Caroni style is suited to a Scotch Whisky drinker especially those who prefer peatier whiskies such as Islay Single Malts.  Caroni is a heavy style of rum which can be quite challenging at times.

    So without further ado lets take a look at the rum and see how good it is.

    The Whisky Barrel 19 Year Old Caroni Berry Bros & Rudd 10th Anniversary rum review by the fat rum pirateIn the glass the Caroni 19 Year Old is a nice golden brown – it is not as dark as some other aged Caroni’s but it is darker than the Velier 12 Year Old I reviewed some time ago.

    On the nose the rum is quite fruity.  Quite a lot of zesty lemon and lime notes.  The familiar musty and tar like Caroni notes are there but they are more in balance with other notes on the nose.  Not overpowering the nose like with some other heavier Caroni rums.  There is a sweetness – cloves, milk chocolate a hit of rum and raisin ice cream adding a boozy kick.

    Even though the rum clocks in at 55% ABV the nose is relatively light – by Caroni standards anyway.

    Of course it wouldn’t be a Caroni rum without a little bit of menace lurking.  There is still a touch of shoe polish and tar in the nose but its very nicely balanced.  It reminds me most of the Mezan 1999 Trinidad – though the extra heft in the ABV is certainly benefiting this bottling. The interaction with the oak and 19 years of ageing give a nice range of spicy notes as well.

    Sipped the rum is initially quite sweet with a hit of toffee and a sharp intense bitter/sweet zesty note.  It has an almost menthol like note on the palate and is very intense in terms of flavour.  It has a slightly medicinal mouthfeel and sweet almost cough mixture like note.  This is mixed with a musty, smokiness that any Caroni drinker will be familiar with.

    It is a really intense, complicated sip.  There is a lot going on with this – you definitely need to be taking small sips and savouring this one.  It has a balance which sometimes can got a bit skew-wiff when it comes to Caroni.

    This is probably the fruitiest Caroni I have tried, yet it still delivers that heavy Caroni style that is so popular.

    The finish is long and spicy.  Smoky, dry and very satisfying.  This really is a great example of a European aged Caroni rum.

    Also just looking at the price I really can’t see the 310 bottles lasting very long.  It really is a huge bargain.

     

  • Cane Island Trinidad Aged 8 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    CANE ISLAND TRINIDAD agedc 8 years rum review by the fat rum pirateCane Island are a new Independent bottler.  We have already covered their 8 Year Old Barbados rum – a rather good one from Foursquare.

    Up next is an 8 Year Old from Trinidad.  Which means it is to young to come from the the now defunct and much heralded Caroni distillery.  Leaving us with the only remaining option on Trinidad – Angostura.

    The rum is currently only available in the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Most stockists will post to other parts of Europe and the rest of the world.

    The rum is column distilled and as already mentioned aged for 8 years.  There are no details of any finish or second maturation. I assume it is aged in ex-Bourbon casks.  A 70cl bottle will set you back around 40 euros.  A little more expensive than Angostura’s own 8 Year old the 1919 and a lot more expensive than their Sainsbury’s supermarket offering.  Which is issued under Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference banner.

    The rum comes in a nice stubby style bottle.  Important information relating to the contents of the rum are displayed on the bottle along with a map view of the island(s).  A  nice cork stopper completes the package.

    Trinidad rums coming from Angostura tend to be quite light in style.  Their own range often tips the hydrometer to reveal some additives.  The stated ABV on the label states 43% the hydrometer reveals an ABV of 40% suggesting 12g/l of sugar (or other additives).

    Its not a huge amount but it is a significant amount.  Likely this was done prior to Cane Island receiving the rum, though I have no firm evidence either way or further information.

    For further information on the brand please look at the links provided in my previousCANE ISLAND TRINIDAD agedc 8 years rum review by the fat rum pirate review of the Barbados offering.

    We may as well move onto the main body of the review and get down to tasting some more aged rum!

    In the glass the rum is a very typical gold/brown “rum colour”.  There are few surprises and I would suggest a little e150 has been added.

    The nose is familiar – very much an Angostura style of nose.  It has a familiar sweetness which you find in many Trini supermarket brands (Tesco for example).

    It is full of toffee and has a distinctive “butteriness” which is almost a little floral.  I’m reminded little of 1919 but more of Angostura’s No1 cask blends.

    Thankfully though the sweetness you also get a nice backbone of oak and aged rum.  There is a gentle warming oak note.  It’s not hugely complex maybe a little on the sweet side but it does have plenty rum character.  It also does seem to have benefited from at least some tropical ageing.  I wouldn’t be surprised to learn its entirely aged in Trinidad.

    Sipping reveals few surprises.  It carries the sweetness of the nose especially in the initial entry.  Toffee/Caramel and a touch of warming gentle oak are delivered and the finish is surprisingly long and pretty satisfying.  It does a lot of things right but is for me just too sweet.

    This is a very easy going, very genteel rum.  It’s as far removed from Pusser’s or a Heavy Caroni rum as it possible to imagine.  It is unmistakably an Angostura product. Clearly column distilled and the additives or sugar used in the blend have rounded and removed any roughness which may have been present.

    Which means, perhaps the rum has lost some of its character.  I’m not really sure what market there is for “Independent” Trini rum.  I must confess I know of no notable rum “expert” or connoisseur who is in love with Angostura rums.

    It’s very much akin to a Plantation rum so perhaps their lies the market for this particular bottle.

    Other than being just a little too sweet and easy going for my personal tastes this overall is not a bad rum.  It’s just pretty ordinary.  It is easy to sip and is perhaps also reminiscent of the Barceló rums from the Dominican – particularly the Imperial Blend.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years rum review by the fat rum pirateDràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years. The Dràm Mòr Group are a new bottler of Scotch Whisky and Rum, who hail from Bonny Scotland. Dumbarton to be exact. The group is headed up by husband and wife team Viktorija and Kenny Macdonald.

    Dràm Mòr as well as being quite a fun little pun “dram more” means literally Big Whisky in Gaelic. The bottling I am reviewing today is a rum (obviously) and is one of 2 releases so far from the group.

    I previously reviewed the other bottling a 13 year old Foursquare rum here. For those unfamiliar with Clarendon here is a brief overview

    Clarendon Distillers Ltd is located on the Monymusk Estate. You will see terms such as Estate and Distillery used quite interchangeably when referring to Clarendon/Monymusk. The distillery was built in 1949 by the owners of the nearby Monymusk Sugar Factory. By 1976 it was under government ownership in the form of the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica.

    Today the distillery is run by National Rums of Jamaica, which is jointly owned by West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd, Demerara Distillers and the Jamaican government.

    There are two sides to the distillery. The older area is equipped with pot stills, used to make heavier styles of rum. The newer section features column stills that produce a lighter spirit. Rum produced onsite is used in brands such as Captain Morgan, Myers, Royal Jamaican, as well as their “own brand” the Monymusk rum range.

    The bottling we have today is from the pot still side of the distillery. This is an 100% pot still rum.

    Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years is a run of just 295 bottles. The rum has been bottled at 63% ABV and is presented in a traditional 70cl bar style bottle. The labelling is clear and uncluttered with some tasteful artwork and a modern logo. Their are no fairy tales or stories on the bottle just solid information regarding the liquid held within. The liquid is kept safe by the use of a sturdy wooden topped cork stopper. In the UK should set you back around £75-80. The Good Spirits Co currently have it in stock (limited to 2 bottles per household).Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years rum review by the fat rum pirate

    So that’s pretty much everything I know about this bottling so lets give it a whirl and see how it tastes.

    In the glass I’m presented with a medium to dark brown liquid. It has a nice golden glow to it. All is well.

    A quick nosing of Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years reveals a very fruity smelling spirit. Lots of banana and pineapple. There is also a toffee like sweetness and a nice waft of vanilla.

    Further nosing reveals ginger and a slightly herbal almost grassy note. I’m getting banana loaf and a kind of toffee sponge. It’s a bit treacly as well.

    I often notice a slight “musty-ness” with Clarendon/Monymusk bottlings there are hints of that but this smells a lot “fresher” and more vibrant than a lot of previous bottlings I’ve experienced.

    The rum overall smells a bit like a blend of Worthy Park and Hampden. Funky yet with a gentler more refined note. Interesting. Theres a lot to the nose and as I go in for another sniff I’m getting Kola Kubes (boiled sweets), which is interesting and perhaps a hint of Pear Drops (boiled sweets again).

    When sipped the rum is more savoury and less sweet than the nose suggests. However, it has a really nice almost malty note to it and it still has an initial burst of slightly sour/hot pineapple, banana and pear.

    The mid palate becomes more rounded and the oak ageing begins to show. It becomes spicier with hints of ginger, cardamon and some white pepper running alongside some slightly sharp oak notes and some vanilla to round things.

    As we move into the finish the initial sweetness returns I’m getting some notes of pickle juice and pickled onions (?) lurking in the back of the palate as the finish builds into a oaky and quite peppery finale.

    The finish is a good length and the intensity of the flavours on the initial sip and mid palate remain for some time.

    Although this rum is probably quite low overall in terms of esters it’s still a very complex and very interesting rum to sip on. There’s a lot going on and it all blends together very nicely.

    This is certainly more interesting than a lot of the Monymusk branded rum I have tried. It is interesting to see whisky bottlers picking out rums such as these. It shows that people are looking for variety. I hate the endless posts on Facebook requesting “Rums to gift a whisky/bourbon drinker” then seeing people suggest rums aged in Scotch Whisky casks or rums which are very similar in profile to whisky/bourbon.Dràm Mòr Single Cask Rum Clarendon Estate Aged 10 Years rum review by the fat rum pirate

    When I try and other spirit I want a good example of that spirit not something which is going to taste vaguely familiar. What’s the point in that? “Here’s a whisky I’ve picked for you that tastes like rum” Yeah thats great, just what I was looking for…..not. Other people think differently though. People like familiarity. I get that.

    Anyway this is certainly one of the better Monymusk/Clarendon bottlings I’ve had to date and I’ve had a few.

    Thoroughly recommended. Thats two great picks so far from Dràm Mòr

     

     

     

  • Clairin Sonson 2018

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Clairin Sonson 2018 rum revew by the fat rum pirate Clairin Sonson 2018. This is the fifth single estate Clairin to be released under Velier’s “Spirit of Haiti” offshoot. I have reviewed a couple (but not all) of these Clairin’s previously and links should appear at the bottom of this review.

    Clairin, much like Cachaca is essentially rum produced from sugar cane juice rather than molasses. It is similar to “Rhum Agricole” but it is more common to find a pot still rather than a traditional Coffey Column still used in the production of Clairin.

    Also the name “Clairin” which is French for clear, indicates that traditionally the spirit white/clear. Velier have released some aged Clairin (but that is not common within Haiti).

    Clairin Sonson as with the other Clairins in the range is named after the distillery – Sonson. Which is a very small one pot still distillery in the village of Cabaret. Here Clairin is produced using a traditional open fired Pot Still. An indigenous non-hybridised variety of sugar cane is used called “Madame Meuze”. (This variety of sugar cane is also present in the Saint Benevolence Clairin). Unlike some of the other distilleries the distillery is not named after the distiller. The Master (and only) Distiller at Sonson is Stephan Kalil Saoud.

    Presentation wise Clairin Sonson comes in the now distinctive tall thin, clear bottles used for all the other Spirit of Haiti releases. Artwork is provided once again by local Haitian artists.

    In the UK a 70cl bottle of Clairin Sonson 2018 will set you back around £50. It is currently in stock at The Whisky Exchange. It has been bottled at cask (or rather still strength) of 53.2% ABV.

    Much like Agricole Rhum and Cachaca, Clairin is a spirit which I have acquired a taste for over time. It was not an instant hit with me but in time I have learned to enjoy it more and more. It is funny how tastes change over time.

    I can’t really think of much else to say about this particular release – I think we’ve covered all the interesting stuff. So lets get down to some nosing and tasting

    Clairin Sonson 2018 rum revew by the fat rum pirate

    I’m not going to say what colour the contents of my glass are as that should be pretty obvious!

    The nose is fresh and very vegetal. Freshly mowed grass, hay, olives, some briny salty notes and a hint of sour milk.

    Further nosing reveals a spicier peppery side – chilli a touch of cumin and some black pepper. The sour milk note evolves with time in the glass into more of a creamy note which is really pleasant and works nicely with the sweet sugar cane notes.

    It’s a very complex spirit and also has some mineral like notes. Which add a further layer of complexity to the nose.

    It’s really nice and despite all that is going on it has a really nice balance and is quite “soft” and easy going.

    Sipped, Clairin Sonson 2018 it is a bit more fiery than the nose suggests. It’s nothing that will knock any ones socks off who is used to cask or overproof spirits but it’s still got a good kick of peppery spice and chilli heat on the initial sip.

    Further sips reveal a much sweeter profile bursting with fresh sugar cane and a slightly flowery profile.

    The mid palate has a slightly smoky and mineral like note to it. This is a very complex and enjoyable unaged white spirit. It is bursting with flavour – sweet vegetal notes and tropical fruits, a touch of passion fruit.

    In terms of the finish it is surprisingly short with a lot of the flavours on the entry and mid palate quickly fading leaving a sweet burn of alcohol and to be fair, not a great deal else.Clairin Sonson 2018 rum revew by the fat rum pirate

    That said this is an unaged spirit so to expect a wonderfully long finish is perhaps a little fanciful.

    Clairin Sonson is equally at home in drinks that call for unaged agricole or Cachaca – it works great in a Ti Punch and it doesn’t make a bad Daiquiri either.

    In terms of flavour this is my favourite Clairin thus far and aside from the finish it’s really quite excellent when you consider the rustic nature of how it is produced.

    Well worth seeking out.

  • Bounty St Lucia Rum

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Bounty St Lucia Rum Review by the Fat rum pirateBounty Rum is something of a staple rum in its homeland the island of Saint Lucia. Finding a bottle of this rum become something of an obsession for the completist in me. I’ve always had a soft spot for Saint Lucia Distilers (SLD) and I’ve wanted to try this rum for a long time.

    Finally I found a bottle at Drinks Supermarket here in the UK.  Complete with HMRC customs stamp on the actual label.  Suggesting that this was at one point distributed in the UK.  Indeed it was imported by the current SLD Importer Emporia Brands.  Quite how old this bottle is I’m not sure.  I suspect it is stock that Drinks Supermarket stumbled across in their warehouse after forgetting they had the odd bottle.

    I paid the princely sum of £19.99 for this 70cl bottle. Domestically it is very much SLD’s entry level rum but welcomingly it is bottled at a respectable 40% ABV.  Presentation wise it is very different to most of the SLD range.  A conventional bar style bottle is topped off with a slightly oversized metal cap (like Barbancourt’s).  The gold, yellow, red and black colour scheme and the picture of Saint Lucia serve their purpose but its far from innovative.

    Bounty Rum’s taglines are “The Spriit of St. Lucia” and “Our Island Our Bounty”. Which might explain why it is so hard to find outside of the island. It should be noted that this is a very different Bounty Rum to the one produced and sold in Fiji.

    I spoke with Michael Speakman who works at SLD for some more information.  Michael noted that Bounty rum is 100% column distilled rum aged 2 to 3 years.  They are currently overhauling Bounty.  A white, dark, gold and spiced are planned to be exported to the US and Europe from 2018. Bounty Rum will become SLD “entry level” range.Bounty St Lucia Rum Review by the Fat rum pirate

    In the glass Bounty Rum is a gold/straw colour.  The colour looks quite honest – maybe just a touch of colouring.

    The nose is light and floral.  It reminds me a little of VAT19 from Trinidad only not quite as sweet.  It’s easy going with a lot of coconut in the mix.  Reminiscent of Chairman’s Reserve White Label.  Which is no bad thing.

    It’s not hugely complex – there is a touch of spiciness, the tiniest hint of oak but its mainly vanilla,coconut and orgeat than I am getting on the nose.  It’s definitely more easy going mixer than sipping rum.

    Having said that sipping Bounty Rum is not an unpleasant experience.  It’s quite nicely aged for such a young rum and has enough flavour to merit a glass or two on its own. It’s perhaps a bit too spicy and young but I’ve paid a lot more for a lot worse in the past!

    Mixed Bounty Rum really comes alive.  It gives a nice fruity kick to most mixers and is surprisingly smooth.  It really mellows out cola and gives you a really nice long drink.  The coconut notes and the vanilla are quite prominent but it stays clearly on the side of “pure” rum rather than Old J or Sailor Jerry levels of sweet.

    Bounty St Lucia Rum Review by the Fat rum pirate This isn’t a particularly complex or challenging rum.  It’s light and sweet. Although it doesn’t have a huge amount of different flavours what it does deliver is well defined and very tasty.  It’s certainly worth every penny of the £19.99 I paid for it.

    This is quite a different rum to Chairman’s Reserve which is the most obvious rum to compare Bounty to.  Both hailing from the same island and same distillery.  The price of Chairman’s Reserve is also around £20.  Chairman’s is a more complex, more interesting rum but both perform really well as a mixer.  If Bounty wishes to establish itself then it will probably need to price itself near the £15 mark here in the UK.  Bit like Appleton Special and Appleton Signature Reserve.  Though I would say there is a more a difference in terms of profile between Bounty and Chairman’s Reserve.  No surprise as Bounty is all column distillate and Chairman’s is a blend of Pot and Column.

    This is certainly up there with other “entry level” rums from the likes of Appleton and Foursquare.  It really is very decent stuff.  I’m looking forward to the new re-vamped Bounty range.  Providing the UK gets it that is!

    I hope I don’t have to wait five years to try it like I have with this.

  • Legendario Ron Dorado

    Bythefatrumpirate

    Legendario Ron Dorado Rum Review by the fat rum pirateLegendario Ron Dorado. Perhaps one of the most ironic things about the Legendario brand is that, arguably it’s most famous rum isn’t even a rum. The “seven year old”  Elixir de Cuba is exactly that an Elixir.

    Unfortunately not a lot of people know what it is. If you are puzzled by this yourself then please read my review above of the Elixir de Cuba.

    So what do we have for review today? Well we have one of the Legendario brands “entry level” rums. The Legendario Ron Dorado is a relatively inexpensive mixing rum. It is very popular in Spain where it is drank mainly with cola.

    Ron Legendario was established in Cuba in 1946.  It was first produced in a distillery in the historic district of Havana Bocoy, in a building dating back to the 15th century. Ron Legendario is now produced in six factories across Cuba in Matanzas, Villa Clara, Havana and three in Pinar del Rio.

    Legendario Ron Dorado is a blend of unaged spirit and aged “eux de vie”. I think sometimes things are lost in translation when it comes to Latin Style rum. Not all of which I think is entirely accidental. I’m taking it that Legendario Ron Dorado is a blend of aged and unaged rum.

    As with all Cuban rums it is produced on column stills and is made in the “Latin or Spanish Style”. It’s fairly difficult to find any information there is a website for all Cuban rum here. Unfortunately it really doesn’t translate all that well and it’s a bit antiquated so its not the best to read either.

    Presentation wise Legendario use distinctively “curvy” tall bar style bottles. A miniature Cuban flag will also be on the bottles neck if you are fortunate. They are often removed in my experience. A good quality metallic screw cap completes the look. The writing on the bottle is in Spanish so it isn’t hugely useful to me. This rum is imported into the UK but they do not alter the labels in anyway.Legendario Ron Dorado Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    In the glass we have golden brown spirit. It’s slightly dull to be honest no real vibrancy about this rum. No orange hue around the edges.

    Nose wise this is a little dull as well! It’s very light almost vodka like in many ways. The initial nosing just gives me a hit of sweet alcohol. Not much else at all I’m afraid. Further nosing reveals a touch of tobacco, honey, vanilla and some sweet toffee but I’m really having to nose deep to pick these out.

    Sipping Legendario Ron Dorado is also a pretty muted experience. I just feel like I’m drinking a sweet young alcohol designed to be drowned in cola. Which is pretty much how most of this spirit is enjoyed. Popular in Spain you can pick it up in most resorts for around €10 to €12. You’ll find it in most supermarkets in resorts like Benidorm, Salou and Magaluf.

    Taste wise it’s just a sugary water, with a tiny bite of oak and a touch of tobacco to add a shade of complexity. It’s not overly sweet though, it hasn’t been sweetened according to the Hydrometer. Legendario Ron Dorado is really easy to drink neat but its far from the most complex or rewarding sipper, you will ever encounter.

    It’s actually a really easy, light entry into Cuban rum. It’s not as sickly sweet as Havana Club Especial nor is it as tobacco heavy as the Havana Club 7 Year Old.

    Mixed is really what this rum is for and it goes nicely with cola. However, after a couple you may find your pours increase as it isn’t all that flavourful. It adds a smoothness to the cola making it dangerously easy to drink.Legendario Ron Dorado Rum Review by the fat rum pirate

    The fact it is only 38% ABV is probably in its favour as, if you were sitting drinking this with friends and sharing a bottle as a mixer it won’t last very long.

    I guess you might buy this rum if you fancy something with a little more bite and flavour than vodka but you don’t want anything to “full on”.

    All in all its a very average rum at a very average price…….when you are on holiday. You can get it in the UK but I wouldn’t be paying £25 for a bottle. There are too many better options around at that price point – and below!