Rum Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

This is the last review I am doing on a series of new Colombian rums that are entering the North American marketplace via my home province of Alberta.  Allow me to introduce Juan Santos Twenty One Year Old Rum.  I found this to be a tremendous rum with unmatched smoothness, and a wonderful soft clean finish.

Juan Santos rums  are a product of Casa Santana Liquors, the only privately held liquor company in Colombia which  is specializing in the production of premium aged rum.  Casa Santana was founded in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1995, by the Riascos family.  Their  rums have been developed by Cuban master blenders who began  their craft in Cuba before leaving the island in 1994, bringing with them their rum making craft.

Casa Santana has  two production plants which are located in Santa Marta, and in the Free Trade Zone of Barranquilla.  These  are located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia which provides access for shipping abroad.

Casa Santana claims their rum production is completely  free of additives and artificial essences.

Here is my review:

Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Rum Review: Juan Santos Gran Reserva (12 Year)

We have come to the fourth review on a series of new Colombian rums entering the Canadian marketplace. The Juan Santos 12 year old rum brings an increased level of smoothness and depth to the rum glass, and it was truly a pleasure to review the sample which was provided for me by the rum’s Canadian importer, The Liber group.

Please read the review here:

Review: Juan Santos Gran Reserva – 12 Year Old Rum

The review includes a new cocktail I designed specifically for this rum called THE JUAN SANTOS SLOE AND SOUR.   The cocktail has already received positive feedback on RUM CONNECTION where my Juan Santos Gran Reserva review was first published.

Rum Review: Juan Santos 9 Yr Reserva Especial Rum

I continue my journey through the range of the Juan Santos Rums from Colombia.  I am finding that as I move up the age ladder so to speak, I am encountering more smoothness, and depth of flavour.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“….This rum feels more crisp than the previously reviewed 5-year-old rum. The rum flavours and spice I taste are indistinct, as if they are melting into the oak.  I taste soft notes of caramel, light touches of hotter cinnamon, and a faint hint of hazelnut and nutmeg….”

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You may read the entire review here:

Review: Juan Santos 9 Yr Reserva Especial Rum

Rum Review: Juan Santos 5 Yr Old Rum

The first salvo was launched several months ago when the Liber Group quietly placed Juan Santos Colombian Coffee Infused Rum on the store shelves in Alberta, Canada. Sample bottles for tasting were placed into liquor stores, and the bottles began to sell. This isn’t an ordinary flavoured rum, its core is a premium 7 yr Old Colombian Rum from Santana Liquor which I reviewed for Rum Connection on September 21, 2009.

The importer (and distributor) is a small Canadian company called The Liber Group. I met with their representative on Thursday September 16 to discuss the rum invasion, and to sample their product line:

In early November the push will begin to place four aged rums into the Alberta Marketplace. The Liber group plans to introduce a 5-year-old, a 9-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a premium 21-year-old rum into the marketplace coinciding with this Province’s Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festivals in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. Plans are underway to grow the market through Western Canada this fall.

Here is an excerpt from my impressions of the Juan Santos Five Year Old Rum:

“…The rum has a nice soft texture and buttery feel in the mouth.  Flavours of creamy mild caramel seem to melt on the tongue with traces of nutmeg, and a hint of cinnamon.   Wrapped around this caramel/toffee like flavour is the unmistakable presence of a soft bourbon and a hot peppery rye….”

Read the full Review  for Juan Santos 5 Yr Old Rum Here

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This will be the first in a series of reviews over the next few weeks as I explore the full Range of Juan Santos rums (5 Yr, 9 YR, !2 Yr and 21 Yr)