Review: Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum

Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum is crafted in the Dominica for a company from Sonoma California called 35 Maple Street, which is the spirits division of The Other Guys (TOG). TOG is wine company led by August Sebastiani, a member of one of California’s oldest wine families. The Sabastiani family has been involved in the Californian wine industry since August’s great-grandfather, Samuele Sebastiani, opened his family run winery over 100 years ago.

According to the 35 Maple Street website, their rum has been named for a wooden schooner of the same name. This schooner, KIRK AND SWEENEY, was a rum running vessel which brought rum from the Caribbean to the Northeast Coast during Prohibition. The ship was apparently captured and seized off the coast of New York in 1924 where enforcement officials found an enormous cargo of rum aboard. The folks at 35 Maple Street like to use historical references in the naming of their brands (see Masterson’s Straight Rye Whiskey) and felt the Kirk and Sweeney was an ideal choice for their Dominican rum.

You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:

“… The initial aroma reminds me of butterscotch candies and sugar cane syrup (I am thinking Roger’s Golden Syrup). I allowed the glass to decant for several minutes, and the scents from the glass became richer and more complex with vanilla, oak spices and hints of tobacco rising into the breezes as well …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a delicious cocktail, the Rum Darby Daiquiri.

Cheers Everyone!

(Note: This spirit is being brought into my home Province of Alberta by Purple Valley Imports, who provided the sample for review.)

Top 30 Rums Countdown # 14 – Cubaney Ron Tesero Grand Reserve

Oliver and Oliver, are an independent bottler of rum operating in the Dominican Republic.  They buy barreled rum from major rum producers in the Caribbean, and then age it using a solera aging system in what they call the “Cuban” style. The Cubaney Ron Tesero Grand Reserve is such a solera style rum which features rums as old as 25 years in the blend.

When I published my first Rum Howler Awards, this particular rum from Oliver & Oliver was declared the 2010 Rum of the Year. In 2012, I am naming it the 14th Best Rum in the World in my Top 30 Countdown!

 

# 14 – Cubaney Ron Tesero Grand Reserve

“… The rum in the glass is a deep, rich, bronze color which carries the rich aroma of dark brown sugar and wonderful baking spices. A faint smoke is present which carries scents of dried fruits, raisins, and a soft and subtle cherry-like aroma in the background.  A little wave of soft tobacco is mixed in, as is an ever-present woody backdrop which seems to tie everything together…”

 

This is a rich, decadent rum, full of character, and it is amongst the best rums I have ever tasted.

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Top 30 Rums Countdown # 24 – Bermudez Anniversario

The year 1852 is proudly displayed on the label of each bottle of Bermudez Rum indicating the year in which the Bermudez family began to produce rum commercially. In fact, the Bermudez Rum has been produced in the Dominican Republic practically from the beginning of its nationhood making the Bermudez Distillery the oldest commercial rum distillery in the Dominican Republic. The Bermudez Anniversario is the premium rum in their range and my personal favourite from the Bermudez family. It enters the countdown as the 25th Best Rum in the World.

#24 Ron Bermudez Anniversario

“… Initially, I receive a soft caramel and vanilla from the glass. This is followed by stronger aromas of oak tannin and spice. As I allow the glass to decant, an aroma of fragrant baking spices became more assertive over time expressing a rich molasses and a spicy toffee. There also appears to be a gentle smoke in the air with vague scents of dried fruit…”

The Ron Bermudez Anniversario has an elegant style reminiscent of cognac but it fully retains its character as rum.  I have found this to be a completely unexpected treat.

Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

Photo Courtesy of Lance Surujbally (All rights reserved!)

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 20 countries.

The Company advertises five indicators of quality which govern their production:

• Only the finest sugar cane produced in the Dominican Republic is used.
• All of our rums age in oak barrels from Kentucky that have been used to age Bourbon Whisky.
• Constant research efforts by our Master Blenders lead us to the best possible blends.
• Achieving a perfect combination of body character, great performance and exquisite bouquet.
• Using the industry’s leading distilling technology with the age-old artisan knowledge of our local experts, heirs to a long tradition of excellence in rum production.

I reviewed this rum almost three years ago, and recently acquired a new bottle. I decided to go back and see if the rum, or my perception of it had improved after three years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I allow the glass to breathe some of that initial harshness evaporates into the breezes, and I detect some notes of caramel, banana peel, and tobacco. However, the burnt brown sugar notes still tend to dominate the rum… “

You may read my full review by clicking the link below:

Please enjoy the review!

Review: Atlantico Private Cask Rum

At Rum Renaissance 2011, in Miami Florida I was lucky enough to be treated to an information session hosted by Brandon Lieb, of the Atlantico Importing Company. I was allowed to sample their present offering, Atlantico Private Cask Rum, as well as sample two new products which were in development. Atlantico Rum is planning to expand their range with a new white rum, and a new anejo rum to add to the success of their Private Cask Rum. As their guest, I was given a bottle of the Atlantico Private Cask Rum after the presentation and I have decided to review the rum here on my website.

The Atlantico Private Cask Rum is a private label rum produced by Oliver and Oliver,  for Atlantico Rum. (If you have not heard of Oliver and Oliver, I should explain that they are an independent bottler of rum operating in the Dominican Republic.  They buy barreled rum from major rum producers, and then age it using a solera aging system in the “Cuban” style.)  Oliver and Oliver was given a specific flavour profile to blend towards, and working in conjunction with the Atlantico team, the Private Cask Rum was developed through a series of blending and tasting exercises. The result is a rum constructed to be a smooth easy to sip rum which is hoped will appeal to a wide variety of palates.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Taking a little time with my glass I began to notice some nice oak and baking spice entwined in the caramel and honey flavour. Vanilla is very obvious as is the maple I detected on the nose. Deeper down I taste faint echoes of tobacco….”

You May read the full review here:

As well I have included a nice “Mule “style cocktail for your enjoyment.

Rum Review: Cubaney Ron Tesero Grand Reserve

Picture Courtesy http://rumconnection.com/

I  have a friend in the Dominican Republic with a website called Rums of the Dominican Republic (Drums).  His name is Pavol Kažimir.  Pavol and I have exchanged emails a few times, and we met in Miami at Rum Renaissance where we seemed to hit it off with each other quite well. But, I was very surprised when he emailed me during the summer and asked me which bottle of Dominican Rum I would like to receive when his friend visited Edmonton. I stated a preference for something that maybe wasn’t available in my locale, and Pavol promptly arranged for Oliver and Oliver to provide me a sample bottle for review.

The bottle that was chosen surprised me all the more, the Cubaney Ron Tesero Grand Reserve. A solera style with aged rum as old as 25 years in the blend. In fact, I do believe this may be the top of the line as far as Oliver and Oliver is concerned. If you have not heard of Oliver and Oliver, I should explain that they are an independent bottler of rum operating in the Dominican Republic.  They buy barreled rum from major rum producers, and then age it using a solera aging system in the “Cuban” style.

I thank you Pavol for obtaining this sample for me, and lest I bore everyone; here is an excerpt from the review:

“…The rum carries a firm but soft sweetness forward, as well as a nice spiciness that coats the tongue and the sides of the mouth as the first sip is taken. I taste rich baking spices wrapped inside a deep dark brown leathery toffee and molasses…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Rum Review: Bermudez Ron Viejo Blanco

Introduction

This is the fourth review I am publishing with respect to the rums of Ron Bermudez. I previously reviewed the Ron Anejo Bermudez 5 Anos; the Bermudez Don Armando; and the Bermudez Anniversario upon my blog using sample bottles provided to my by J. Ernesto Orozco of  Biwest Imports Ltd.  My sample bottle of the Bermudez Ron Viejo Blanco rum was also supplied by Biwest Imports Ltd., as they are introducing the Bermudez rums into my home Province of Alberta.

The Bermudez Distillery is the oldest commercial rum distillery in the Dominican Republic.  The words on the bottle  ‘Viejo Blanco’ translate from Spanish to English as ‘Old White’, indicating to me that the Bermudez rum is an aged clear rum.  Exactly how old I am not sure, but I expect, based upon the particular wording used here, that the rum is aged anywhere from 1/2 year to 3 years.

I found the Bermudez Ron Viejo Blanco  to be a surprisingly high quality ‘white’ rum.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

” …The Bermudez Ron Viejo is very similar in taste profile to the Bermudez Don Armando which I reviewed earlier.  It is not quite as suave and smooth as the 10-year-old, but is it perhaps one of the smoothest ‘blanco’ rums I have encountered to date.  It is slightly sweet in the mouth, but still carries enough spice to warm the tonsils…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Bermudez Ron Viejo Blanco

Rum Review: Ron Bermudez Anniversario

This is the third review I am publishing with respect to the rums of Ron Bermudez . I previously reviewed the Ron Anejo Bermudez 5 Anos and the Bermudez 1852 Ron Anejo 10 Anos Don Armando based upon sample bottles provided to my by Westway L. LTD. My sample bottle of the Ron Bermudez Anniversario rum was also supplied by Westway L. Limited, as they are introducing the Bermudez rums into my home Province of Alberta. The Anniverario is a well aged rum full of character and oak flavour.  It was a delight to cap off my reviews of the Bermudez range with this outstanding rum.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Toffee and caramel sit in the background  supporting  the spicier flavour of the oak. There is also a firm  leathery smoke in the rum which is full of the flavours of dried fruits (raisins, dates, and prunes). When I sampled the younger 5 year old Bermudez rum, I had a vague impression that there was a metallic taste in the rum; but now, in the older Ron Bermudez Anniversario, this metallic element is more identifiable…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Brugal Anejo

“I am sipping a little Brugal Ron Anejo closing my eyes and letting my imagination build a place where the rum takes me….  Its late afternoon, and I have I found myself at a road side cafe near the ocean, separated from, but within walking distance of a small Dominican Village.  I’m sitting on an old wooden cabana chair with the smells of the nearby village caught up in the canvas umbrella overhead.  Oils from the roadside, and saps from the trees overhead have speckled the umbrella, mixing with the canvas and leather only to be washed out by the rain every now and again.  Some large ceramic urns with banana trees stand on the patio nearby.  The table beside me has a bowl of dried  fruit and exotic looking nuts for me to chew on.   Inside the cafe they must be baking, as I can smell  banana bread and sticky cinnamon rolls whenever the door opens.

Across the road there is a path to the ocean.   I can see the roll of ocean surf in the distance as the waves break on a rock strewn coastline.  Occasionally a gust of wind brings a little of the ocean brine across my face…..”

You may read my review for Brugal Anejo here:

Review: Ron Brugal Anejo – Desde  1888

Rum Review: Bermudez Don Armando

This is the second review I am publishing with respect to the rums of Ron Bermudez . I previously reviewed the Ron Anejo Bermudez 5 Anos here on my blog based upon a sample bottle provided to my by Westway L. LTD.  My sample bottle of the Don Armando 1852 Ron Anejo 10 Anos rum was also supplied by Westway L. Limited, as they are introducing the Bermudez rums into my home Province of Alberta.  The year 1852 is proudly displayed on the label of each bottle of Bermudez rums indicating the year in which the Bermudez family began to produce rum commercially.   In fact, the Bermudez rums have been produced in the Dominican Republic practically from the beginning of its nationhood making the Bermudez Distillery the oldest commercial rum distillery in the Dominican Republic.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…This is a soft, oily, slightly dry rum with a nice spicy oak accent on the tongue.   It is not as sweet in the mouth as the nose will suggest.  Rather than a rich brown sugar we have more of a mellow butterscotch on the palate….”

To read the full review please click here:

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail provided at the end.