There appears to be a wave of previous Cuban rums for the time being. I do know the sweetness of those casks is usually just a little controversial amongst rum lovers, however a few of them are actually fascinating.
We already had a wonderful Cuban Rum 1963 from The Whisky Company, and right this moment we’re beginning with a… effectively… younger instance from the identical bottler.
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Cuban Rum 30 yo 1993 (49,6%, The Whisky Company for Delia’s Whiskyshop 2024, barrel)
Nostril: a pleasant mixture of cedarwood and tobacco. Brown banana skins, in addition to toasted pecans and hints of parsley. Muscovado sugar and cigar containers. Then calmly roasted espresso beans, just a little chocolate and previous leather-based sofas. It’s not extraordinarily talkative however the profile may be very seductive.
Mouth: a bit extra physique now. Café latte and Manon pralines, with darker unique woods beneath. Cigars, hints of black tea and charcoal. Hints of cough syrup or previous quina too. Then just a little cinnamon and liquorice. Evenly burnt pastry crust and refreshing minty notes.
End: medium to lengthy, with brown sugar, roasted pecans, tobacco and burnt raisins.
Loads of tobacco, unique wooden and different darkish notes, however introduced in a really elegant method. A wonderful cask and a pleasant change for all these funky rums that bottlers appear to favour. Accessible from Delia’s Whisky.
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Caribbean Rum 30 yo 1993 (60,5%, Liquid Treasures 2024, barrel, 283 btl.)
Nostril: clearly extra forthcoming. Extra caramelly as effectively, with extra brown sugar and chocolate. Toasted coconut flakes and mashed bananas. Then hints of previous varnish and previous leather-based saddle. Additionally walnuts, pecans and hazelnut ganache.
Mouth: the punchy ABV fits this model. Tobacco leaves and cigar containers are again, in addition to black tea and hints of cinnamon. Then loads of Spanish turrón de chocolate, transferring in direction of espresso and previous wooden. Thick molasses and natural hints develop stronger in direction of the top.
End: lengthy and chocolaty, calmly woody, with toasted nuts and occasional.
We are able to’t make certain that is Cuban, because the power and age are just a little unusual, however I believe it could be Cuban. I believe this takes the profile of Delia’s bottling just a little additional, at a lower cost. Nonetheless accessible from eSpirits. Rating: 90/100
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Cuban Rum 45 yo 1978 (50,5%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky 2024, barrel, 313 btl.)
Nostril: fairly comparable, regardless of the age distinction. Caramel and brown sweet sugar, together with darkish chocolate, cinnamon and roasted pecans. Maple syrup comes out, huge time. Praline and hazelnuts. Solely after a while the drier notes creep in – tobacco and natural tea.
Mouth: once more barely sweeter than anticipated, with cinnamon, maple syrup, milk chocolate and even a touch of vanilla. Some plummy notes within the distance. Roasted nuts and sweetened espresso, with a really refined salty edge. Just a little leather-based too.
End: fairly lengthy, very rounded, on tobacco, cedar, maple syrup and pecan pie.
A sweeter model of the above. Maybe a sweetened model even – can we ever make sure that it isn’t? In any case, this can be a wealthy and rewarding Cuban rum, an ideal after dinner dram. Nonetheless accessible from DeinWhisky. Rating: 90/100
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Cuban Rum 50 yo 1973 (52%, Spheric Spirits 2024, cask #2314302, 258 btl.)
Nostril: there’s extra sourish fruitiness right here – nice. Raspberries and cherries, even just a little citrus, with moist pipe tobacco and chocolate. Pu-erh tea, humidors, bitter espresso. Moist wooden and previous leather-based. Then some metallic notes and hints of interior tubes. A stunning combo, in my view, more energizing than the youthful ones.
Mouth: darkish, even meaty in some unspecified time in the future, then transferring to traditional (huge) hints of pipe tobacco and molasses. Cherries and large hints of juicy prunes. Just a little vanilla too, earlier than it goes again to maple syrup, darkish chocolate and natural liqueur.
End: medium to lengthy, on roasted pecans, espresso, nonetheless with a pleasant acidic contact.
The acidity and fruitiness that we discover on this 1973 was missing within the different ones and brings it to a different stage, in my view. Excellent rum, reminding me of some very previous sherry brandies. Darkish and sophisticated, but extremely drinkable. Nonetheless accessible right here and there. Rating: 92/100
