There appears to be a wave of previous Cuban rums in the intervening time. I do know the sweetness of those casks is usually a little bit 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 immediately we’re beginning with a… properly… younger instance from the identical bottler.
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 flippantly roasted espresso beans, a little bit 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 a little bit cinnamon and liquorice. Calmly 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 approach. A superb cask and a pleasant change for all these funky rums that bottlers appear to favour. Out there from Delia’s Whisky.
Caribbean Rum 30 yo 1993 (60,5%, Liquid Treasures 2024, barrel, 283 btl.)
Nostril: clearly extra forthcoming. Extra caramelly as properly, 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, flippantly woody, with toasted nuts and low.
We are able to’t ensure that is Cuban, because the energy and age are a little bit unusual, however I believe it could be Cuban. I believe this takes the profile of Delia’s bottling a little bit additional, at a lower cost. Nonetheless accessible from eSpirits. Rating: 90/100
Cuban Rum 45 yo 1978 (50,5%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky 2024, barrel, 313 btl.)
Nostril: fairly related, regardless of the age distinction. Caramel and brown sweet sugar, together with darkish chocolate, cinnamon and roasted pecans. Maple syrup comes out, massive 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. A bit of 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
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 a little bit 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 inside tubes. A stunning combo, for my part, more energizing than the youthful ones.
Mouth: darkish, even meaty sooner or later, then transferring to basic (massive) hints of pipe tobacco and molasses. Cherries and large hints of juicy prunes. A bit of 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, for my part. Excellent rum, reminding me of some very previous sherry brandies. Darkish and complicated, but extremely drinkable. Nonetheless accessible right here and there. Rating: 92/100
