Brugal Añejo Rum

Saturday, May 6, 2023 I bought a bottle on sale, $5 off at my local state-run liquor store. I opened the cap the moment I got home. A 2 oz serving in a tasting glass at room temperature. There's a joke in there somewhere. 😉 Anyway, if you want detailed, nuanced tasting notes, I strongly suggest checking out my fellow Edmontonian at The Rum Howler online; otherwise, read my unique impressions. I'm not particularly impressed by the color. Most spirits, including rum, are darkened with caramel to what the distiller believes is an appealing amber shade, and this one is no different. I was so eager to get this into my mouth that I forgot to sample the aroma, but as is the case with most spirits aged in oak, my initial impression is vanilla, and of course, the unmistakable scent of alcohol, which is 40% ABV. I'd love to claim I can taste organically sourced American White Oak, or something similar, but I'll stick to the truth, at least for now.. ha ha! Okay, for a product labeled Anejo, but without an actual age statement, this is quite smooth, and besides that, Rum Howler rated it 85/100. Not much else to say, except it offers above-average value for your hard-earned money. Oh, and just one more thing. There's a very rough, not necessarily precise, distinction between rum for mixing and rum for sipping, and that is that the former usually comes with an aluminum twist-off cap, while the latter typically has a real cork. Brugal Anejo has a twist-off cap, but it's definitely a rum for sipping!

Initially a bit sharp, the aroma is full of delicious, rum-like character. Notes of burnt sugar, barrel char, vanilla, and even a touch of maple syrup are present. The palate isn't overly spicy, offering a pleasant balance of alcoholic warmth, cinnamon, allspice, and bay, countered by brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla. The body is average with a thin yet syrupy texture. The legs appear somewhat inconsistent and indistinct, forming swiftly but lingering briefly before fading. The finish is brief, sweet, woody, and toasted. Considering the cost, this is a good option, whether enjoyed straight or with ice. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 7 Finish: 7

This isn't necessarily a poor rum, but it's the least appealing rum I've experienced so far. It lacks complexity. On the nose, I detect only burnt sugar or caramel. On the palate, the flavors mirror those on the nose, but are subdued and accompanied by some alcohol burn. The key descriptor here is muted. There's also an astringent quality that I can't quite pinpoint. The aftertaste is dry with faint traces of smoke and earthiness. I believe this rum would perform better in mixed drinks. It's not really suited for sipping, unless you prefer a dry profile.

L: Amber color, fine legs with slow drips. N: Vanilla, brown sugar, mild cinnamon, toasted wood, butterscotch caramel, milk chocolate, faint coffee notes, toasted marshmallow, subtle cola. M: Woody, toasted marshmallow, vanilla, butterscotch, cola, slight banana, cinnamon, amaretto, toasted almond, dried strawberry, figs. Smooth, subtly sweet, mild tannins, pleasant warmth. F: Long finish with notes of wood, vanilla & caramel. O: Acceptable as a sipper, outstanding as a mixer.

Unrefined and harsh are the initial impressions, followed by smoky flavors that dominate and persist. The deep color is striking, showing the casks' influence, but the overall impression is that it feels premature and requires more aging to integrate the components.

Sampled as part of a dark rum selection at Red Frog Pub on the Carnival Sunshine. This, similar to Brugal 1888, is quite decent. I'd certainly have it again. However, I have not yet encountered a rum superior to my preferred Appleton Reserve 12.