Flor De Caña Centenario 18 Rum

A strong, sweet, and spicy scent emanates from this rum. There's a touch of acetone initially, but underneath lie layers of allspice, bay leaf, smoked demerara sugar, and cherry cavendish. Primarily sweet on the palate with a subtle burn and a hint of bitterness. It tastes of butter pancake syrup, cinnamon, clove, charred sugarcane, and lime. Medium to full-bodied, with a soft mouthfeel evoking the clouds around the San Cristobal volcano. The legs are sparse and fleeting yet attractive, with well-formed teardrops. The finish is short and mild. Gentle tannins balance the lingering sweetness pleasantly, revealing notes of pecans, milk chocolate, raisins, and dried coconut. Aroma: 8 Taste: 9 Body: 8 Finish: 8

A dark amber pour. The aroma is quite subtle, with faint hints of alcohol and caramelized sugar. The palate offers more complexity but remains light, featuring notes of wood, burnt sugar, and tobacco. It has a thick texture and a medium-length finish. Honestly, I anticipated a more pronounced flavor profile from this. It's not unpleasant, just lacking robustness. It is exceptionally smooth and somewhat intricate, but subdued, akin to an American rum. I may reconsider my opinion after trying it with a cigar. Extended time in the barrel typically leads to superior flavor in whiskey. This is the second rum range I've sampled where I favored the younger expression. I could happily drink Flor 7 continuously; the other brand was Real McCoy 5 over the 12-year-old. I will provide an update following a cigar pairing.

A complex rum originating from the base of an active volcano, enhanced with volcanic water and aged in small American white oak ex-bourbon barrels for at least 18 years. It presents a rich and aromatic beginning with hints of oak spice, bright orange peel, dark brown sugars, deep caramel toffee, nutmeg, touches of cinnamon, vanilla, and anise. Its life is dry and full, offering notes of spice, cocoa, dark caramel, and more oak, culminating in a long and tropical end with flavors of toasted banana, walnut, dark chocolate, oak, leather, and smoke.

Disappointing for an 18-year claim. Subtle notes of honey, nuts, and vanilla on the palate, but the aroma is quite strong with alcohol. It's surprisingly smooth given the nose. Lacks intense flavor and is a very mild rum overall. It doesn't stack up against preferred Bajan rums. I purchased it due to a better price at the duty-free shop in Costa Rica compared to home. It might convert vodka drinkers to rum, but it will likely bore whiskey enthusiasts.

Enjoyed neat at a bar in the airport. The nose presents sweet sugarcane, caramel, tobacco, candied cherries, butterscotch, and floral notes. The palate is exceptionally smooth, akin to spreading peanut butter on bread, with hints of cocoa and vanilla-flavored cigar. A faint aftertaste reminiscent of a Heath bar. Delicious! Pura Vida!

Cherry aromas with faint oak and some baked spices. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth, showing molasses, well-integrated oak, and tobacco. While maybe not novel, it fulfills all expectations for a fine sipping rum. The finish is impressively long, with tobacco lingering the most. A delightful sipper.