Flor de Caña Gran Reserva 7 Rum

Reasonable price and good quality, but acknowledging those facts makes me realize I'm not particularly fond of Spanish-style rums, so consider my score with skepticism. Ultimately, any quality blended or pot-still rum seems superior to even excellent examples of this style for my taste. Some aspects are quite pleasant – impressively buttery and smooth, with the taste and scent delivering abundant toasted marshmallow – but then it shifts to something quite close to dish soap, as if the marshmallow was scorched over crude kerosene. It lacks harshness, but it's ultimately a very one-dimensional experience, and its stylistic resemblance to a certain budget Bacardi product is undeniable. All things considered, no complaints as it was acquired as an aged column still product for mixing. It serves that purpose well and is recommended. For sipping, just ensure you appreciate Spanish-style rums, and you'll have an affordable everyday choice.

To start, I appreciate this bottle. It appears sophisticated, and I like the raised sugar cane design. The aroma is not very strong, but it's pleasant. It's warm and rich, reminiscent of fruitcake, or perhaps I'm just associating the allspice, cinnamon, cloves, citrus, and rum with fruitcake? Upon tasting, it's surprisingly similar to fruitcake, with notes of dried citrus, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, along with raisins, immediately on the front of the palate. There's an astringent quality to the finish, suggesting time spent in oak barrels. The woodiness enhances the citrus oil characteristics from earlier. It's not too thin, possesses a nice texture, and while the finish does persist for a while, offering a pleasant warm spice, the overall experience from one sip to the next concludes quickly. I lack the experience to make an objective quality assessment, but I can say this seems well-crafted to me, and I appreciate that it's not excessively sweet.

It has a lovely auburn hue and produces average legs in the glass. The aroma is light, with notes of sugar and oak. One might detect a cola-like scent, as suggested by some. On the palate, it's characterized by dry, dusty oak, chocolate, and some ethanol. A subtle sweetness of vanilla and brown sugar emerges toward the finish, but there are few floral or grassy notes. It's an intriguing rum, differing from my recollections of the 12 or 18 year expressions which I quite enjoyed (oak present, but more floral character). I wish I could experience them side-by-side. It blends exceptionally well in a modernized Canchanchara (traditionally honey, lime, aguardiente, ice). Its dry qualities balance the honey and citrus, lending a deeper, earthy flavor to this otherwise vibrant drink. Quite pleasing. I suspect it would be a versatile mixer for those who prefer or dislike a sweeter rum.

Visual: Clear copper with orange undertones, medium viscosity with some slow, sparse oily legs. Nose: Vanilla, wood, cinnamon, caramel, fresh and overripe bananas, walnuts, brown sugar, cardamom, subtle earthy notes, cola, milk chocolate, lightly roasted coffee beans, faint alcohol, light grassy notes. Palate: Moderate acidity, a touch of sweetness, very mild burn, full-bodied with smooth tannins. Flavors include vanilla, baking spices, wood and nuts with cooked bananas, dark chocolate, similar lightly roasted coffee, candied orange, dark caramel, and old leather with that same light grassy note. Finish: A long, smooth finish dominated by wood, spices, and earth. Overall: Acceptable for sipping, outstanding for mixing.

The aroma presents strong vanilla and caramel alongside subtle coconut and light honey. Swirling it on the palate reveals those caramel and vanilla notes again, joined by a touch of black pepper and clove at the back of the throat. The finish is swift and clean, leaving minimal taste on the tongue. It's a very standard rum, not overly sweet, and would likely be an excellent component in a Cuba Libre. Overall score: Aroma 2.5/5; Palate 2/5; Overall 2.25/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Mixer

This rum was just fine for my palate. Generally, the aroma offered little beyond alcohol presence, though once a floral scent was detected. The palate was primarily a bit woody with some faint sweetness or caramel notes. Overall, though, I found it quite boozy. That was the most consistent characteristic I noticed from the bottle, both with and without ice. Given the many other options available, I likely won't repurchase this specific bottle.