Panamá-Pacific Rum 23-Year

The bottle is fairly reserved, with subtle "hand-written" label details that suggest a premium quality, though it's easy to miss on the shelf. The liquid appears amber with an orangey hue. Its aroma is reminiscent of brown sugar, with hints of orange peel and clove, evoking the scent of Caribbean bourbon or a distant relative of Baker's. The taste is smooth and sweet, featuring prominent brown sugar that avoids being overpowering. It's commendable that Panama-Pacific avoids adding sugar, enhancing the spirit. Flavors of burnt sugar and more orange emerge, accompanied by background notes of common baking spices, distinct from spiced rum or pumpkin pie. A noticeable, yet welcome, warmth concludes the experience, dominated by sweetness balanced by some astringency. It's an excellent spirit for sipping, and I find myself unexpectedly drawn to it, appreciating both its flavor and cost. Regarding the age statement, while rum age claims should be viewed skeptically due to less regulation than Scotch, it doesn't detract from my enjoyment. As long as it maintains this quality, I'll remain a customer and look forward to comparing it with their 9-year-old offering.

Aroma: earthy mint, molasses, vanilla, butterscotch, spiced apple, cinnamon bark, allspice, agave, floral notes, with a mild to moderate ethanol sting. Palate: sour apple, spearmint, black pepper, molasses, vanilla, butterscotch, ginger, cinnamon, clove, allspice, cherry, with a moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium-short with spearmint, ginger, molasses, and baking spice flavors. My experience with Panama-Pacific concludes with their 23 Year offering, the oldest available expression. The aroma bears a strong resemblance to the younger versions. Molasses, butterscotch, mint, baking spices, and a curious agave note that seems somewhat out of place are present. The palate, however, remains disappointingly thin and watery. Additionally, a sour apple note suggests some degree of overdilution. Frankly, all three Panama-Pacific expressions are quite similar in quality for me. The 15 and 23 were marginally superior to the 9 Year, but not significantly enough to alter my assessments. There's an odd sour, minty toothpaste sensation on the palate that is slightly off-putting. It's certainly a distinctive rum, but it just falls short for me. Another big thank you to a friend for the sample!

Rating: 16/23 Nose: Shows nice aging. Leads with varnished wood. Palate: Well-balanced. The alcohol is not prominent. I detect varnished wood with a pleasant sweet caramel and a light brown sugar layer over vanilla. Spices like cinnamon and ginger are present, with white pepper adding a vegetal note and heat for balance. I don't really taste fruit, but if you suggested tropical fruit notes were faintly present, I could accept that. There's a bit more of that sandalwood vanilla compared to the 15-year-old version. Finish: Varnish, caramel, wood, and a numbing sensation. A hint of white pepper along with vegetal and unusual herbal notes mark the long finish. - Conclusion - This surpasses Panamá-Pacific 15 (15/23) and Frigate 15. While not an exceptional rum, it is enjoyable. The price is a bit high, but I don't deeply regret the purchase. I consider this a solid 16. It might be a high 16, but not quite a 17. If it is a 17, then it's a low 17. Highland Park 16 Wings of the Eagle (17/23) offers more complexity with less youthful character.

Shout out to Matt Rice for this rum sample! Rum isn't my usual go-to; I've only tried a few. This is by choice, as my preference for red wine, whiskey, and mezcal means I can't afford to develop a taste for other spirits. I'm also unsure if rum should be neat or mixed. However, this particular rum would make it difficult to believe it's intended for mixing. The aroma presents sugar and burnt caramel, but the palate surprisingly reveals a touch of grassy notes. Perhaps it's a reminder that sugar originates from grass. I don't know the price, but rum enthusiasts should definitely consider this. As a side note, the 23 years of aging aren't apparent; I would have expected more wood influence, especially given the tropical aging environment. The absence of that was unexpected. Regardless, it's truly excellent. Thanks again to Matt for the sample!

Wow. Possibly the finest rum tasting experience ever. Embodies the perfect rum. Notes of brown sugar, banana, and ripe stone fruit. Outstanding. The ultimate rum.

The aroma is sweet with vanilla and maple. The taste is slightly sweet, not excessively so. Faint oak on the finish balances it.