Rolling fork El Salvador 11 yr

Among the finest rums I've encountered. You get the typical rum characteristics like molasses, banana, and a hint of coconut. The palate offers butterscotch, vanilla, pineapple, and some black tea. Most notably, there's an accompanying spice in the finish. This rum underwent partial aging in rye barrels, imparting rye notes like allspice, cinnamon, and some pepper. No harshness. It has a pleasant, woody finish. It's well-balanced, and the higher proof is a plus. I purchased it for $60 and feel it's a great value.

There is only one distillery in El Salvador that produces rum in significant quantities. The rum was matured for 10 years in El Salvador, followed by 22 months in Kentucky (so it's not quite an additional two years, which explains the 11-year designation). The initial batch is called "fire" and is a mixture of various barrel types, including ex-bourbon, ex-port, ex-sherry, and ex-rye.

This is truly an exceptional rum. It achieves near-perfect balance between sweetness and spice. No funkiness. Extremely smooth. It rivals many rums at a higher price point. I'm on my fourth bottle – it's that good. I wish I knew the distillery.

A truly remarkable rum. Abundant notes of candied sugar, long fruity herbs, and a significant amount of vanilla toffee. It was worth every penny and every drop.