ABUELO... New or old - by Rum blogger Paw Sørensen

Our rum blogger Paw Sørensen has smelled and tasted the rum series from Abuelo. Read more here: ABUELO first saw the light of day in 1960 and since then there has been a small collection of different vintages and brands within ABUELO rum which I will be tasting this time.

Post by Paw Sørensen This version of a rum is called ABUELO. Valera Hermanos is a 100% Panamanian company. Valera Harmanos started the first sugar mill in 1908 in the newly formed Republic of Panama. Since then, they have been dedicated to all aspects of production, distribution and wholesale of spirits, bulk rum and denatured alcohol. They are the proud producer of several different drinks, and one of them is this, and must admit, it's a lovely rum. The name means grandfather, and why it's called that could well be that when Valera Hermanos died at the age of 71 in 1944, he became a grandfather. Perhaps this version of a very good rum should pay tribute to him? Valera was persuaded by his children to distill alcohol from sugar cane in 1936, and that was the start. ABUELO 12 YEARS, AÑEJO GRAN RESERVA PANAMA The first one I taste is the one in the picture. The rum is column distilled and then it is put into specially selected white oak barrels, 12 years in the same barrel under tropical heat. the right amount of sugar and spices give the right flavor. The aroma should be chocolate, cocoa, burnt almond. This 12 year ABUELO came into the ABUELO family in 2008 My conclusion... There is a slight taste of alcohol at first, but it is quickly gone, followed by a good warmth in the mouth. The warmth jumps into a satisfyingly complex flavor, which to me seems delightfully mild and pleasant.

The scent offers a fresh note of very mild spirit and a slightly sweet scent in a good way. Just right For me, it's also a matter of the eyes, if the bottle catches the eye, if it's made a little extra out of it, if the color is "nice" and appealing... And here the color is pleasant and a little on the dark side, but not too much. The bottle is unfortunately a bit on the old-fashioned side, but gives a good impression of 1960. the final product is all in all a good device, a good experience... but that's my opinion.

ABUELO 7 YEARS, AÑEJO, PANAMA The next in the line of ABUELO is a 7 year. It's a little strong on the nose, but you're not intimidated, the scent of orange is present if you smell it. And the cask comes into its own here, it can clearly be sensed, but in a good way. Someone like me who has reservations about too much smoky flavor thinks about it. But let me say that in the taste, it is extremely welcome. If I were to quickly compare the 12 and 7 year old, the 12 year old is sweeter in aroma and taste. The 7 year is more powerful, but in a good way. In conclusion, I would say that these two are good rums for the price... are they expensive you might think, and no, surprisingly enough. To return to HR Hermanos for a moment. He was born in 1873 in Montecelio, Galicia. And at the age of 18 and with big dreams, he left for America. In 1893, at the age of 20, he arrived in Panama, in a town called Pese, Herrera. In 1904 he married the daughter of a local businessman. Raquel Arjona and, as written, in 1908 he opens the first sugar mill in the heart of Pese, Herrera, named Ingenio San Isidro.

ABUELO XV 15 YEARS NAPOLEON, PANAMA The one I'm going to take a look at is this ABUELO Napoleon xv. It's a 15 year. It is part of ABUELO's 2016 Collection Finish release, it contains some Oloroso sherry and Tawny port. From ABUELO's 12 year old edition to their centuria edition, this xv Napoleon is a rum that lies between them. The rum is said to be blended with ABULEO's finest reserves, and after the initial aging in American oak barrels is completed, it enters Napoleon Cognac barrels for the final time before bottling. The Cognac aroma is faintly present, otherwise a pleasant quiet sweetness and the taste is on the spicy side, with a long aftertaste on the spicy end.

ABUELO XV TAWNY PORT CASK FINISH, PANAMA Abuelo XV Tawny is another good indication that Abuelo is producing a good collection of rums. Abuelo XV Tawny is one of 3 bottlings in the XV Finish Collection. All 3 rums are 15 years old and have been finished in a cask that has previously been used to store other spirits. The names of the 3 rums not only reflect the character of the cask, but also the location that inspired the rum's design. Napoleon is Cognac from France, Oloroso is Sherry from Spain and Tawny is port wine from Portugal. The aroma of Tawny gives notes of port wine, of course, but also vanilla and orange. The taste I find spicy, maybe a little tobacco in the aftertaste. All in all, if you like port wine, I think this one will be to your taste.

ABUELO XV OLOROSO SHERRY CASK FINISH, PANAMA The last in the series of 3 rums is ABUELO XV Oloroso Sherry Cask, the process for this rum is the same as the other two, except for the finishing process. The cask that Olorosoén has been in is a Sherry cask. The aroma offers vanilla, tangerine, dried fruit and leather, albeit faintly. The taste is creamy, slightly spicy, with an aftertaste that lingers for quite some time, with notes of orange.

It was in 2001 that the first bottles of ABUELO arrived outside the Panamanian border. So let me summarize the timeline: 2001, the export of ABUELOstarts 2005. ABUELO 7 Anos sees the world for the first time 2008. ABUELO 12 Anos is added to the family 2010. ABUELO Centuria, their first solera aged rum and the family reserve celebrates its 100th anniversary. 2015. ABUELO Port, Cognac and Sherry see the light of day. I will take the liberty of saying that Abuelo Port, Cognac and Sherry rums are incredibly similar and yet they have such different flavors. ABUELO is a rum that can appeal to a lot of people. The price can in no way scare anyone, as it is in the reasonable low end. Highly recommended...... Paw Sørensen