Today, I've had the pleasure of enjoying three variants (completely pure) of this delightful rum adventure, all of which are available in Denmark:
Ron Izalco 10 Year Old, 70 cl, 43%
This first offering from the producer is a blend of the finest from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Panama, made from molasses from the best Central American sugarcane and aged for 10 years. The result is a complex and beautiful amber rum. The nose is well-balanced with a sweet fruity aroma, where hints of apricot, plum, honey, and vanilla sugar can be detected. The taste starts mild and sweet despite the long aging process and slowly unfolds into a little fireworks display of chili, sweet citrus, and caramelized banana. You can sense a touch of charred American oak and good pipe tobacco in the background. The finish is long and intense with tannins that mingle well with all the nuances of the rum's flavors. A tasting experience that absolutely invites repetition.
Ron Izalco 10 Year Old Cask Strength, 70 cl, 60.1%
I'm not quite sure how we Danes manage to persuade producers to deliver exclusives to our market, but here's another example with a bang for the buck. Based on the traditional Ron Izalco 10 Year Old, a version in full cask strength has been bottled exclusively for us Danes (and our tourists) to enjoy. The nose has kicked it up a notch, so the aforementioned aromas are now accompanied by a small group of esters and some exotic spices. The tasting experience has also been amped up with notes of dried fruit and a bit more smoke. It delivers a surprisingly smooth and mild finish despite the cask strength and lingers in the palate with its seductive complexity. Sometimes it's good to be Danish.
Ron Izalco 15 Year Old Cask Strength, 70 cl, 55.3%
Here, they've added another country to the blend, namely Guyana, which falls slightly outside the Central American matrix but is well-received by us rum enthusiasts. They've also given it an extra five years in the old bourbon barrels. The result is a slightly deeper color and a higher level of intensity with a quite reasonable cask strength and a delightful umami character in the overall expression. The nose is gently filled with cigar notes, butter caramel, and candied fruit, and even though the experience is complex, spicy, and intense, it's pleasant and well-balanced. When it first hits the palate, it feels even more intense, and if it weren't for the strength, you might think you've been served a good glass of red wine. On the back of the palate, you'll get a bit of smoke, plenty of citrus, and dried sweet fruit complemented by notes of peach and pineapple. The finish is long and warm with pleasant hints of smoke that continue their harmonious partnership with the sweet and fruity flavors in this rum. And fortunately, it takes its time to fade away. Hardcore aficionados tend to wrinkle their noses and try to avoid anything with Ron as a first name. Sometimes, I'm inclined to agree with them, but this little round with Ron Izalco has been a good and pleasantly surprising experience. In any case, I'll keep an eye on this exciting producer and look forward to what the future holds from that direction.
