Without Goslings Black Seal, a Dark and Stormy would just be gin and lemonade under a different name, the rum is the actual cornerstone of Bermuda's signature cocktail.

Expert description

Goslings Black Seal is a Bermuda Rum matured in previously used, charred American oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Gosling Brothers, a family-owned company founded in 1806 and still owned by the same family today. Black Seal is a blend of pot still and column still distillates, historically named after the black wax seal the family used to close bottles when the rum was sold loose from casks and poured into reused champagne bottles. Today, Black Seal is the cornerstone of the Dark and Stormy, the cocktail whose name Gosling Brothers has itself trademarked.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fruitcake, herbs and spice, caramel, banana and vanilla, with cloves, cinnamon and orange peel.

Palate

Gently sweet with tones of caramel and molasses, unfolding into gingerbread dusted with spice, plus ginger and a hint of black liquorice.

Finish

Long, sweet and spiced with brown sugar, ginger warmth, dark cocoa, charred oak and a hint of raisins and prunes.

Specifications

Bottler: Gosling Brothers
Region/Country: Bermuda
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Whisky Charred American Oak
EAN no.: 5391338002060
Serving suggestion: In a Dark and Stormy with ginger beer

Flavour profile

Spiced · Caramel · Molasses · Full-bodied · Sweet

Did you know?

Gosling Brothers has trademarked the name Dark and Stormy in the US, meaning a bar can technically only call the drink that if it actually contains Goslings Black Seal Rum.

See our full range of Goslings

In Austrian kitchens there is no Sachertorte or Kaiserschmarrn without a dash of Stroh. The red bottle is as Austrian as the Alps themselves.

Expert description

Stroh Original 80% is a Rum from Austria, bottled at a cask-strength-like 80%, one of Europe's most recognised high-proof spirits for baking and hot drinks.

Stroh was founded in 1832 by Sebastian Stroh in Klagenfurt and has since become an institution in Austrian cooking and bar culture. The iconic red label covers a powerful spirit with a clear rum character, historically categorised under the Austrian designation Inländer Rum. The 80% strength makes it primarily a kitchen workhorse, used for flambéing, Rumkugeln, Sachertorte and punch, while it also features in classic hot drinks like Jagertee.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense caramel and burnt sugar, with a warm, almost medicinal sweetness.

Palate

Powerful and burning sweetness with notes of vanilla and dark caramel, dominated by the high strength.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering sweetness and a hint of spice.

Bottler: Stroh
Region/Country: Austria
Type: Rum
ABV: 80%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 9001700000032
Serving suggestion: For baking, flambéing and hot drinks

Flavour profile

Powerful · Sweet · Caramel · Warming

Did you know?

Stroh is so ingrained in Austrian culture that the bottle is often simply called "der Stroh" and used as much in the kitchen as in the bar, where the 80% strength edition is rarely drunk neat.

See our full range of Stroh

In an old train workshop hall at Nyborg harbour, the Rømer brothers have built something rare in the Danish spirits world: a distillery where rum isn't just a side production, but a discipline of its own, made entirely organic.

Expert Description

Nyborg Distillery Organic Single Sherry Ørbæk is a Danish Rum aged in sherry casks and bottled at 55%.

The rum is distilled and matured by Nyborg Distillery, Denmark's largest craft distillery, housed in a converted train workshop hall by the harbour in Nyborg. Everything the distillery produces is organic, and this rum is no exception. For this Single Sherry edition, sherry casks are used exclusively, giving a deeper, more spiced and wine-like character than the house's bourbon-barrel-aged rum.

Nicolai and Niels Rømer took over the empty buildings in 2011 and opened the modern distillery in 2017, after first experimenting with whisky, gin and rum at their brewery in Ørbæk since 2009, which explains why Ørbæk still appears in the name of several of the house's products.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins and walnut meet caramel and a hint of oak spice from the sherry cask.

Palate

Full-bodied and spiced with brown sugar, dark chocolate and a clear sherry sweetness that binds together with the sugar cane's natural character.

Finish

Long and warm with a final hint of dried fruit and oak.

Specifications

Name: Nyborg Distillery Organic Single Sherry
Distillery: Nyborg Distillery
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: Rum
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry casks
Natural Colour: Yes
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sherry-driven · Full-bodied · Warm · Danish craft

Did You Know?

Nyborg Distillery is housed in a former train workshop hall at Nyborg harbour, an industrial building originally used to repair locomotives before the Rømer brothers transformed it into Denmark's largest craft distillery.

See our full range of Nyborg Distillery

There is rum, and then there are drinks that use rum as a starting point for something else entirely. Elixir de Cuba belongs to the latter category, and makes no secret of it.

Expert description

Ron Mulata de Cuba Elixir de Cuba is a Spirit Drink based on Cuban rum blended with dark grapes and bottled at 34%.

The elixir is produced by Ron Mulata, Cuba's second best-selling rum brand, by adding small dark grapes to a long cask-matured rum base. This results in a sugar content exceeding the Cuban limit for the term rum, which is why it is correctly sold as a Spirit Drink. The style is sweeter and rounder than classic Cuban rum, intended to be enjoyed neat or in sweet mixes.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sugarcane, coffee and a hint of tobacco.

Palate

Intense sweetness with sugarcane and white chocolate, carried by the long cask maturation.

Finish

Softly rounded and lingeringly sweet.

Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 34%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat, on the rocks or with dessert

Flavour profile

Sweet · Chocolate · Fruity · Soft

Did you know?

Ron Mulata is Cuba's second largest rum brand after Havana Club and is known for experimenting with sweet variants like Elixir de Cuba, a style rooted in the Cuban tradition of refining rum with local fruits and syrups.

See our full range of Ron Mulata

In Cuba's bars there is a rum people reach for when the price needs to be right and the drink needs to taste clean, not Havana Club, but Mulata.

Expert description

Ron Mulata de Cuba Silver Dry is a Cuban Rum, unaged and bottled at 38%.

The rum is produced at the Heriberto Duquesne distillery in Villa Clara, Cuba, and is one of the country's best-selling brands, second only to Havana Club. Silver Dry is made from pure Cuban sugar syrup without any cask maturation, giving it a dry, sharp profile rather than the sweeter, rounder styles often found in darker rums. It is intended as a straightforward cocktail rum for everyday use rather than a bottle to sip neat.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powdered white sugar and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Dry and spiced, with citrus peel and peppery notes.

Finish

Short and sharp, with a clean close.

Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Cuban Rum
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: In a Mojito, Cuba Libre or other cocktails

Flavour profile

Dry · Spiced · Clean · Fresh

Did you know?

Ron Mulata is, after Havana Club, the best-selling rum brand on the Cuban domestic market and is the rum most often found behind the bar in Cuban bars, where Havana Club is typically reserved for tourists and export.

See our full range of Ron Mulata

Some drinks insist on being pure rum. Legendario Elixir de Cuba does the opposite, making no secret of being something entirely its own.

Expert description

Legendario Elixir de Cuba 7 Year is a Spirit Drink based on Cuban rum matured up to 7 years, blended with raisin extract and bottled at 34%.

The elixir is made by Legendario, a Cuban house founded in 1946, by blending cask-matured rum with an extract of grapes and raisins. Because Cuban law only permits up to 20 grams of added sugar per litre for a spirit to be called rum, this drink correctly falls into the Spirit Drink category instead, with a thicker, more dessert-like style than classic rum. The result is a sweet, easy-drinking bottle that is simple to enjoy both neat and in simple mixes.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, especially raisins and prunes, with vanilla, caramel and a hint of light tobacco.

Palate

Caramelised raisin, vanilla, chocolate and soft oak, in an almost liqueur-like, smooth texture.

Finish

Softly rounded, with lingering sweetness and light oak.

Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Spirit Drink
Age: Up to 7 years
ABV: 34%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8500000191026
Serving suggestion: Neat, on the rocks or with dessert

Flavour profile

Sweet · Raisin · Caramel · Soft

Did you know?

The label "Elixir" on Cuban bottles is not random, it is the legally required category for rum-based drinks exceeding 20 grams of added sugar per litre, which makes Legendario Elixir de Cuba a legally distinct drink from the house's more classic rums.

See our full range of Legendario

Pampero is named after the powerful wind that sweeps across the Venezuelan plains, and the Blanco expression carries some of that same light, fresh energy.

Expert description

Pampero Blanco is a Ron Anejo matured up to 4 years and bottled at 37.5%.

The rum comes from Industrias Pampero, founded in Caracas in 1938 and today part of the Italian spirits company Gruppo Montenegro. The rum is made from high-quality sugarcane, matured up to 4 years in former whisky casks of white American oak and then filtered through activated charcoal, giving it its clear, light colour despite the maturation.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and creamy with blackcurrant, cotton candy, green apple, banana, caramel and vanilla.

Palate

Vanilla and caramel toffee meet white cacao, dried coconut flakes and a hint of mango.

Finish

Short with a touch of coconut and a light alcoholic warmth.

Specifications

Distillery: Industrias Pampero
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Ron Anejo
Age: Up to 4 years
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Whisky White American Oak
EAN no.: 8028286000202
Serving suggestion: In a Cuba Libre or other light cocktail

Flavour profile

Light · Creamy · Fruity · Vanilla · Fresh

Did you know?

Pampero is named after "el pampero", the powerful, cold wind that sweeps down from the Andes across the South American pampas plains, an image the founders used to describe the rum's character from the brand's very start in 1938.

See our full range of Pampero

Where Blanco stays light, Especial goes the other way: darker, sweeter and with a fullness that clearly shows its time in the cask.

Expert description

Pampero Especial is a Ron Anejo matured up to 4 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Industrias Pampero in Caracas, founded in 1938 and today part of the Italian spirits company Gruppo Montenegro. The Especial expression is a harmonious blend of several rum distillates, matured up to 4 years in casks of white American oak, giving it a darker, fuller character than the Blanco expression with clear notes of caramel and spice.

Tasting notes

Nose

Nutella, peanut butter, roasted coffee and cacao nibs, alongside chocolate-dipped marshmallows, ripe bananas and orange zest.

Palate

Light sweetness reminiscent of caramel and vanilla, with Demerara sugar, muscovado sugar, spiced orange, cloves and ginger.

Finish

Vanilla and toffee with a touch of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Distillery: Industrias Pampero
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Ron Anejo
Age: Up to 4 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon White American Oak
EAN no.: 8028286000240
Serving suggestion: Over ice or in a Dark and Stormy

Flavour profile

Caramel · Spiced · Chocolate · Full-bodied · Round

Did you know?

Pampero was Venezuela's first rum to be aged for more than two years, a milestone the brand reached as early as 1938, laying the foundation for the house's later focus on age-stated releases.

See our full range of Pampero

1938 is the year Pampero was founded, and Seleccion 1938 is the house's way of marking that milestone without going all the way to the Aniversario tier.

Expert description

Pampero Seleccion 1938 is a Ron Anejo matured around 5-6 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Industrias Pampero, founded in Caracas in 1938 and today part of the Italian spirits company Gruppo Montenegro. Seleccion 1938 is named after the founding year and matures in oak casks that previously held bourbon whisky, giving a round, balanced rum with an amber colour and a profile that sits between the house's lighter Especial and the more prestigious Aniversario.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced and sweet with vanilla, caramel and a delicate oak tone.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied with a beautiful balance between sweetness and spice, accompanied by a light whisky note, plus burnt caramel, coffee, tea and a touch of burnt flavour with a pleasant chocolate note.

Finish

Long and warm with a discreet oak and caramel tone.

Specifications

Distillery: Industrias Pampero
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Ron Anejo
Age: 5-6 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon
EAN no.: 8028286000301
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass or over ice

Flavour profile

Round · Spiced · Caramel · Balanced · Full-bodied

Did you know?

Seleccion 1938 functions as Pampero's middle step between the house's everyday rums and the prestige release Aniversario, making it a natural introduction for those wanting to explore the house's more mature styles without going straight for the most expensive bottle.

See our full range of Pampero

Some rums need no introduction. Captain Morgan is one of the most recognisable names on the shelf, and Dark Jamaica is the house's classic, dark edition.

Expert description

Captain Morgan Dark Jamaica is a Rum, blended from selected Caribbean rums and matured in heavily charred oak casks for at least two years, bottled at 40%.

The brand takes its name from the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan, who made a career at sea in the 17th century and later became governor of Jamaica. The rum is a secret blend of fine Caribbean rums, which after distillation matures in heavily charred oak casks, giving it its characteristic dark colour and deep flavour. Captain Morgan is today owned by British spirits company Diageo.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich caramel, charred oak and sweet brown sugar.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied with chewy toffee and ripe banana.

Finish

Soft close with lingering caramel and a hint of spice.

Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Heavily charred oak
EAN no.: 5000281022482
Serving suggestion: Neat, on the rocks or in cocktails

Flavour profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Caramel · Dark

Did you know?

Captain Morgan is named after Henry Morgan, a Welsh privateer born in 1635, who in 1680 was appointed governor of Jamaica after a career as a privateer captain in British service.

See our full range of Captain Morgan

The world's best-known spiced rum is named after a man who really existed, and whose life was at least as colourful as the bottle.

Expert description

Captain Morgan Original Spiced is a Rum, blended from Caribbean rums, real Madagascar vanilla and natural spices, bottled at 35%.

The brand was launched in 1982 and is today one of the world's best-selling rum brands, named after the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan, who was born in 1635 and later went to sea as a privateer in British service. In 1673 he was knighted, and in 1680 he was appointed governor of Jamaica. Original Spiced is the house's spiced flagship, built on a secret blend of Caribbean rums infused with vanilla and spices.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cinnamon, clove and dried fruit, with sweet caramelised sugar.

Palate

Soft and medium-bodied with vanilla and honey.

Finish

Spiced close with lingering sweetness.

Type: Rum
ABV: 35%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5000299223017
Serving suggestion: Neat, on the rocks or in cocktails

Flavour profile

Spiced · Sweet · Soft · Vanilla

Did you know?

Henry Morgan first went to sea in 1654 and subsequently defended British interests as a privateer, before being knighted in 1673 and appointed governor of Jamaica in 1680.

See our full range of Captain Morgan

Caraibe is one of the brands many Danes grew up with in the bar cabinet, without necessarily knowing how old the tradition behind it is.

Expert description

Caraibe Ron Peter is a Rum, blended from older casks primarily from Barbados, bottled at 42%.

The rum is a Danish classic, a blended-style rum that has historically held a firm place in the Danish bar cabinet. Ron Peter is named as part of a series where several Caraibe releases carry personal names, and is built around old casks from Barbados, an island known for its round, well-developed rum style with a classic toffee and sugar character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Brown sugar and caramelised sugar, with orange, toffee, marzipan and coconut.

Palate

Round and sweet with vanilla and caramel, supported by a soft, well-developed cask character.

Finish

Softly rounded with lingering sweetness and a hint of nuts.

Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Round · Sweet · Caramel · Classic

Did you know?

The Caraibe series names its releases after people, with Ron Peter among the most well-known, alongside sibling releases like Ron Amalie and Ron Charlotte.

See our full range of rum

Rum from a Danish island sounds almost like a joke. But on Funen, Nyborg Distillery has taken up the challenge and made a white rum entirely without Caribbean sugarcane roots.

Expert description

Fionia White Rum is a White Rum from Denmark, handcrafted and organic, bottled at 38%.

The rum comes from Nyborg Distillery on Funen, which produces under the Isle of Fionia brand. Fionia White Rum is the distillery's take on a classic white rum, produced on a small scale with organic ingredients, giving it a cleaner, more artisanal profile than many industrially produced white rum brands. It is a rum that proves rum craftsmanship isn't reserved for the traditional producer countries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh sugarcane and light vanilla, with a clean, almost mineral character.

Palate

Light and dry with a subtle sweetness, supported by a fresh, green sugarcane character.

Finish

Short and clean, without heavy or dominant notes.

Distillery: Nyborg Distillery
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: White Rum
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: In a mojito or daiquiri

Flavour profile

Light · Clean · Fresh · Dry

Did you know?

Nyborg Distillery, located on the island of Funen, is better known for its single malt whisky under the Isle of Fionia brand, but has also ventured into rum to show that the distillery's craft extends beyond whisky.

See our full range of rum

The sugar cane grows right down to the coast in Trinidad, and the molasses from it ends up in tall distillation columns. The rum that comes out is young and raw. Then come the spices. And then comes the bottle with two handles on the neck and a sea monster dragging a sailing ship into the deep.

Expert description

Kraken Spiced Black Trinidad Rum is a Spiced Rum from Trinidad, made from molasses rum aged 1-2 years and bottled at 40%.

The base rum comes from Angostura Distillery in Trinidad, where it is column-distilled from cane molasses. After a couple of years in cask it is blended with a spice recipe that Proximo Spirits keeps close to its chest. Cinnamon, ginger and cloves are the only ones officially confirmed. Caramel gives it its final, almost jet-black colour, which is also why it cannot claim to be naturally coloured.

Kraken hit the market in 2010 and quickly became the bottle people pointed at behind the bar before they had even tasted it. The name comes from the Norse legend of the sea monster, and the bottle shape is copied from old Victorian rum bottles with two handles on the neck, so they could be lashed down on board a ship in rough weather.

It is a rum built to be mixed. The sweetness and spices stand up strongly enough to be felt through ginger beer, cola and coffee without disappearing.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and caramel first, heavy and sweet. Then cinnamon, a touch of lime and something reminiscent of coffee grounds and liquorice.

Palate

Thick and syrupy. Molasses, brown sugar, cloves and nutmeg, with a dark roasted note in the background like espresso and toasted oak.

Finish

Long and peppery. The spices linger, the sweetness fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Kraken Spiced Black Trinidad Rum 40%
Distillery: Angostura Distillery
Bottler: Proximo Spirits
Region/Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Type: Spiced Rum
Age: 1-2 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Column distilled
Serving suggestion: Tall glass with plenty of ice, ginger beer and a big wedge of lime

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sweet · Vanilla · Dark · Cinnamon

Did You Know?

Kraken is sold in the US at 47%, while the European bottling sits at 40%. Same black bottle, same label - just a touch sharper on the other side of the Atlantic.

See our full range of Kraken

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There's rum, and then there's rum that smells of varnish and copper before it turns fruity at all. Smith & Cross is the latter category, a faithful copy of the powerful style English bars once built their tiki drinks around.

Expert Description

Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum is a Jamaica Rum from pot still distillate and bottled at 57%.

The rum consists entirely of Wedderburn and Plummer pot still marks, two classic, high-ester Jamaican styles known for caramelised banana, exotic fruit and an earthy, funky finish. The brand is produced by Hayman Distillers, which considers itself the successor to the historic houses Smith & Tyers and White Cross, which once operated side by side for generations.

At 57% and with its powerful, pot still-driven character, Smith & Cross is built to carry through even the most flavour-intense tiki cocktails without drowning in ice, fruit and syrup.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful varnish and glue-like aroma with a hint of copper, overripe banana, leather, spice and molasses.

Palate

Almost buttery start that quickly explodes into tobacco, tropical fruit, cinnamon and clove.

Finish

Surprisingly creamy with a lingering, spiced warmth and underlying tinned pineapple and tropical fruit.

Specifications

Name: Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum
Bottler: Hayman Distillers
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Rum
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Pot still distillation (Wedderburn and Plummer)
EAN: 5021692500963
Serving Suggestion: In powerful tiki cocktails such as Mai Tai or Jungle Bird

Flavour Profile

Funky · Ester-rich · Powerful · Tropical · Spiced

Did You Know?

Wedderburn and Plummer aren't distilleries but the names of two classic, very high ester marks in Jamaican rum production, a technique dating back to 19th-century attempts to create as powerful and aromatic a rum as possible for the European market.

See our full range of Smith & Cross

Muscovado sugar, tobacco and leather on the nose. Not the notes you would expect from a 12-year-old rum, but Dictador has always gone its own way.

Expert description

Dictador 12 Years Solera Ultra Premium Reserve is a Rum from Colombia, matured using the solera method in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum matures through Dictador's solera system, where rum from multiple vintages and cask types is blended in stages to achieve depth and a consistent character. Behind the rum stands Destilería Colombiana in Cartagena, founded in 1913, and the combination of bourbon and sherry casks gives this 12-year-old edition a richer, more complex profile than the house's younger expressions.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft caramel, honey, dried seeds and lightly roasted coffee, with muscovado sugar, cherry, tobacco and leather.

Palate

Round and soft, with caramel, cocoa and honey, plus creamy spiced oak, caramel syrup and cherry.

Finish

Smoky cigar tobacco, dark bitter chocolate and espresso, with a long, soft close.

Region/Country: Colombia
Type: Rum
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, solera method
EAN no.: 5902670848768
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Rich · Spiced · Tobacco · Coffee

Did you know?

Dictador's solera system is built on the same method traditionally used to age sherry in Spain, where rum from multiple vintages is gradually blended through a system of casks.

See our full range of Dictador

The lightest of El Dorado's age statements is still full-bodied enough to belie its mere five years in cask.

Expert description

El Dorado 5 Year is a Demerara Rum from Guyana, matured for at least 5 years in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is distilled by Demerara Distillers at the Diamond plant and represents the entry point to the house's age range. Although it is the youngest of the named El Dorado releases, it already carries the characteristic Demerara sweetness and richness that made the brand famous, making it a versatile rum that works just as well in a cocktail as sipped neat.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lively with dried tropical fruit, caramel, butterscotch and molasses, led by caramel and vanilla, followed by banana and pineapple with a hint of cinnamon.

Palate

A vibrant, spicy entry evolving through fruit, caramel and toasted coconut, fading to a vanilla-tinted glow, with burnt sugar and dried fruit like raisins and prunes plus a touch of dark chocolate.

Finish

Short and dry, with a lingering toasted oak note and a subtle hint of liquorice and molasses.

Specifications

Distillery: El Dorado (Demerara Distillers)
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Demerara Rum
Age: 5 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8715151050782
Serving suggestion: Over ice or in a Rum & Cola

Flavour profile

Caramel · Tropical · Spiced · Smooth · Accessible

Did you know?

Although El Dorado 5 Year is the youngest release in the house's age range, it uses the same Demerara base and the same historic still styles as the far older, more expensive releases, simply matured for less time.

See our full range of El Dorado

The name Matusalem comes from the Bible's oldest man, Methuselah, and there is something fitting in that: a rum built on an ageing method that never quite stops.

Expert description

Ron Matusalem 15 Gran Reserva Solera is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, matured through the solera system and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Matusalem, a house originally founded in Santiago de Cuba and now producing in the Dominican Republic. The solera system, originally borrowed from sherry and brandy production, means the number 15 is not a fixed minimum age for every drop, but a reflection of the average maturation level in an ongoing blend, where no more than a third of each cask is drawn off every three months and replaced with rum from the level above. The result is a rum with a deep, layered sweetness and a surprising complexity for its price bracket.

Tasting notes

Nose

Woody notes, dry citrus and rich caramel.

Palate

Oak, tropical fruit such as banana and papaya, dates and raisins, seasoned with sweet baking spice.

Finish

Chocolate, caramel and a hint of citrus that fades gently.

Distillery: Matusalem
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: Solera 15
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Solera oak casks
EAN no.: 0766094010072
Serving suggestion: Neat or in a mellow rum cocktail

Flavour profile

Caramel · Fruity · Oak · Sweet

Did you know?

The Matusalem family fled Cuba after the 1959 revolution and restarted production in the Dominican Republic, but the name and the solera tradition from Santiago de Cuba still live on in every bottle.

See our full range of Ron Matusalem

Sugarcane juice instead of molasses, and a solera system borrowed from the world of sherry – it is no accident that Ron Zacapa 23 has become one of the world's most recognisable rums.

Expert description

Ron Zacapa 23 is a Ron de Guatemala, composed through a Sistema Solera and bottled at 40%.

Unlike most rums, Ron Zacapa is made from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, and the rum matures at a facility in Guatemala's highlands, where the natural cooling affects the maturation. The solera system, in which younger and older rums are gradually blended through stacked casks of American oak, sherry and Pedro Ximénez wine, gives Ron Zacapa 23 its characteristic, layered sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft, sweet start with caramel, vanilla, cocoa and butterscotch, followed by sherried notes of roasted Brazil nuts and toasted hazelnut, rounded out by toffee, banana and dried pineapple.

Palate

Full-bodied with caramel, vanilla and cocoa, complemented by spice and oak, along with aromas of roasted figs, dried black cherries and maple syrup.

Finish

Medium length and complex with dark chocolate, figs, cherries, pipe tobacco, espresso beans and nougat.

Specifications

Distillery: Ron Zacapa
Region/Country: Guatemala
Type: Ron de Guatemala
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak, Sherry and Pedro Ximénez
EAN no.: 7401005008580
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Caramel · Cocoa · Sherry · Sweet · Complex

Did you know?

Ron Zacapa was created in 1976 to mark the centenary of the town of Zacapa in Guatemala, and the rum is deliberately matured at a high-altitude facility, where the natural cooling makes maturation slower than traditional Caribbean ageing at sea level.

See our full range of Ron Zacapa

Where Blanco and Especial are the house's everyday rums, Aniversario is the one Pampero celebrates with, complete with its signature leather pouch.

Expert description

Pampero Aniversario is a Ron Extra Añejo, a blend of rums matured 4-6 years, bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Industrias Pampero, founded in Caracas in 1938 and today part of the Italian spirits company Gruppo Montenegro. Aniversario is the house's prestige release, matured in whisky and bourbon casks, giving a concentrated, rich flavour with a pronounced cocoa and tobacco character. The rum is traditionally sold in a distinctive leather pouch that has been part of Pampero's identity for decades.

Tasting notes

Nose

Full and rich with dominant cocoa and a hint of vanilla, plus butter biscuit, dried tropical fruits, toasted oak, orange peel, dark honey and a touch of roasted almonds.

Palate

Cocoa hits first, followed by vanilla, leather and a light woodiness from the casks, with dark chocolate, tobacco, caramel and roasted coffee.

Finish

Extraordinarily long and warming with traces of molasses, cinnamon and a gentle oakiness.

Specifications

Distillery: Industrias Pampero
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Ron Extra Añejo
Age: 4-6 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Whisky and Ex-Bourbon
EAN no.: 8028286000325
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Cocoa · Leather · Tobacco · Rich · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The distinctive leather pouch Pampero Aniversario is traditionally sold in was originally conceived as a practical way to protect the bottle during transport in the Venezuelan highlands, but has today become a trademarked part of the bottle's identity.

See our full range of Pampero

1919 is the year the House of Angostura truly began exporting its rum from Trinidad, and the name is the house's tribute to that legacy.

Expert description

Angostura 1919 is a Caribbean Rum from Trinidad matured 8 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from House of Angostura, founded in Venezuela in 1824 and relocated to Trinidad in 1875, today world-renowned for both its rum and its aromatic bitters. Angostura 1919 is a blend of rums matured in ex-bourbon casks in the Caribbean heat, which accelerates maturation compared to cooler climates, resulting in a warm, round and well-balanced rum with a pronounced focus on vanilla and caramel.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich caramel and vanilla, toasted oak and warm baking spices, with a light fruitiness of ripe bananas and dried apricots plus a touch of cocoa.

Palate

Dry and medium-bodied with roasted nuts, creamy vanilla, brown spices and tropical nuances.

Finish

Soft and silky with buttery caramel, vanilla and molasses, well-balanced and not overly sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: House of Angostura
Region/Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Type: Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon
EAN no.: 0075496331969
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass or over ice

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Caramel · Round · Soft · Tropical

Did you know?

House of Angostura is probably best known for its aromatic bitters, whose exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, but the rum brand builds on the same long tradition of precise blending and maturation on Trinidad.

See our full range of Angostura

Where Superior Gold is soft and immediate, the 7 year expression steps up in dryness and depth, without letting go of the house's signature vanilla.

Expert description

Angostura 7 Year is a Caribbean Rum from Trinidad, a blend of rums matured a minimum of 7 years, bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from House of Angostura, founded in Venezuela in 1824 and relocated to Trinidad in 1875. The 7 year expression is blended from rums that have each had at least 7 years of maturation before blending and bottling, giving a medium-bodied character with a drier, spicier structure than the house's younger releases and a distinct coffee and cocoa note.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and creamy caramel, with hints of honey and tropical fruit, plus chocolate, raisin and mocha coffee.

Palate

Full-bodied with maple syrup, vanilla, honey and caramel toffee, plus dry oak, mocha coffee and cinnamon spice.

Finish

Bittersweet caramel and dark bitter chocolate with mocha coffee, mild cinnamon and black pepper.

Specifications

Distillery: House of Angostura
Region/Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Type: Rum
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5029704217120
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass or over ice

Flavour profile

Dry · Coffee · Chocolate · Spiced · Medium-bodied

Did you know?

Angostura 7 Year has historically been one of the house's most critically acclaimed releases, precisely because it combines a drier, more serious character with the accessibility that makes it well suited both for sipping alone and in cocktails.

See our full range of Angostura

Havana lends its name to the entire Cuban rum tradition, and 7 Años is where you really hear the history, the tobacco and the sweet tropical fruit speak.

Expert description

Havana Club 7 Años is a Cuban Rum matured for 7 years in ex-bourbon oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Havana Club, the most internationally recognised name in Cuban rum, produced according to a tradition dating back to 1934. 7 Años is the brand's more mature, darker expression, where the youngest rum in the blend has matured for at least seven years in casks that previously held American bourbon. The result is a dark, complex rum, far more serious than the lighter, white expressions of the brand.

Tasting notes

Nose

Roasted coffee, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and vanilla, spiced with a touch of gingerbread and orange marmalade.

Palate

Full-bodied and dry rather than sweet, with woody spice, orange marmalade, vanilla fudge and a hint of overripe banana.

Finish

Black pepper, coffee and vanilla fudge that linger on the palate long after the last sip.

Distillery: Havana Club
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Cuban Rum
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon oak casks
EAN no.: 8501110080439
Serving suggestion: Neat, on the rocks or in a Cuba Libre

Flavour profile

Tobacco · Coffee · Chocolate · Spiced

Did you know?

Havana Club does not name its expressions after years in the bottle, but after the minimum age of the youngest rum in the blend. 7 Años is therefore a solera-inspired blend, where older and younger vintages meet.

See our full range of Havana Club

The world's oldest commercial rum distillery has stood on the same site in Barbados since 1703. Eclipse is the bottle that carries that legacy into everyday life.

Expert description

Mount Gay Eclipse is a Rum from Barbados, distilled using traditional copper pot and column stills, matured in used American whiskey casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is Mount Gay's classic everyday blend, bridging the distillery's long history with an accessible, versatile style. Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados is considered the world's oldest commercial rum producer, with a deed dating back to 1703, and Eclipse is the bottle that today introduces the most new drinkers to the brand.

Tasting notes

Nose

Flowers and honey, with a hint of vanilla and tropical fruit like apricot and banana.

Palate

Fresh vanilla, almond, ripe banana and dark chocolate, supported by toasty oak.

Finish

Long and spiced, with lingering toasty oak.

Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used American whiskey casks
Distillation method: Copper pot and column distillation
EAN no.: 9501007100508
Serving suggestion: Neat or in cocktails such as Rum Punch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Vanilla-sweet · Lightly toasted

Did you know?

Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados is considered the world's oldest commercial rum producer, with a surviving deed dating the company back to 1703.

See our full range of Mount Gay

Three cask types in one bottle. Whisky, bourbon and cognac have each left their mark on this rum before melting together into one whole.

Expert description

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend Reserve is a Rum from Barbados, matured in American whiskey, bourbon and cognac casks and bottled at 43%.

The rum is part of Mount Gay's XO series and builds on the distillery's long experience combining pot still and column distillates. By combining three different cask types, the rum achieves layers of complexity, where the whiskey and bourbon casks contribute vanilla and spice, while the cognac cask adds a delicate, dry fruitiness and a hint of dried orange peel.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe banana, dark caramel, vanilla and toasted almond, with a hint of cognac oak and dried orange peel.

Palate

Full-bodied and silky, with molasses, baked fruit, spice cake and toasted coconut.

Finish

Long and elegant, with returning fruit, soft vanilla and a lightly spiced close.

Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American whiskey, bourbon and cognac casks
EAN no.: 9501007863502
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Fruity · Elegant

Did you know?

Mount Gay's XO series is named after "Extra Old" and marks the distillery's most refined blends, where several cask types are deliberately combined to create layered complexity.

See our full range of Mount Gay

Havana Club's gateway into the world of mojitos. The 3-year is where it all begins for most people who fall for Cuban rum.

Expert description

Havana Club Añejo 3 Años is a Cuban Rum, matured for 3 years and bottled at 37.5%.

The rum is produced and matured exclusively in Cuba by Havana Club, the world's most famous Cuban rum brand. Añejo 3 Años is the house's base release, a light and fresh style designed to combine sugarcane's green, fresh character with the mildly fruity notes that come from the short cask maturation. It is the rum the mojito was originally created for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted coconut, dark muscovado sugar and caramel, with a hint of pineapple and gingerbread.

Palate

Light honeyed sweetness from the muscovado sugar, oxidised pineapple and caramelised pear, balanced by mild ginger and black pepper.

Finish

Short and spicy, with a hint of oak and a dry, clean ending.

Bottler: Havana Club
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Cuban Rum
Age: 3 years
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8501110088831
Serving suggestion: In a mojito or Cuba Libre

Flavour profile

Light · Fresh · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Havana Club Añejo 3 Años is the rum historically closest to the original mojito recipe from Havana, where a light, fresh Cuban rum was essential for balancing mint and lime.

See our full range of Havana Club

Craft rum is not just a word on the label at Opthimus. It is the name of the very style the distillery has cultivated for decades.

Expert description

Opthimus 15 Years Ron Artesanal is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, matured 15 years in American oak casks using the solera method and bottled at 38%.

The rum is produced by Oliver & Oliver in the Spanish, medium-sweet and dark style, where the solera system blends rum from multiple vintages to achieve depth and consistency year after year. "Artesanal" underlines the distillery's craft-focused approach, where quality and character are prioritised over volume.

Tasting notes

Nose

Coconut, sweetness, vanilla, cinnamon and cherry.

Palate

Harmonious interplay of spice and sweetness, with cherry and a hint of dark chocolate.

Finish

Dark chocolate and mocha, with lingering cherry notes.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 15 years
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, solera method
EAN no.: 7466871102237
Serving suggestion: Neat or with dessert

Flavour profile

Sweet · Spiced · Cherry · Mocha

Did you know?

Opthimus is produced by Oliver & Oliver in the Spanish rum style, known for its medium-sweet and dark character, a tradition markedly different from the drier English and French rum styles.

See our full range of Opthimus

Outside Santo Domingo the warehouses stand close together, and the air inside is heavy and warm all year round.

Here time works faster than in a Scottish cellar. The casks give up their contents at a pace no northern European warehouse can match, and evaporation takes its toll every single year.

Opthimus is the Oliver family's answer to what that heat can be used for, if you have the patience to wait anyway.

Expert description

Opthimus 18 Year Cum Laude 2019 is a Dominican Rum from Oliver & Oliver, matured in ex-Bourbon casks of American white oak and bottled at 38%.

Oliver & Oliver is a family business with Cuban roots. The family left Cuba in 1959, and only in the early 1990s was the business rebuilt in the Dominican Republic, where it is now based in Hato Nuevo outside Santo Domingo. The house does not distil itself, but blends and matures molasses-based distillates under the direction of maestro ronero Don Pedro Oliver.

Maturation follows the Sistema Solera, the Spanish pyramid system originally developed for sherry. Rum of different ages is continually blended in a system of casks, so that a portion of the oldest rum always carries forward. The number 18 on the label refers to the oldest rum in the blend, not the whole content. That is worth knowing if you come from the world of whisky, where the age statement means exactly the opposite.

Cum Laude is Oliver & Oliver's designation for the bottlings the house itself considers top marks, and it is only used for select vintages. This one was bottled in 2019 in a run of 1,000 bottles. Each bottle is filled, labelled and numbered by hand, and the label is signed by the maestro ronero. The casks are former Bourbon casks from Kentucky of American white oak, and they are what deliver the vanilla, coconut and soft timber running through the whole flavour. The 38% is a deliberate choice by the house: the rum is built for softness rather than power.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and light honey first. Behind that comes toffee, dried fig and a mild cocoa note, and right at the end a touch of pipe tobacco and dry oak.

Palate

Soft and round. Honey and caramel carry the start, then dark chocolate and roasted coffee unfold, and there is a lightly peppery edge and a touch of ginger in the background that keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Long and spiced-sweet. The vanilla lingers longest, along with sweet oak and a dry tobacco note right at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Opthimus 18 Year Cum Laude 2019
Distillery: Oliver & Oliver
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Dominican Rum
Age: 18 Years by the Sistema Solera method
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon casks of American white oak
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 1,000
Edition: Cum Laude
Serving suggestion: Neat at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Cask-matured · Vanilla · Cocoa · Soft

Did You Know?

Oliver & Oliver holds more than 3,000 American white oak casks, all of which held Bourbon in Kentucky before being shipped to the Caribbean. Few rum brands can match that cask inventory.

See our full range of Oliver & Oliver

See our full range of Opthimus

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Award-winning and built on dried rosehips and roses. Opthimus 21 Years is one of the Dominican Republic's most distinctive rum experiences.

Expert description

Opthimus 21 Years is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, blended in a solera system and bottled at 38%.

The rum is produced by Oliver & Oliver, a respected producer of premium rum in limited editions, and won gold in the "Aged Rum 18-25 Years" category at the Miami Rum Festival 2015. The solera system ensures a consistent, complex flavour profile, where distillates of different ages are continuously blended, while the rum's characteristic rosehip note makes it one of the most recognisable rums from the region.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, rose petals and rosehip flowers, with a light hint of coconut.

Palate

Rosehip jam and tart sweetness, full-bodied and warm.

Finish

Long finish with traces of rosehip, coconut and cherry.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 21 years
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 7466871102251
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Full-bodied · Distinctive

Did you know?

Opthimus 21 Years Solera Ron Dominicano won gold in the "Aged Rum 18-25 Years" category at the Miami Rum Festival 2015, cementing its position as one of the Dominican Republic's most acclaimed rums.

See our full range of Opthimus

Costa Rica is not the first country that comes to mind when the talk turns to rum. Ron Centenario has spent 25 years of solera maturation changing that.

Expert description

Ron Centenario Gran Reserva 25 Years is a Rum from Costa Rica, matured up to 25 years using the solera method in white oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is the house's flagship and matures through the Sistema Solera, a system of tiered stacked casks where older rum continuously replenishes the younger barrels. This produces a rum that unites fresh fruitiness with the complexity only many years of ageing can provide. Ron Centenario has over decades made Costa Rica a respected name in the rum world, despite the country's lack of a long historical production tradition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet spices, toasty notes, vanilla, caramel, dried figs and a hint of cocoa, with green apple in the background.

Palate

Balanced and full-bodied, with caramel, spice, roasted nuts and honeyed oak.

Finish

Long, warm and elegant, with lingering sweetness and wood.

Region/Country: Costa Rica
Type: Rum
Age: Up to 25 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: White oak casks, solera method
EAN no.: 7441001174216
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Rich · Spiced · Caramel · Elegant

Did you know?

Costa Rica has no long historical tradition of rum production compared to the Caribbean island nations, but Ron Centenario has in just a few decades made the country a name mentioned alongside the classic producer nations.

See our full range of Ron Centenario