Rum Nation Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary Limited Release Rum 40%

Out by the Río Hondo in north-eastern Guatemala the heat sits still between the warehouse walls. Casks work fast there, because a tropical climate has no patience. The second half of the story happens in a cool Italian warehouse, where the pace drops to almost nothing.

Expert description

Rum Nation Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary Limited Release is a Guatemalan Rum aged in ex-bourbon casks of American white oak, finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

This is Rum Nation's anniversary release, made to mark the house's first twenty years. Rum Nation was set up in Italy in 1999 by Fabio Rossi and does not distil anything itself. The house buys, selects and matures. For this edition the pick fell on some of the sweetest casks from Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala.

The base is sugar cane molasses and the spirit comes off a column still, which gives the clean, elegant style Guatemalan rum is known for. Maturation happens in two stages. First at least four years in ex-bourbon casks near the Río Hondo, roughly 185 metres above sea level, where the heat pulls colour and spice out of the oak at a rate no European cellar can match. Then sixteen months in used Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks in a cool Italian warehouse. That second stage is what lays raisin, date and a vinous sweetness on top of the base structure.

The rum is bottled in a decanter with a gold-coloured stopper and comes in a gift box. The series is a Limited Release.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and molasses first, then ripe dates and raisins. Vanilla and dark chocolate sit behind, with a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full-bodied and almost creamy. Honey, raisin, date and prune, vanilla running through the whole thing, and a candied orange note that keeps the sweetness from going flat.

Finish

Long and soft. Sherry, aniseed and liquorice, with the chocolate sitting underneath.

Specifications

Name: Rum Nation Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary Limited Release Rum
Distillery: Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala
Bottler: Rum Nation
Region/Country: Guatemala
Type: Guatemalan Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks of American white oak, finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Distillation method: Column still
Edition: 20th Anniversary Limited Release
EAN no.: 5740030100039
Serving suggestion: Neat at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Sweet · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Nutty · Spiced

Did you know?

Rum Nation is Italian by birth but Danish by ownership. Mac Y bought the brand in 2018 and it runs today as Rum Nation International A/S. Fabio Rossi, who started the whole thing in 1999, is still involved as an adviser.

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Frequently asked questions about Rum Nation Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary

How sweet is Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary?

Clearly sweet, but not syrupy. The sweetness comes from tropical ageing in bourbon casks and gets amplified by the sixteen months in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, which pile raisin and date on top. If you enjoy the Spanish style it lands well. If you want dry and funky rum, look elsewhere.

What separates it from Rum Nation's standard Guatemala Gran Reserva?

The finish. Gran Reserva stays in bourbon casks, while XO 20th Anniversary gets an extra year and a half in sherry casks in Italy. That stage is what brings the darker fruit, the vinous tone and the longer finish.

Should it be drunk neat or over ice?

Neat, at room temperature. At 40% there isn't much for water to open up, and ice shuts down the sweetness and the vanilla. If you do want it cold, use one large cube rather than several small ones.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped glass or a Glencairn. The narrowed rim holds on to the honey and sherry notes, which disappear fast in a wide tumbler.

What food works alongside it?

Dark chocolate, crème brûlée and date cake all do well, because they meet the sweetness instead of fighting it. Mature hard cheese and roasted nuts work too. It sits better after the meal than during it.

Can it be used in cocktails?

Yes, but pick your battles. It is good in a Rum Old Fashioned with dark cane sugar, where the sherry notes get room to speak. In anything with cola or juice those sixteen months in sherry casks vanish completely.

Does it work as a gift?

It is hard to beat on that front. The decanter with its gold stopper and the gift box are built to be unwrapped, and the sweet, soft style is approachable enough to suit most palates. See our full range of rum.

Why is the rum matured in two countries?

Because the two climates do different jobs. The heat in Guatemala works quickly and pulls a lot out of the oak in a short time. The cool Italian warehouse does the opposite, slowly and under control, so the sherry cask gets to layer on top rather than shout over everything.