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Category: Panama

Carta Vieja 8 Años Double Cask Rum from Panama

In the southwest region of Panama, northwest of the town of David, the Hacienda Carta Vieja is surrounded by miles of sugar cane fields which thrive in the rich soil near the Pacific Ocean. Here we find the distillery that produces the legacy Carta Vieja rum, and their newest expression — 8 Años Double Cask.

Production Notes

After traditional fermentation, Carta Vieja distillates are refined in a modern five-column still made of copper and stainless steel. The distinction that makes this rum unique is the double maturation in American Oak and French Oak barrels in two locations.

Carta Vieja 8 Años Double Cask

Carta Vieja 8 Años Double Cask from Panama is aged in both American and French Oak.

This 8 Años Double Cask spirit is aged for seven years in the warm and humid Solera 1915 aging warehouse near sea level using only American ex-Bourbon White Oak barrels. The final stage of maturation takes place in French Limousin Oak barrels for one year in the temperate mile-high Solera House of Rum in Boquete at 1668 meters above sea level.

The result is a spirit that exhibits far more complexity and nuance than other expressions in the product line. Carta Vieja 8 Años Double Cask spirit transcends the traditional flavor and aroma profiles, setting a new standard for intricacy and balance.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of caramel and coffee lead to vanilla, treacle, pecan wood, raisin and earthy peat.

On the palate, a dry entry suggests dark stone fruit with touch of cinnamon toast mid-palate before toasted oak, vanilla, marzipan and baking spices. The many layers of complexity are tempered by a smooth and pleasant mouth feel. The finish is long and well balanced — notes of smoky vanilla, pecan and prune wine contrast and balance a bitter wood tannin in the late finish.

This double cask rum makes a fine sipper neat in a proper tasting glass, or with a single good cube of ice. It excels in a high quality cocktail such as the Rum Old Fashioned, complimented by aromatic bitters and a touch of sweetness.

Carta Vieja 8 Años Double Cask aged rum is bottled at 40% ABV. The 750ml bottle costs about $28.

Website: https://cartaviejapa.com


Hacienda Carta Vieja
Hacienda Carta Vieja map of Panama


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Selvarey Owner’s Reserve aged rum from Panama

From the central regions of Panama — via Hollywood, California — here is a limited edition aged rum worthy of its title: Selvarey Owner’s Reserve.

The name Selva Rey is based on the Spanish translation of Jungle King. This fine aged owner’s reserve edition was conceived and developed by international super-star performer Bruno Mars, in collaboration with legendary master distiller and blender “Don Pancho” Fernandez — a king of rum in his own right.

Selvarey Owner's Reserve aged rum from Panama

Selvarey Owner’s Reserve aged rum was created by famed master blender “Don Pancho” Fernandez in Panama under the direction of international super-star Bruno Mars.

It’s obvious this product is meant to impress rum aficionados and collectors, as well as anyone who appreciates luxury spirts, with a decidedly sophisticated approach and elegant presentation.

Sustainability Issues

The distillery at Las Cabras makes a point of sustainable practices, using the disposed crushed cane to operate their steam boiler, driving a centrifugue that generates about seven megawatts, so the distillery runs on its own clean energy. Waste from the distillation process is used to fertilize the cane fields. They sow, cultivate and harvest their own sugar cane, controlling all aspects of the process.

Production Notes

Selvarey Owner’s Reserve is created by Don Pancho in Panama using his antique copper column stills. After aging in used American Oak Bourbon and Whiskey casks — using wood management techniques developed over decades in Cuba — the most outstanding marques for this owner’s reserve are masterfully selected and blended for near-perfect balance.

The resulting fine rum is bottled in limited edition for this special owner’s reserve release in a stunning package designed by Bruno Mars, featuring a tall statuesque elegant bottle enclosed in an artful box that faithfully reflects the unique nature and quality of the product.

Tasting Notes

Initial aromas of rich toasted oak, smokey honey, dark fruit and cocoa nibs are followed by suggestions of creamy vanilla and bread pudding. On the palate, a smooth entry of rich caramel, raisin and prune leads to treacle, hazelnut and vanilla custard with baking spices and toffee, before hints of old oak tannins and a bitter cacao note adds balance. The very long luxurious finish echoes the notes of charred oak, caramel, vanilla bean and cocoa.

Bruno Mars - Selvarey Owner's Reserve aged rum from Panama

Bruno Mars proudly presents his Selvarey Owner’s Reserve aged rum from Panama

Selvarey Owner’s Reserve is an exquisite example of the best of Panama’s rum, available in limited supply at select retailers in the USA as well as several online sources. It’s best enjoyed neat or with just a single cube of clear ice in a generous tumbler or proper tasting glass.

The 750ml bottle of SelvaRey Owner’s Reserve, bottled at 40% abv, sells for about $150.


Selvarey Rum web site
http://selvarey.com/


For more information about types of rum, see Rob’s Rum Guide tutorials.
To stay informed about news and updates in the world of rum, subscribe to Robs Rum Guide.
View insightful and succinct video rum reviews: Rum Minute YouTube Channel.
Taste The Best Rums: Miami Rum Festival and Rum Renaissance Tasting.
Experience the ultimate rum travel adventure: Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise.
Ask the Experts: What is the Best Rum In The World?

Cashcane Saloon Cask blended aged rum

Bottled at 55% abv, Cashcane Saloon Cask aged rum is a blend of molasses-based spirits from Barbados, Trinidad and Panama, aged for six to eight years.

Each of the components lends a unique character to the blend, and the slightly elevated proof presents a bold expression reminiscent of cask strength American Bourbon. A small sip delivers big flavor.

Cashcane Saloon Cask Tasting Notes

Cashcane Saloon Cask blended aged rumMild aromas of butter cookie and vanilla lead to toasted oak and some spices. On the palate, pencil shavings and vanilla, toasted oak and some subtle sweetness precede a slightly bitter cocoa that balances well. Ripe butter and cedar linger in the finish.

In a tumbler with good ice, Cashcane Saloon Cask is a fine sipper. In classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, it plays through well with potent, well balanced rum flavor that compliments the other ingredients.

Cashcane Saloon Cask blended aged rum in the 750ml bottle sells for about $49.

 


For more information about types of rum, see Rob’s Rum Guide tutorials.

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View insightful and succinct video rum reviews: Rum Minute YouTube Channel.

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Rum Arôme 28 from Panama

Among the most exclusive and expensive rums on the market, the new Rum Arôme 28 year old presents a luxury aged rum experience for serious rum collectors and connoisseurs.

Rum Arôme 28 is produced by a life-long master of rum in Panama and packaged for the luxury market. This rare rum expression is limited to 500 bottles worldwide.

Rum Arôme from Panama

The rare limited edition Rum Arôme is a luxury rum aged 28 years in Panama

The rum is distilled in a vintage copper column still and aged in used whiskey barrels for 28 years before a careful blending brings all the elements into a near perfect balance.

Tasting Notes

Aromas include brown sugar, charred whiskey wood, honey, baking spice, ripe butter and leather, with a hint of black pepper. A very smooth sweet entry builds big warmth at mid-palate before drying out with lingering vanilla and big wood over dried fruit, offering hints of cinnamon, cocoa and allspice. Notes of white raisins and butter linger in the long finish.

Availability

Rum Arôme 28 is available at select retailers or online from Passion Spirits or Sunset Corners.


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Abuelo XV Finish Collection rums deliver double barreled luxury

From Panama, the Abuelo XV Finish Collection features a trio of luxurious double barreled aged spirits aimed at the serious rum enthusiast. These limited edition 15 year old expressions are rested in casks of Tawny Port, Oloroso Sherry and Napoleon Cognac respectively.

The Abuelo XV Finish Collection

Each delivers a well aged, complex Central American spirit created from molasses, enhanced with a delightful bouquet of European wines during the second stage of maturity.

Abuelo XV Finish Collection limited edition aged rums from Panama, Abuelo Añejo XV Años Tawny Port Cask Finish, Abuelo Añejo XV Años Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish, Abuelo Añejo XV Años Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish

The Abuelo Finish Collection features three limited edition aged rums from Panama, finished in Tawny Port, Oloroso Sherry and Napoleon Cognac.

This trans-Atlantic connection serves as an homage to the masters — an international bridge between cultures, a melding of classic flavors and gastronomic legends.

Tasting Notes

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Tawny Port Cask Finish

Aromas of cocoa and tart berry over ripe dark fruit, butter cookie and mild wood. On the palate, sweet dark fruit leads to bitter chocolate Bon Bon and raspberry with bread pudding, fading into earthy wood and hints of cocoa in the long finish.

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Aromas of cacao and stone fruit with suggestion of herbaceous cane, vanilla custard and a hint of pear. On the palate, rich dark fruit builds to vanilla custard over musty wood and cola before aromatic eucalyptus and butter croissant precede a hint of cane and molasses in the long finish.

Abuelo Añejo XV Años Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish

Aromas of vanilla and musty bourbon oak lead to sweet fruit and pound cake with hints of green and black peppercorns over bitter wood. On the palate, a sweet caramel entry leads to bold cognac wood in the complex mid-palate, with a balance between sweet fruit and dry vanilla. The finish is wonderfully viscous, fading into echoes of honey, green banana and flowers.

These 750ml bottles of the Abuelo XV Finish Collection, at 40% abv, retail for about $75 in the United States.

The Abuelo brand offers a range of award-winning rums from Panama including the Añejo, 7 Años, 12 Años and the luxury expression Centuria.


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Yolo Gold aged rum from Panama

“You only live once” is the motto of a person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle — and it’s the theme behind this delicious Yolo Gold aged rum.

Produced in Panama by master of rum Don “Pancho” Fernandez, Yolo Gold aged rum rests for ten years in charred oak bourbon barrels, developing a complexity of flavor and a deep mahogany color.

Yolo Gold - From Panama, a masterful blend of aged rums gives Yolo Gold a richly complex and satisfying profile and deep mahogany color.

Yolo Gold is a ten year old dark mahogany colored aged rum created by master of rum Don Pancho Fernandez in Panama.

Philip Guerin’s enthusiasm for rum lead him to establish the brand along with his wife Jessica. With a lifetime of experience in marketing and brand development, they assimilated their talents, their passion and love for quality rum into this savvy Colorado-based brand.

This dark amber aged rum offers aromas of charred wood and toffee before a hint of burnt sugar balanced by a vegetal sweetness over cigar box. On the palate, cinnamon brûlée leads then fades to reveal a cognac-like wet wood into the long dry vanilla finish, well balanced between sweet and dry, offering a subtle hint of raw cocoa in the aftertaste.

Yolo Gold aged rum is the winner of numerous medals, including a Gold Award at the International Rum Expert Panel Tasting Competition in 2015.

Yolo Gold carries a list price of $44.99 for the 750ml bottle.

Caña Brava 7 year old aged rum from Panama

A long awaited addition to Caña Brava’s line of fine spirits has arrived. The 86 Company today announced the release of Caña Brava 7 year old Reserva Añeja Rum, the first dark aged spirit in their portfolio.

Caña Brava 7 year old Reserva Añeja Rum from Panama is the latest release from the 86 Company, developed to make the finest classic and contemporary cocktails.

The 86 Company has announced Caña Brava 7-Year-Old Reserva aged rum from Panama, developed in concert with leading bartender of the world by master distiller and blender Don Pancho Fernandez.

Like the award-winning Caña Brava white rum, it was distilled and blended by legendary master of rum Don Pancho J. Fernandez in Panama with input from the professional bartending community for a spirit designed to excel in classic and contemporary cocktails.

Caña Brava 7 year old begins with a selection of young and fresh rums handpicked by the Master Distiller. The rums are blended to create an age base which is then further aged in used bourbon casks for over seven years before being bottled. Caña Brava 7 is a true aged expression of its lighter and younger sibling, Caña Brava 3-Year-Old.

After creating the Caña Brava 3-Year-Old Carta Blanca Rum, a small amount stayed in casks for further aging. After seven years of total aging this rum is now ready for a one-time release. Caña Brava 7’s character emphasizes the fresh cut sugarcane flavors associated with their style while the aging has added depth and richness you would expect from a rum with this age.

The surprisingly dry finish and higher than normal proof (45% ABV) give this rum additional body and flavor, making it very suitable for mixing in cocktails such as the El Presidente, Old Cuban and Rum Old Fashioned.

“We wanted to introduce a rum that would work like a rye whiskey in cocktails,” says Dushan Zaric, Co-Founder of The 86 Company.

The rum-making process begins with hand harvested sugarcane. The resulting fresh sugarcane molasses is rushed to fermentation and kick-started using Don Pancho’s distinct pineapple yeast. The molasses wash ferments for approximately 24 hours before being distilled in a vintage copper and brass still built in 1922.

The result is fresh aguardiente that is then aged in used American whiskey barrels for 2 to 3 years. This aged rum is gently filtered through charcoal before blending with fresh aguardiente to make the age base for Caña Brava rums. This blend is then further aged for seven years in used bourbon casks before being cut to 90 proof and bottled.

The 750ml bottle of Caña Brava 7 year old Reserva Añeja Rum retails for $44.99.

The 86 Company is comprised of notable industry experts Malte Barnekow, Kris Roth, Simon Ford, Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric. Their vodka, gin, tequila and rum products are created for mixing and formulated in partnership with highly respected artisanal distillers and recognized cocktail professionals. Their labels feature honest, useful information and a design tone of voice that mirrors the life style of a new breed of opinion former — The Career Bartender. This affinity trickles down to consumers in the know, making good drinks available to a broader audience.

Ron Duran 12 year old aged rum from Panama debuts

A new aged rum, named for famed boxing champion Roberto Duran, was recently introduced to the U.S. market by Ekeko Fine Wines and Spirits of Houston Texas. Duran 12 year old aged rum, produced by Master Distiller and Blender Don “Pancho” Fernandez of Panama, was first shown at the Miami Rum Fest Trade Show in April.

Ron Duran 12 - From his copper column still in Panama, master blender Don Pancho Fernandez has created a masterpiece aged rum of 12 years in honor of famed boxer Roberto Duran.

Ron Duran is a fine aged rum produced in Panama by master blender Don Pancho Fernandez in honor of boxing legend Roberto Duran.

Ekeko today announced that Ron Duran 12 would soon be available widely in leading liquor retailers and venues throughout North America.

Roberto Durán Samaniego is a Panamanian former professional boxer, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. He retired in 2002 with a record of 120 fights, 104 wins and 69 KOs. The Associated Press voted Duran as the #1 lightweight boxer of the 20th century.

As a tribute to the master fighter, this Ron Duran 12 year old aged rum was specially crafted by Don Pancho for strength of character. This exquisite flavor profile is achieved by a blend of rum aged for 12 years in white oak whiskey barrels.

Ron Duran 12 rum uses the finest molasses from Panama and is distilled in copper columns using a proprietary yeast from the master blender. Don Pancho developed Duran rum to truly capture the essence of patience, passion, perseverance and triumph.

Aromas of buttery wet oak, cola nut and pistachio lead to creamy dry vanilla, orange blossom, dried fruits and toffee over creamy vanilla before a subtle hint of anise. On the palate, a well balanced coconut husk entry walks a fine line between sweet and dry as it cascades through cream soda, dark fruit, custard, toasted oak and coconut husk before dry toasted wood with hints of anise. Through the long finish, the palate remains well balanced.

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SelvaRey rum expands distribution

From the wilds of Panama, SelvaRey (King of the Jungle) rum is flexing it’s distribution muscle as this award-winning brand today announced its expansion into new territories across the USA.

SelvaRey rum expands - The King of the Jungle of Panamanian rums, Bruno Mars' SelvaRey brand has announced greatly expanded distribution across the United States.

The company announced expanded distribution of his acclaimed SelvaRey Rums, including the aged white rum and cacao flavored rum made by Don Pancho in Panama.

Both the aged white rum and the delicious cacao flavored spirit drew critical acclaim from rum experts, reviewers and the public at the Miami Rum Fest and Trade Expo last year.

Initially distributed in California and Nevada, SelvaRey has grown its network of distributors to include Southern Wine and Spirits in Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina; Savannah Distributing in Georgia; Fedway Associates in New Jersey; Empire Merchants in New York; Lipman Brothers in Tennessee; and Washington Wholesale in the nation’s capital. Availability in Ontario, Canada is scheduled for the fall season.

Selvarey White Rum offers a medium viscosity, suggesting it’s been well aged (up to five years) and filtered to remove most of the color. The nose reveals subtle hints of vanilla and mineral water with soft sweetness, buttered toast and a touch of fresh cane. The palate finds a delicate balance of grassy cane, vanilla and spices leading to a medium dry finish. At 80 proof, this is an exceptional white rum for fine cocktails and plays well as a sipper. SelvaRey’s aged white rum was a 2015 Double Gold Medal Winner and named best white rum by TheFiftyBest.com.

The cacao rum is a well-crafted five year old Bourbon cask blend, one of the few flavored rums that drinks like a sipping rum. On the rocks, Selvarey Cacao rum opens up with accentuated tones of creamy vanilla and toasted oak under semi-sweet chocolate. SelvaRey Cacao rum won the 2014 Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in New York City and the Gold Medal at the 2014 Miami RumFest.

In addition, the rums were rated 94 and 95 respectively by The Tasting Panel Magazine, the highest ratings ever in their categories in the magazine’s history.

Selvarey rums are created by Master Distiller Don Pancho Fernandez in Panama using his antique copper stills. The rums are bottled and imported by Pacific Plate Spirits of California. The suggested list price of the white rum is $24.99 for the 750ml bottle; $28.99 for the cacao.

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Don Pancho Origenes Rums now available in USA

The new artisan spirits division of Terlato Wines has announced the immediate availability of Don Pancho Origenes luxury rums from Panama across the United States, including the award-winning 8 year old, 15 year old and 30 year old expressions.

Don Pancho Origenes - Don Pancho Fernandez, Origenes, luxury rum, Panama, Terlato wines

Don Pancho Fernandez’s brand of Origenes luxury rum from Panama is now being distributed across the Unites States by the artisan spirits division of Terlato Wines.

Don Pancho Origenes rums are produced in Panama by the legendary Cuban master rum blender Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez, who is globally recognized as one of the most experienced and respected rum blenders in the world. The brand marks Don Pancho’s first rum under his own name. The contents of each bottle reflect a lifetime of expertise and vision.

After learning the distilling craft from his father, Master Distiller Don Ramon Corrales Fernandez, Don Pancho was instrumental in modernizing Cuba’s rum industry in the 1970s.

The Panamanian Connection

After a global conglomerate acquired Cuba’s national brand, he relocated to Panama, where, in the 1990s, he discovered a neglected distillery in the Herrera region of Panama, which he built, with business partner Carlos Esquivel, into the Las Cabras Distillery.

At Las Cabras Don Pancho produced super-premium rums made with estate-grown, hand-harvested sugar cane in the Cuban tradition for many brands, while he watched and waited as the barrels of rum that he had been aging in Panama since the 1980s started showing some intriguing flavors and aromas. He soon realized that there was an opportunity to produce a blended aged rum under his own name — one that would be his own personal expression of aged rum.

Don Pancho Origenes is Born

Crafted in the classic “Cuban style,” Don Pancho Origenes rums are made with molasses from hand-harvested sugar cane and a proprietary yeast, are distilled in copper column stills and then aged in American Oak bourbon barrels of uniform size. Each barrel is hand selected by Don Pancho from his own private collection spanning decades. Renowned for his exacting standards, Don Pancho true-age-dates his rums by the age of the youngest rum in the blend, meaning the youngest rum in the 8-Year Old is 8 years old, and the same for the 18 and 30 year olds.

The 8-year is aromatic with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. Particularly smooth for its age, this rum makes for a perfect accent to cocktails or can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. The suggested retail price is $40.

The 18-year is characterized by a beautiful, cherry wood color. Filled with delicate aromas of sweet tea, honey, moist dates and figs, this rum is smooth with a rewarding finish. The elegant mouth-feel fades gently to expose dried fruits and notes of bourbon due to many years aging in American oak bourbon barrels. Additionally, the 18-year recently won the Gold Medal at the Berlin Rum Festival, the only rum to earn a perfect 100 out of 100 points by noted rum expert Robert Burr in a blind tasting. The suggested retail price is $90.

The 30-year is the most exclusive and luxurious of the series, with only 2,000 bottles available worldwide and 600 in the United States. This expression has a complex nose with wood, bourbon, orange peel and apricots. Remarkably creamy and full-bodied, its rich flavors of fudge and caramel melt into the fruity nose with a complex, long finish. Best enjoyed on its own, neat. The suggested retail price is $425.

“With Don Pancho Origenes, Don Pancho created the kind of artisan rum that he had always envisioned making. We instantly knew that Terlato’s Artisan Spirits division was the perfect place to build our brand in the marketplace,” said Carlos Esquivel, executive director of Don Pancho Origenes. “After decades of experience producing some of the world’s finest rums, we are excited to work with the Terlato family as we release such a high quality series of rum expressions for the first time under Don Pancho’s name.”

Don Pancho Origenes is imported from Panama by the Artisan Spirits division of Terlato Wines, the leading marketer of luxury wines in the United States, with a 20 percent market share of wines $20 and up in the U.S. The exceptional quality of the Terlato portfolio is underscored by more 90+ scores from leading wine publications than any other wine company.

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