Aged in a Solera system to age for upwards of 15 to 25 years.
Notes: Sourced form the Dominican Republic (one of my favorite places for molasses based rum) this rum is a blend that goes through at least 3 barreling and aging periods. First they select small batch aged rums and blend them. Second step is to put them in casks (we are surmising bourbon casks) for a unspecified period to marry and mellow. Third and final step is to place them in yet another set of barrels in a Solera system to age for upwards of 15 to 25 years.
Appearance: A patinated bronze, looks like well aged cognac or bourbon, till you smell the bouquet. Brilliantly clear. Long legs develop on swirling.
First Impression: Heavy redolent smell of caramelized molasses, dark dried fruits, (dates, figs, etc.) allspice, cardaamon, ripe fruits and nuts. Also picked up a fair amount of tobacco and wood smoke almost creosote/mesquite. Slightly sulferous notes from the molasses made it lose some points/olives
Taste: Spicy, medium-to-heavy mouth feel, buttery, fruity and spicy all at the same time, slight touch of sulfur and tobacco notes lets you know it is a molasses rather than a cane rum. Nutty, spicy, finish is long, but subtle. Slightly dry nutty finish with sweetness rather than a nasty sweet cloying that some rums have. Very gentlemanly, balanced, and of course diplomatic. Only negative point is the slightly harsh high ester smell and taste I mentioned before.
Drinks: Nice mixing rum, cheap enough not worry about wasting it. Has a body and flavor profile that would stand up to just about any mixer.
Cigars: A good Dominican like a Avo, Opus X, or a spicy Cuban if you can find one.
Bottle/Packaging: Clear square glass that slants inward from the shoulder – shows the rum to good effect. Atlantico logo is pressed in glass above label. Small paper label on back with indecipherable code handwritten as certificate of bottling. Comes in a wooden box and packed in Spanish Moss.
Final Thoughts: A very nice rum for the price. Easily held up against rum costing a good bit more.
Web site: http://www.atlanticorum.com/Atlanticorum.com/Intro.html
Easy-to-read and navigate, if not terribly informative informative.