My brother, brother-in-law, and I decided to have a rum tasting day a few months back while we smoked some chicken on the grill and listened to Brent Cobb. We hit a couple of different liquor stores for a few different “aged” varieties from different countries, but the standout by far was the Flor De Cana 18-year.
In 1875, Alfredo Francisco Pellas Canessa left Genoa, Italy to settle at the base of a volcano in Nicaragua. He set up his distillery and the family’s been making rum there ever since.
In the Georgia sunlight, the Flor de Cana rum looks like liquid bronze. I’ve tried the 12-year, and I might like it a bit better than the 18– just a bit more angst. Both are caramel smooth, slightly nutty & earthy, and remind me of crumbly homemade pralines. Sweet, yes, but not cloyingly so. The 7-year Flor de Cana shares those qualities– maybe to a lesser degree, but I can sip it nearly as easy as its older siblings. And I wouldn’t turn down a glass of the 4 or 5-year either– especially mixed with a real sugar Mexican Coke or Sprite.
Definitely introduce yourself to the 7-year for starters. If you’ve got a few bucks to throw around, pick up the 12-year to enjoy on a gorgeous day with folks you love.