The Colombians drink a whole lot of rum, however what they produce doesn’t have a whole lot of recognition within the worldwide market. I’m within the nation proper now and needed to attempt one thing good, so I requested round quite a bit and saved getting the identical reply from individuals who drink the spirit neat: Ron Viejo de Caldas.
The actual “big day” model you may get is the 15-year model, but it surely wasn’t accessible on the grocery store the place I used to be buying and I didn’t need to go on a looking journey in hilly El Poblado, so I purchased the 8-year model as a substitute for some sipping at my leisure.
The primary impression was good: a black field with silver lettering that options quite a lot of birds present in Colombia, together with one which occurred to be chirping outdoors my balcony as I used to be penning this. On one facet are details concerning the rum firm, established in 1928. As an example:
– They use pure first-pressing sugar cane juice from one sort of cane (not molassas)
– They age the rum in new Colombian white oak barrels (not ones which have held different liquor).
– The getting old takes place at greater than 2,800 meters in altitude.
The bottle itself is much more enticing than the photographs I’ve seen on-line, so that they’ve clearly executed a design replace in the previous couple of years. My bottle was a considerably heavy manufactured clear glass one with a seam down either side, with an indentation within the entrance for the corporate seal emblem and one other emblem in glass on the underside of the bottle.
The highest was steel with a synthetic cork stopper. The back and front labels had been clear plastic stick-ons. So okay, not a present bottle that’s going to wow anybody, however not almost as dated trying because the outdated design.
Ron Viejo de Caldas Tasting Notes
Generally a bottle that isn’t overly fancy is an effective signal as a result of what actually issues is what’s inside and the fancier the bottle, the upper the manufacturing prices. The medium-dark, copper-colored rum appears to be like good within the glass.
At this level I can normally inform with the primary whiff whether or not I’m going to be consuming a high-quality rum or not and this 8-year model actually gave the precise alerts. The nostril is advanced and balanced, candy and comforting and never too alcoholic. The truth that it’s bottled at 35% alcohol most likely helps, but it surely undoubtedly invitations you to take a sip and savor.
That first style was not jolting in any respect and as with most nice spirits, it acquired extra fascinating because it moved throughout the style buds. This isn’t a rum that hits you want a punch instantly just like the 7-year Flor de Cana, neither is it one like Centenario from Costa Rica that provides an expertise like consuming liquid caramel. There are a whole lot of completely different notes working in concord right here and it takes a while to dissect the hints of various flavors popping out within the rum because it opens up within the glass.
Though this 8-year rum has received a number of worldwide awards, some severe rum drinkers appear to assume it’s too easy, not hefty sufficient for them. If that’s you, you then could be happier with one thing made at sea degree just like the Caribbean or Nicaraguan rums. Or perhaps the 15-year model of this, which is clearly going to have a lot heavier oak flavors.
In case your tastes are extra refined and you want a easy sipper, nevertheless, you’ll most likely benefit from the 8-year model of Ron Viejo de Caldas. And at this worth, it wouldn’t be against the law to make a pleasant cocktail with it: you may get a 750-ml bottle of it in Colombia for round $15 and in USA shops it’s normally not rather more, within the vary of $17 to $20 and bottled at 37.5%.
Apart from, whereas some complain that this rum isn’t manly sufficient for them, I haven’t heard it described with extra derogatory phrases and I can’t say the identical for the opposite closely marketed rum from this nation: Ron Medellin. Should you’re attempting to select from one among these two on the airport duty-free retailer on the best way house, go for the Caldas and also you’ll be glad you probably did.
Ron Viejo de Caldas is predicated in Manizales, which is a part of the Espresso Triangle area, so I suppose the world can get you going within the morning and wind you down within the night. See extra concerning the firm right here.
Article by Timothy
Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxurious Latin America and has been overlaying the area as a journey journalist for the reason that mid-2000s. He has visited every nation we cowl a number of occasions and is predicated in a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis in central Mexico, the place he owns a house. See contact data right here.
