4 Rums for you in January

At the Rum Lab, we focus on sharing about wonderful Rhum/Ron/Rum; it is here, in this space, we pick 4 Rums to fit perfectly with each month. These are great rums, and each would make fine additions to your collection, no matter what time of year!

Crisp Winter air is all around and the New Year is here ushering in so many exciting opportunities. This is the time of year to make big designs, to be bold, and strengthen our attention to the plans ahead. These are 4 fantastic rums to fit that bill!

Banks 5 Island Rum

The travels, adventures, and discoveries of Sir Joseph Banks a noted explorer serve as the inspiration for Banks 5 Island Rum. The Master Blender uses a blend of over 20 unique rums from 5 different islands (Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Java and Guyana) to create this sublime and exquisitely versatile rum. The aromas begin with intriguing scents of over-ripe tropical fruit, jasmine, citrus blossoms and gardenia along with smoky pepper, cocoa, ginger and coriander that is so gorgeous. The mouthfeel is beautifully complex, viscous and pungent; the flavors follow the aromas and build to include fresh green peppers, green coconut and more tropical fruit. The finish delicately restates all of these intricate flavors.

Flor de Caña 7 Grand Reserve

Flor de Cana Grand Reserve is distilled, aged and bottled in Nicaragua. The notable intricacy is approachable, simple and enjoyable. Aromas of smoky caramel, allspice, wet straw, honey roasted almonds and warming spice are evocative and inviting. The palate entry is light, leading to a medium-bodied mouth feel that shows more caramel, toasted nuts, coffee, raisin and cedar notes along with re-showing the aromas as flavors in a scrumptious parade. The finish is dry, spicy and woody with a light aftertaste of herbs. Another ambrosial rum at a great price. Try it neat, on ice or in a delicious adult beverage.

Chairman’s Reserve

Not just for the Chairman anymore! From St. Lucia Distillers, “Chairman’s Reserve” is a blend of pot still and continuous still rums; the rum from each of these stills is aged to perfection (3-4 years) separately, then ‘blended’ and further aged for 6 more months to allow the flavors marry. It is a supple, mature rum with sumptuous aromas of ripe fruits, baking spice, clean oak and savory-structured vanilla. The flavors continue in a clean mouthfeel that evolves to show dried fruits, oolong tea, more yummy spice and a lovely rummy warmth. The finish dances along displaying each nuance just long enough to tempt you to another taste.

Ron Duran 12 Year Rum

Ron Duran is Panamanian rum aged in American oak for a minimum of 12 years that is crafted by Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez who created it to celebrate the legendary, internationally known, Panamanian Boxer Roberto Duran. The nose shows sweet tea, creamy vanilla, wet lumber, cola, caramel, honey, wood spices, treacle, blossoms and fennel. These scents achieve a balanced demonstration on the palate with added dried fruit tones and a slight of alcohol showing through. The flavors linger throughout the finish emphasizing wood spice and earthy vanilla that carry hints of leather, baking spice, fennel and toffee.

These rums are all easily enjoyed as sippers, neat, on ice, with soda or in a toddy. Absolutely perfect rum to be strategic and plot with. Thank you again for joining us on these journeys of rum and we hope that this New Year brings you many reason to celebrate gratitude and many chances to experience excellent Rum/Ron/Rhum.