Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum has been produced on the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, since 1760. Cruzan Rum is also the only distillery operating in St. Croix today.

Cruzan Single Barrel is decanted in a tall bottle that has a frosted glass effect and a wooden cork. Around the long neck there is a small label, where the number of the bottle and the number of the barrel has been written. Little details like this are important to me as it allows me to find rum from a different barrel for taste comparisons.

Despite the name, Cruzan Single Barrel is actually a blend of different aged rums up to 12 years old. After blending the blend is then put into a new charred oak barrel to continue aging for approximately 1 more year.

Appearance

Mount Gay is widely recognized as the world’s oldest rum producer and they don't seem to be too coy about it either. On the front label, of the heavy bottle with a classic bubble neck, is printed a map of Barbados where it says Mount Gay has been producing rum since 1703, which would make the tradition of making rum over 300 years.

Appearance

Mount Gay Eclipse is gold with strong legs that after a swirl in the glass leave several small droplets behind once it has begun its slow descent deeper into the glass. The presence of the droplets and the strong legs give clues to the rums sweetness.

Nose

Indeed the nose has a strong presence of sweetness as well as alcohol that stings if you bury your nose too deep into the glass but not enough to make you turn back. Once you get past the alcohol a panorama of exotic fruits come to greet your nose, mostly dark fruits with the most notable fruit being dried plum. Brown sugar is detectable with a little vanilla on the side. I found the nose surprisingly complex for this rum.

Evan Williams is bright brown with core highlights that are nearly red in this refined decanter. The cork is protected by a black rubber seal that goes all the way down to the end of the bottles bubbled neck. Markings on the front label clearly indicate the whiskey was put in oak in 1996 as do the handwritten notes, which add a touch of individuality, on the back label. Around the neck is a small booklet praising the quality of Evan Williams Single Barrel and listing some awards it has won over the years. All these little details make the bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel very inviting and attractive.

I could hardly wait to finally open this bottle for review after 5 long months it had been calling my name on the shelf. But it wasn't going to be easy to get to its contents as the rip cord of the wax seal didn't work and I actually had use a knife to cut through the thick rubber and then through the odd plastic cover under it. It appears this bourbon was determined to pique my anticipation as it made me wait a little while longer - it took nigh on 10 minutes to open the bottle.

This is a bottle that makes you think you're in for something really special. A uniquely numbered square bottle with rounded shoulders and a big black wooden cork that distinguishes it from a crowd of other bottles.  The box itself, that Angostura 1919 came in, is quite refined too with its embossed flower pattern on the front. Before opening the bottle and pouring the rum in a glass I can already see that the clarity of Angostura 1919 is spectacular! You can clearly see through the golden liquid when looking through the bottle.

After removing the magnificent cork the room is slowly filled with a deliciously intoxicating scent of vanilla and caramel. In the glass Angostura 1919 is a pale gold with thin legs that soon sink back down the sides of the glass merging back into the rest of the rum. Once settled in the glass the clarity is even more exceptional than it was in the bottle.

The first thing that attracted me to this rum was its unique presentation. A squat bottle in a leather pouch. It immediately gave me the idea that this rum must be something special if the makers have taken the time to create such special packaging. Outside the pouch Ron Pampero is dark mahogany and the label on the bottle is decorated with a medieval font, as is the typing on the leather pouch. The bottle also has a red plastic seal which bears the Pampero logo, a man on a horse. Inspecting the bottle closer I was disappointed to notice that the bottle I have doesn't bear a bottle number despite the many reviews that state it should. Perhaps this is a newer bottle and the makers have decided not to use bottle numbering anymore.

The rum I am reviewing today is one of the first rums that introduced me to the world of rum and really made me appreciate it. The introduction took place at a cigar bar where the owner suggested rum, rather than whiskey, to be had with a cigar. I was intrigued by his suggestion. Previously, perhaps foolishly, I only considered whiskey or cognac to be had with cigars. The rum he recommended to me was none other than the Cuban Havana Club Añejo 7 Años. What better choices are there for a first review than the rum that got me writing reviews to begin with?