Santa Teresa 1796 Rum

Rating: 12/23 It's been so long since I bought this sample that I remember nothing about this rum. Is it cheap or expensive? Go figure. The one thing I'm guessing is that it will be sweet, seeing as it's from Venezuela. N: I smelled this in the bottle and didn't get much, but wow how the glass changes things! It's spicy and fruity with some mellow musty wood. More than cinnamon, the spices are on the dry, dusty, woody side. There's lots of sweetness, but a dryness from the wood that really balances it out. Maybe it's because I just had a fairly poor rum (Mount Gay Eclipse), but this is a very enjoyable nose. I get a bit of alcohol mixed with some bubblegum, oddly enough. I am starting to get more of the alcohol here. Some vanilla does come out at some point. P: Decently full with a moderate viscosity. Surprisingly, what hits me first is spiciness with some oil. I spend a while contemplating the not-sweet spices and their faint numbingness and prickliness, then move onto the oil and start noticing a bit of a charred flavor. Surprisingly little though. And the sweetness? Really not much there. I do get some nice vanilla though. Maybe a bit of unsweetened coconut too (perhaps that's the source of the oiliness?). There's really not a ton complexity here (though there is a bit) and the balance is a tad wonky. I certainly hope that this is not an expensive rum. F: Slightly green (but not herbal or aggressive) wood with faint cloves, some vanilla. Not a very impressive finish, but at least it's there. - Conclusion - I could make a cocktail with this. It's a bit surprising, but it fits the rum profile well enough. In terms of rating, I'm looking at an 11 to 12, with a 10 being a faint possibility. Plantation Xaymaca and Appleton Estate 12 are definitely superior. I thought about a 12, then I was going with 11, but then I landed on 12. This is a totally serviceable rum with a nice richness and fullness, but the complexity and grabbing flavors really aren't there. Wow, 4-35 years and people love this? Really? This seems muddled. I do get some maturity from it, but not a ton and I definitely prefer Appleton Estate 12 side by side. I had no idea going in what the world thought of this and I'm really shocked by the outcome. I might have to try it again at some point, but I'm probably not going to be buying a bottle. It turns out that this costs just as much (almost) as Appleton Estate 12 and I would take the Appleton Estate any day.

I have a bit of a soft spot for this rum since it was the first aged rum that I ever tried neat. The only reason I picked it up is because I got a cocktail book that called for it in a few recipes and I never really heard of a solera rum before (plus the bottle and packaging are pretty unique and have that cool old time look to it). My prior rum experience was Bacardi or some other cheap rum, either mixed or in a shot. Anyway, long story short, I may overrate this a touch, but I still think it's a good rum regardless. The bottle that I'm tasting is only about half full so it may skew the notes. The nose is a touch light, you get the hints of sweetness, along with dark chocolate. On the palate, you have a good amount of complexity, with cherries, orange peel, sherry notes, oak and prunes. I will say, it goes down very smooth, albeit can be a touch thin when compared to more barrel proof rums. I found it unique years ago and even now it doesn't disappoint on the complexity front. On the finish the sweetness takes center stage with some honey notes. There is virtually no burn whatsoever. I may have originally stumbled on this rum because of a cocktail recipe or two, but I find that I drink it neat more often than using it in cocktails. It may not be a rum that you show off to your friends, but it gets the job done and is more than satisfactory as an everyday sipper. If you are interested in trying a rum that has a little bit more going on then the usual rich sweet rums that are often marketed to the masses (and often at even more elevated prices than this), then I would recommend this rum for sure.

Beautiful bottle with the red wax seal, but the cork was already disintegrating a little when I cracked it open. It was on clearance at the LCBO here in Ontario so maybe this bottle has been sitting around for a while. No worries though, it made me feel like Blackbeard dusting off an old bottle of grog found on a merchant ship he'd just slaughtered the crew of. Tropical fruits, burnt sugar and cinnamon on the nose in addition to some ethanol. Sweet, smooth but a little watery on the palate. Molasses, vanilla, banana and cinnamon. Fruity finish where the oak also comes through, medium length. Interestingly, there's no heat on the palate but all on the finish. Glad I tried it and would order it again but maybe not buy a whole bottle. A solid sipper for a skipper.

This is my first foray into aged runs, having drank rye, bourbon, and single malts mostly... some anejo and mezcal. Since this is my first the rating # is somewhat arbitrary. Nose is full of butterscotch, toffee, molasses, slight hints of pear, banana bread and baking spices. Palette is nice and warm, big bursts of toffee and brown butter. Lots of caramel, molasses and butterscotch that fades into vanilla and oak. Finish is somewhat short lived but delicious. It’s delicious, especially after a meal as a dessert drink, but not altogether too complex. More to come as my palette acclimates.

N: Caramel, molasses, brown sugar, and candied tropical fruit. Some smoke, some chocolate. Delicate and nice. P: Rich with spice - cinnamon and an almost chili pepper heat. Burnt brown sugar. Smoky and woodsy. Sweet, but not overwhelming. Feels thick and viscous on the tongue, almost like cough syrup, in a good way. Still good it's balance though, no one more dominates. Really tasty. Lacks a little power or depth if anything, but I really like that it's a bit of a delicate sipper that rewards patience.

The ideal sipping ron. If you think Diplomatico is now too sweet and flat, give Santa Teresa 1796 a try. I find it quite similar in style to the popular Venezuelan rum, but with much less sugar and some added complexity from the solera aging process. You get the same honey, butterscotch, and chocolate notes, but with more nuts, dried fruits, and a touch of smoky oak. Strikes a great balance between all facets to remain approachable, yet interesting with every sip. My favorite Latin style rum to date.