Presented by Flor De Caña
Rum is definitely having a moment, as more and more people are getting to know this centuries-old spirit. Whiskey drinkers in particular are discovering that this is another brown spirit full of complexity, flavor, and depth–especially when you are talking about extra-aged rum.
Flor De Caña 25 Year rum is a superb luxury sipper that has spent a quarter of a century aging in ex-bourbon barrels, soaking up rich flavor and color from decades of maturation. The barrels, which are sealed with Nicaraguan plantain leaves to prevent leakage, rest in ventilated warehouses without any climate control, allowing Mother Nature to do her very best work.
In the heat of the day, the slow-aged, single estate rum expands into the wood of the barrel, and during the cooler nights the liquid contracts, extracting notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel. No sugar, coloring agents, or other adulterants are added to the liquid, ensuring that nature is the only source of flavor and color in this ultra premium rum.
Flor De Caña is recognized around the world for its exceedingly high quality, with several expressions winning top awards at prestigious spirits contests, including being named “Global Rum Producer of the Year” at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, “Best Rum of The Year” at the International Rum Conference and “Among the Finest Products in the World” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The story of this legendary distillery begins back in the late 1800s, when Alfredo Francisco Pellas Canessa found the perfect spot to distill rum at the base of San Cristobal Volcano, an imposing mountain jutting high above the Nicaraguan countryside that is the country’s tallest and most active volcano.
This location wasn’t chosen just for its beautiful backdrop, though; the volcano actually contributes to the unsurpassed quality of Flor de Caña rum. The soil in the surrounding area is naturally fertilized by the volcanic ash that is frequently expelled from the volcano’s active crater, the water is infused with minerals that bleed into underground reservoirs, and the higher temperatures caused by volcanic activity actually augment the aging process as the rum rests inside barrels.
It’s important to the distillery that these natural conditions persist both for rum production and the protection of the natural environment, so the eco-conscious company has instituted a series of sustainable, holistic production methods that are expertly implemented from field to bottle.
These include using renewable energy to power the distillery, using Fair Trade and Bonsucro certified raw materials, naturally aging the rum without sugar (it’s also gluten-free and Kosher), and a deep commitment to investing in its workers through a company-owned school and hospital.
Being one of the world’s first Fair Trade certified spirits means that Flor de Caña rums are produced in compliance with more than 300 rigorous labor, social and environmental standards. It also means that proceeds from every bottle sold go directly toward improving the lives of its workers, their families and their community, as they get to choose how to invest these funds in projects such as health clinics, schools, scholarship funds and environmental projects.
Beyond Flor de Caña’s support of the community that produces its award-winning rum, the proof of the brand’s quality production measures is definitely in the bottle, as this 25-year-old crown jewel of the Flor De Cana portfolio speaks volumes to the distillery’s methods and craft.
The rum’s color is a deep and elegant mixture of brown and amber, with rich notes of brown sugar, fig, candied orange, and cocoa on the palate, and a long, smooth finish that offers further notes of almond and caramel. As with most ultra-premium rums, it’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
As the high-end rum category continues to expand, it’s always a good idea to stop and savor an absolute classic like this bottle every once in a while to remind yourself just how elegant a fine rum can be. Flor De Caña 25 Year is a true example of how time, patience, responsible production practices, and natural ingredients can all combine to produce a truly top shelf rum.
Treat yourself and order a bottle of the $149.95 Flor De Caña 25 Year, it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.