Brugal Maestro Reserva

ABV: 41.2%

Country: Dominican Republic

Age: Unknown

Cask: ex-American sherry oak cask

Still: Unknown (I believe column)

Price: £150

Distillery: Brugal Distillery

Brugal, a renowned Dominican rum producer with over 135 years of heritage, has introduced a distinguished addition to its portfolio: the Maestro Reserva. I first tasted this last summer at the TWE Rum Show and added a bottle to my collection shortly after. The Maestro Reserva is the work of fifth-generation rum master Jassil Villanueva Quintana. This unique expression uses a special technique called “Dark Aromatic Toasting”. The rum starts aging in American oak casks that once held sherry, those casks are then emptied and given a precise toasting to draw out natural caramel pearls from the wood’s sugars. The rum is poured back in to soak up all those rich, deep flavors, resulting in an exceptional rum with natural colour and sweetness.

Nose

Subtlety and simplicity at it’s finest – this doesn’t boast a loud or complex profile but it offers simple elegance.

Almonds and frosted cake are interrupted by wispy smoke on the horizon – this is almost the idea of smoke rather than the reality.

Palate

White chocolate sits really low in the mouth in a very pleasing way. This has a very gentle warmth, not unlike fresh from the oven amaretti biscuits.

There is a small amount of oak present that imparts a light smokiness – less embedded in the liquid and more like the liquid has passed through it.

I’ve not been able to find an age statement for this rum but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was between 6 months and 2 years.

7/10 – Subtlety and simplicity at it’s finest.