Transcontinental Rum Line, Panama 2006
ABV: 55.9%
Country: Panama
Age: 17 years
Cask: Unknown
Still: Column Still
Price: £136
Distillery: Unknown
A limited release of only 240 bottles
Transcontinental Rum Line’s Panama 2006 was a real standout when I first tried it at the Real Rum Experience tasting event… in fact it left such an impression that I set straight out to buy a bottle. This write-up brings together my original notes from that initial tasting alongside a fresh look at the rum back at home, with a clean palate and a bit more time to reflect. Distilled in Panama and aged both tropically (8 years in Panama) and continentally (9 years in Europe), this single cask expression is a great example of TCRL’s focus on honest, regionally expressive rum.
Nose
Hickory smoked, honey glazed BBQ baby back ribs – dripping! Some charred wood from a fire long burned out.
The savoury notes are beautifully contrasted with sweet offering a rich bouquet. Fresh pecan pie eventually bursts through the meatiness offering a hot & treacly profile.
I can’t help but grin smelling this – it really is a standout.
Palate
This has a warm and chewy mouthfeel with meaty smokiness fresh from the grill following through from the nose, keeping the feeling of a BBQ burning strong (pun intended) with honey, smoky wood (and a few savoury notes) without the meat itself.
Despite the savoury open this does remain a rather sweet and very approachable rum with a huge depth of flavour – vibrant red fruits (cherries and cranberries), candied walnuts, raisins and toffee. Nicely complimented by some pleasant wood. This is a delicious balance between sweet & savoury.
10/10 – Truly a best in class Panamanian rum. Great complexity and depth of flavours whilst remaining very approachable.
My scoring system, explained
- 10: Exceptional. This is best in class and a firm favourite of mine.
- 9: Outstanding. Near perfection, a bottle I would be sad to finish (and very happy to restock!)
- 8: Excellent. An evening spent sipping this would be a very good one.
- 7: Great. Add to cart, no questions asked.
- 6: Very good. At the right price I would definitely buy a bottle.
- 5: Good. If someone poured me a glass you wouldn’t hear me complain.
- 4: Above average. Not quite good but better than some.
- 3: Average. Average at best, this isn’t offensive but equally not exciting either.
- 2: Not for me. This simply means it’s not a profile I find enjoyable; rather than a reflection of quality.
- 1: Not the spirit. This is a poor representation of the spirit.
