Do I Have What It Takes to Be a Master Blender?

If you caught my post last year, The Art of the Blend: Diplomático Rum Real Rum Experience, you’ll know I got the chance to step into the world of rum blending – guided by the Maestros Roneros, Nelson Hernandez, from Diplomático. It’s one thing to taste and review a beautifully balanced rum; it’s another thing entirely to try and create one yourself.

Armed with pipettes, sample bottles, and a little confidence – I mixed and matched different Diplomático expressions, trying to find that perfect balance of sweet, spice, and structure. The result? My very own That Rum Drinker Blend (TRD Hernandez) the product of equal parts enthusiasm and guesswork.

I actually had the idea for this pretty much straight away but I never got around to this, so without further ado let’s answer the question: Do I have what it takes to be a master blender?

To find out, I sat down with my creation and a couple of real Diplomático blends for reference, to see how my rookie attempt stacked up against the professionals.

Tasting Notes: My Blend – TRD Hernandez

Nose: A little ethanol escapes initially before heaps of dried red fruit, toffee, vanilla, woody spice and a touch of old leather. This doesn’t come across as well integrated or balanced as normal – but that could also be influenced by my expectations going into this.

Palate: An interesting tart, acidity with polished leather and a lot of white pepper. There’s a nettle like vegetal freshness and a decent amount of chew. Toffee adds an element of sweetness but overall this remains a dense, chewy and short profile.

For the most part this is inoffensive, if a little boring.

So… do I have what it takes to be a master blender? Well, let’s just say my blend turned out better than I expected! It’s drinkable and even shows a bit of personality. But after tasting it side-by-side with the real thing, it’s clear there’s a reason that Nelson Hernandez has the word master in his title… there’s a huge difference between enthusiasm and expertise!

Blending rum is a delicate art – one that requires patience, experience, and an understanding of how different distillates interact over time. It’s not just about mixing flavours; it’s about creating harmony in the glass. And that, in my opinion, is why the title of Master Blender is earned, not assumed.

Would I try blending rum again? Absolutely. Should I quit my day job and chase a career at the distillery? Probably not.

Still, there’s something undeniably satisfying about sipping a rum that’s entirely your own creation, flaws and all. Maybe that’s the real art of blending: finding joy in the experiment, even if you’ll never make it onto the label.