2018 Q2 Spirited Virginia - 11

FEATURED SPIRIT

Golden Oldies: Aged Rums
They're the ideal choice for heightened flavor.

lso called Nelson's blood, kill-devil,
demon water, pirate's drink, navy
neaters and screech, rum is a distilled
spirit made from sugarcane juice or from
the byproducts of sugarcane, such as honey
and molasses.
Today, rum is distilled and enjoyed all over
the world. There are light, dark, gold, spiced,
flavored and high-proof rums. Rum is the
second most popular spirit in the U.S. There
are also a number of high-end aged rums.
Rum is typically aged, from anywhere
between three and 20 years, in oak casks
that once held bourbon, which makes the
liquid turn a dark tobacco color. Sometimes
it's aged in stainless steel tanks, producing
an essentially colorless beverage.
Aged rum is the ideal choice for heightened
flavor, quality and complexity. The aging
process infuses the spirit with fuller, richer
flavors, and is best enjoyed straight. Here's
a tip. if your rum is cask strength-120 to 150
proof-dilute it with ice or water. You want
to taste the rum itself, not just the alcohol.
Here's the great thing about aged rum. It's
not that expensive. It costs a bit more than
a garden-variety bottle but, compared with
top-shelf Scotch, wine or brandy, aged rum
is a bargain. Virginia ABC carries a wide range
of aged rums, in every price range.

El Dorado Special Reserve 15 Year Old is
produced by Demerara Distillers in Guyana. A
combination of choice aged rums distilled in
old metal and wooden stills and aged in oak
bourbon barrels, Special Reserve lists from $65
a bottle. The aroma is vanilla, coffee beans and
dark chocolate with a rich oaky taste of dried
fruit and toffee.
Pussers 15 Year Navy Rum, an award-winning
mix of rums distilled in Guyana and Trinidad,
lists for around $55 a bottle. This small-batch
spirit is full-bodied, smooth and balanced with
no added flavoring agents.
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Extra Old Rum
is aged in the Caribbean using bourbon casks
and then transported to France where it finishes
in cognac barrels for a complex, multi-textured
flavor, with bold notes of praline, cherry and
toasted coconut. A bottle lists for less than $45.
Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum
has a lustrous mahogany color and a smooth,
confident taste. This is a top-shelf rum aged in
good old American oak barrels. It's nutty and
spicy with hints of vanilla and molasses, a highclass spirit at a very reasonable price of $35.
You can also try Bacardi 8, Flor de
Cana Grand Reserve 7 Year, Dos Maderas
5+3 Year or one of our other selections.
Check Virginia ABC's website for prices.

-Andrew Madigan

The Honey Badger
1 ½ oz. Kill Devil Rum with
pecans and honey, topped with
your favorite cream soda.

www.outerbanksdistilling.com
SPIRITED VIRGINIA | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2018 11

http://www.outerbanksdistilling.com

2018 Q2 Spirited Virginia

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