Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/832383
DEPARTMENT HEADER 1 10 / the tasting panel / june 2017 1 10 / the tasting panel / june 2017 E very once in a while a spirits product comes along that elevates the entire category. Dos Maderas is that product in the rum category. Arguably the most unique brand of rum in the world, Dos Maderas is the brainchild of the folks at Williams & Humbert, the venerable Sherry house based in Jerez, Spain, which was founded in 1877 by Sir Alexander Williams and Arthur Humbert. There are currently three interpretations in the portfolio: Dos Maderas 5+3, Dos Maderas P.X. 5+5 and Dos Maderas Luxus. In its heart, Dos Maderas, which translates to "two woods," is a tribute to Spain's long relationship with rum, and the realization of years of research that resulted in the marriage of Caribbean and Spanish rum culture. At its core, Dos Maderas is a super-premium line of rums made by distilling base spirits in Barbados and Guyana and aging them for at least five years in the Caribbean before bringing them to Jerez to age for a minimum of three more years in used Sherry casks before bottling. Seems like a pretty complicated way to make rum, doesn't it? Well it is, but every component of the overall recipe just described is key to making Dos Maderas the wonderfully unique spirit that it is. Here are the steps involved. First, Williams & Humbert selects the rums—Barbados rums are known for their spicy notes and intensity, while Guyana rums are known for their smoothness and blendability—which it then ages in 220- liter American oak barrels in the Caribbean for five years. The Caribbean is perfect for aging rum without a lot of product loss ("the angels' share"), as the humidity helps keep the barrels from giving up too much rum to evaporation in the hot climate— more rum to ship to Spain! Rum's Game Changer w Dos Game Dos Game Changer Dos Changer Game Changer Game Dos Game Changer Game Maderas Changer Maderas Changer "We opened Vaca with the intention of transporting Spanish drinking culture to Southern California by having a Spanish- centric cocktail list that includes traditional Gin & Tonics and Spanish-style rum cocktails. Having Dos Maderas, a rum actually produced in Spain, only adds another layer of authenticity to signature drinks like our Iberian Old Fashioned, which contains the Dos Maderas P.X. 5+5." — Michael Rooney, Beverage Director at Vaca Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA PHOTO: MARGARET SOSS