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CATEGORY REPORT Pyrat XO Reserve Ultra-premium Pyrat is a complex yet mellow blend of carefully selected aged rums sourced from throughout the Caribbean. Characterized by its rich amber color and oak wood aroma, the taste is a complex blend of oak wood, vanilla, orange and light cane sugar. Caribbean, 80 proof, $24.99, Patrón Spirits Flor de Caña 12 Year Centenario Matured in American white oak, Flor de Caña Rums from Nicaragua are slow-aged, guaranteeing they are 100-percent naturally aged without addi- tives or artifi cial accelerants. This label is stately and semi-sweet, with hints of nougat, almond butter and molasses. Nicaragua, 80 proof, $32.99, Skyy Spirits Appleton Estate Reserve Luxurious and sophisticated, it’s a superbly bal- anced blend of 20 estate-produced rums, aged in handcrafted oak barrels. Sippers get a full-bodied fl avor with a complex bouquet of intense fruit and notes of orange peel, butterscotch and vanilla. Jamaica, 80 proof, $24.99, Kobrand Corp. New And Noteworthy Rum is an ever-evolving category. These brands are fresh to the market or coming soon to a distributor near you. Pacifi c Rum Portland, Oregon’s Bull Run Distillery launches its Pacifi c rum label this year. Both the six-week barrel-aged white and the dark rum aged one year will be made from 100% turbinado sugar sourced in Hawaii. Aged in Oregon, they are expected to take on unique characteristics thanks to the temper- ate climate of the Pacifi c Northwest. Oregon, low $20s, Bull Run Distillery Mount Gay Eclipse Black Molasses dons the nickname “black gold” in Barbados, and the latest reincarnation from Mount Gay gives off char and wood smoke on the nose, gingery cin- namon and pepper on the palate and the crisp fi nish expected from continuous distillation and aging in Kentucky white oak bourbon casks. Barbados, 100 proof, $24.99, Rémy Cointreau USA BlackBeard Spiced Rum Launched a few months ago and now in national distribution, this rum is not your typical spiced rum; rather, it’s an aged rum with a profi le of secret citruses and wonderful baking-spice aromas (nutmeg) with a delight- ful vanilla fi nish. Puerto Rico, 86 proof, $14.99, Destilería Serrallés, Inc Bacardi OakHeart A smooth spiced rum straight from the heart of charred oak barrels for a subtle hint of smoki- ness, OakHeart begins with a blend of Bacardi Superior and Bacardi Gold rums. Select spices are added, and the liquid is fi ltered in a proprietary man- ner to retain a hint of smoke. Launches this fall. Puerto Rico, 70 proof, $12.99, Bacardi USA Cruzan Strawberry Launched this spring, Cruzan Strawberry is crafted with fi ne Cruzan rum, all-natural fl avors and cane sugar. Com- bining the taste of ripe strawberries with a touch of ginger, Cruzan Strawberry is available nationwide. St. Croix, 42 proof, $15.99, Cruzan International Malibu Cranberry-Cherry In 2011, consumers logged on and texted in to choose Cranberry-Cherry as the next fl avor to join the growing family of popular Malibu rums. It combines the fl avors of juicy ripe cherries and tart cranberries. Barbados, 42 proof, $14, Pernod Ricard USA 58 / the tasting panel / august 201 1