Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/735312
100 / the tasting panel / october 2016 CATEGORY REPORT Ernest "Papa" Hemingway is among the greatest American authors of the 20th century. But he was much more than that. Hemingway's passion for life is the stuff of legends. There is now a pair of world- class rums that draw their creative inspiration from Hemingway and his bigger-than-life persona and named after his beloved boat. And what appropriate homages they are! Papa's Pilar Blonde (SRP $29.99) is a blend of aged rums handcrafted from sugarcane molasses sourced from throughout the Caribbean. The column- distilled rums used in the Blonde are aged three to seven years before the Master Distiller transfers them to the distillery's solera. The golden hued Papa's Pilar Blonde is bottled at 42% alcohol content (84 proof). The rum has an enticing bouquet of vanilla, light spice, chocolate, toffee and a hint of toasted oak. Its entry raises not a trace of heat as it fills the mouth with a delectable array of cane and oak-induced flavors. The finish is long, spicy, warm and laced with the flavor of tropical fruit. Equally seductive is Papa's Pilar Dark (SRP $39.99), an artisanal gem made from a blend of both column- and pot-distilled rums that are aged up to 24 years before entering the solera. It is bottled at 43% alcohol (86 proof). "Our unique solera system features two layers of bourbon barrels to ensure a firm grounding in rum's traditional flavors. Another layer is comprised of Port wine casks that lend a subtle sweetness and a deep mahogany color. A last layer of Spanish Sherry casks results in a counterweight to sweetness with oaky spiciness," says Papa's Pilar Master Blender Carlton Grooms. During its stay in the solera, Papa's Pilar Dark develops a reddish/brown hue, a silky textured body and a fetching bouquet of vintage Port, vanilla, baking spice, cacao and cloves. Its palate is an elegant offering of Sherry, plums, cinnamon, ginger and dried herbs. The finish is thoroughly satisfying. It's a perfect spirit to serve neat after a memorable dinner. Not everyone can just slip away and jaunt off to the Caribbean, but sipping one of the Papa's Pilar Rums may be the next best thing. PAPA'S PILAR WWW.PAPASPILAR.COM A Worldly Adventure WITH PAPA'S PILAR RUM creative inspiration from bigger-than-life persona and And what appropriate $29.99) is a blend of aged of aged of sugarcane molasses sourced Caribbean. The column- Blonde are aged three Master Distiller distillery's solera. Blonde is (84 proof). bouquet of vanilla, of vanilla, of and a hint of a trace of delectable flavors. The laced with the Pilar Dark (SRP from a blend of rums that are entering the solera. proof). mahogany color. mahogany color. mahogany A last A last A layer of Spanish of Spanish of results in a counterweight to sweetness spiciness," says Papa's Pilar Blender Carlton Grooms. During its stay in stay in stay the solera, Pilar Dark develops a reddish/brown hue, a silky textured silky textured silky fetching bouquet of vanilla, baking spice, and cloves. Its palate elegant offering plums, cinnamon, and dried herbs. is thoroughly satisfying. thoroughly satisfying. thoroughly a perfect spirit after a memorable Not everyone away and away and away jaunt Caribbean, but sipping the Papa's Pilar Rums the next best thing. WWW.PAPASPILAR.COM