The Tasting Panel magazine

October 2016

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october 2016  /  the tasting panel  /  99 CATEGORY REPORT Rum Malecon deserves dual citizenship. It is a world-class range of Panamanian rum made in a decidedly Cuban-style, crafted by legend- ary Maestro Ronero Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez. For over 35 years he was the former Cuban Minster of Rum and the mastermind behind the international brand Havana Club. After emigrating from Cuba, Don Pancho headed to the jungles of Panama and there he set up shop. Rum Malecon ranks atop his many accomplish- ments. These ultra-premium rums are made from hand-cut sugarcane cultivated in the fields adja- cent to the distillery. The harvested cane is brought to the distillery where it is rendered into top-grade molasses and allowed to ferment slowly in open vats using naturally occurring airborne yeast. The fermented wash is then distilled in copper column stills built nearly a century ago. After the rum exits the still, it is transferred into re-charred American white oak barrels for maturation. When Don Pancho deems the rum has reached optimum maturation, it is filtered for clarity and bottled at 40% alcohol (80 proof). The exquisite Rum Malecon core portfolio features four distinctive expressions. Rum Malecon 10 Year Old Reserva Superior (SRP $39) is a medium-bodied, highly aromatic rum matured for a minimum of ten years, while Rum Malecon 12 Year Reserva Superior (SRP $49) clearly demonstrates how significantly a rum can further develop with an additional two years of aging in the Panamanian heat and humidity. Rum Malecon 18 Year Reserva Imperial (SRP $65) was clearly created with a snifter in mind. Its breadth of flavor and alluring aromatics are sensational, making it a natural to enjoy neat. However, when it comes to rum luxury, few marques can match the elegance of Rum Malecon 25 Year Old Reserva Imperial (SRP $120). After spending a quarter of a century in oak, the esteemed Reserva Imperial is an incomparable rum, a sippable masterpiece. "In addition to the four core Malecon expres- sions, we have very limited quantities of Rum Malecon Seleccion Esplendida; currently in the U.S., we have the following vintages: 1979 (bottled 2008, 29 years old), 1982 (bottled 2013, 31 years old) and 1985 (bottled 2015, 30 years old). In the near future, we will also offer Rum Malecon Rare Proof (96.8 proof) 20 year old; it's small batch and dis- tilled in 1996," says Steve Willett, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Distilled Spirits of importer Cobalt Brands. COBALT BRANDS Refined Elegance WITH RUM MALECON

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