Overview
Brand: Rom de Luxe, Limited Batch series
Origin: Licorera de Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua
Still: Column
Age: 21 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 61%
Rom de Luxe is a Danish company that specializes in a variety of fine spirits, but focuses on rum, or rom in Danish. Alongside their business importing and distributing spirits, they have a handful of series of rum releases under their own label including the Wild Series, Collectors Series, and the Limited Batch series.
On the other side of the world in the center of Latin America is Nicaragua, a country known as "the land of lakes and volcanoes" and for its contributions to cigar and rum production. Many rum enthusiasts shy away from Nicaraguan rum due to the lighter profile and added sweeteners that are common in rums from the region. The bottle we're reviewing today intends to shine a light on the country's rum in a more purist-leaning expression.
Rom de Luxe Nicaragua 21 year is a molasses-based, column distilled rum produced at Licorera de Nicaragua in Managua, the country's capital, in April 2000. The rum was casked– without additives– in an ex-Bourbon barrel and shipped to Europe (likely Main Rum Co. in Liverpool, UK) to spend the rest of its 21 years and 7 months aging continentally. It was bottled in November 2021 at a cask strength of 61% ABV, yielding 187 bottles in total.
Appearance
Amber, medium viscosity
Nose
Brown sugar, roasted almonds, vanilla, dried dates, marzipan, molasses
Palate
Vanilla, brown sugar, salted nuts, salted chocolate
Finish
Long, hot, woody; oak, vanilla, salted chocolate, molasses, roasted nuts
Rating: 8/10
Summary
Rom de Luxe Nicaragua is a really enjoyable rum, even if it isn't the most complex. It's robust, but demonstrates that the Nicaraguan profile can stand up to high proofing and stay composed.
Brown sugar and roasted almonds immediately pop upon nosing the glass, with vanilla, dates, marzipan, and molasses coming through after some searching. The palate is fairly simple and mostly follows the line of the nose, but is a tad salty and hot, which is expected of a Latin American style rum at this proof. The long finish is woody and brings salted chocolate alongside molasses and roasted nuts.
Similar to the Holmes Cay Venezuela I recently reviewed, this is very tasty, an excellent value, and a great example of the Latin American style.