Ron Anejo Carupano Reserva Exclusiva 12 Rum

Ron Carúpano has been making rum in Venezuela's Macarapana Valley for over 260 years, and is considered the pioneer of aged rum production in the country. This 12-year expression is overseen by Carmen López de Bastidas, Venezuela's first certified female Master Blender, with 33 years of experience behind her. The aging process itself is genuinely unusual: the rum rests in sealed American white oak barrels that prevent the typical evaporative "Angel's Share" loss, concentrating flavor differently than most aged rums, while Venezuela's Caribbean coast climate — with real daily temperature swings — speeds up maturation to roughly three times the normal rate. It picked up Gold at the 2019 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Expect a beautiful amber color with orange glints, a nose of red flowers, molasses, caramel, honey, maple, plum, cinnamon, and clove, moving into an unctuous palate of maple, prunes, and quince, with a balanced, medium-to-long finish. Community tasters consistently praise the value here — one drinker directly compared it to Carúpano's own $400 Legendario 25-Year and slightly preferred this $30 bottle for everyday drinking. Bottled at 40% ABV. Great neat, on the rocks, or in a Cuba Libre.