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Ron Cartavio XO
Peru
40%
£67
Industrial Rum – from a modern multi column still.

ABV Hydrometer Test: ?
* M S

Peru is not somewhere that you would associate with rum production, unless of course as you spend more time drinking different rums, you learn that just about everywhere in the world produces rum of some kind or another. This is from the Chicama valley!

The XO sits at the top of Cartavio’s range, aged for 18 years in American, French Limousin and Slovenian casks (does Slovenia produce good quality wood?)…..but in a Solera system. Therefore, whilst theoretically, some of this rum may be 18 years old or more, the majority is likely to be much less due to the way a Solera system works.

Under Richard Seale’s/Luca Gargano’s proposed rum categorisation, this would most-likely be classed as an “Industrial Rum” – from a modern multi column still. With post-ageing additives such as sugar, colouring and glycerine.

Bottle/Presentation       2/3
This does look great. Presented in a tin, the bottle is a distinctive shape and has a nice cork closure, which does suggest a higher value.

Glass/Aroma     8/10
This looks to be a very deep brown, coppery, maybe mahogany-type colour and probably has some caramel colouring added. Swilling it around the glass shows lots of legs on the side, probably indicating quite a bit of added sugar and glycerine to smooth the appearance. The aroma is very sweet, but pleasing with some oak and vanilla present, too. The alcohol is very present but does not dominate.

Taste, Initial-middle      20/40
Smooth at first becoming rougher quite quickly, but very sweet. Some hints of coffee and vanilla and light wood.

Taste, Middle/Throat    33/40
At this point the rum becomes more like a rum. There is a little bit of fire mixed up with some spice, more vanilla and quite a long finish. The wood notes develop further and despite the sweetness, it becomes a very pleasant drink.

Afterburn            4/7
Continuing the pleasant lateness of this rum, the afterburn is subtle but definitely apparent. It does leave a sticky feeling in the throat, but also some nice coffee and vanilla.

Morning After Aroma
Absolutely no aromas although there are a couple of drops stuck to the bottom of the glass.

TOTAL   67

Overall
Ignore the Solera ageing and “18yo” statement. This rum is quite sweet, but very smooth with flavours that develop nicely. I think there is a little too much added sugar/glycerine for this to be considered a top rum, but if you like your rum on the sweet side, this has lots of interesting flavours to accompany the stickiness.

Find out more about Cartavio XO rum on their web site.

*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.

Marking Guide:
Bottle/Presentation Out of 3
Glass/Aroma Out of 10
Taste, Initial-middle Out of 40
Taste, Middle/Throat Out of 40
Afterburn Out of 7
TOTAL 100