Flor de Cana rum

[jonholl]

Bought a bottle of the 4 year old Flor de Cana rum while in Florida this past winter. It mixed very well in a rum & Coke, 4 of us liked it a lot. The rum flavor came through well & made a great drink, IMO.

Has anyone tried any of the other Flor de Cana's, I've seen 2 & 7 year versions but haven't tried them?

[drrich1965]

The 7 year old is very, very nice. I am not a "rum guy" but it is what i would drink when in Nicaragua (had work there for a couple of years, a few weeks at a time).

Worth sipping.

[Gillman]

I've had a number of these rums including the 2 and 7-year aged versions. I think I may have had the 4 years too. There is a luxury version (extra-aged) we get here I haven't tried.

These rums are very good. I'd say they are on the lighter end of the spectrum. They don't have the "ruminess" of Demerara rum from Guyana, or the intense quality (from pot still?) of Appleton, for example. They would lean in a more neutral direction, in my opinion.

They seem to have a characteristic taste, sort of light cigar box, which may derive from the barrels selected to age them and local maturation conditions.

Gary

[cigarnv]

The Flor de Cana line of rums has always been a good value for a very decent rum. The 12 yo is probably the best value for age/quality to price. It is a classic central american rum with a sweet approachable style. The FdC line, especially the 12 and 18yo are soft to the palate and while sweet have a nice balance that keeps the sugars in check with the other flavors. I find the FdC's lean more towards a melon and peach fruitiness where the Appletons lean more in a citrus direction.

While a bit more difficult to find the 18yo FdC is a very smooth pour that is one of the better aged rums at an approachable price. While I continue to feel the best aged rums are produced by Clement in Martinique the easy drinking style of the 12 and 18yo FdC keep them in the summer rotation. Both are excellent cigar rums.

[Gillman]

Good notes and I recall now that I did try the 12 (it is now part of a vatting of aged rums I prepared composed of El Dorado 12 and 15, Mount Gay Extra Aged, a Royal Extra Mature (Guyanese like the El Dorados), and an aged Doorley's rum. I have them in the Flor de Cana 12 bottle which is nearly full.

This vatting is really good and it may hit the next Gazebo.

I know I had the 7, so those must have been the two I tried.

While I enjoyed the 12, I found its best use was in a vatting but that reflects a personal interest to balance the components of individual liquors (sometimes). The ED 12 and 15 were coffee- and fruity-like; the Mount Gay rather dry and tannic; the Doorly's and Royal Extra Mature had profound molasses notes; and the Flor de Cana was relatively mild and almost sandalwood-like (what I call sometimes cigar-box). In the vat, the papaya-like notes of the Dorado rums dominate but the others each add their touch and the Flor de Cana served as the base.

Incidentally, I just read that the company that makes El Dorado owns 12 distilleries in Guyana and its rums are a complex blending of rums from these various distilleries. They are in fact really good and if I had to choose one rum of those I've tasted as the best, it would be ED 12 and sometimes the 15.

Rum Clement indeed is excellent and has a very unqiue flavor I find, I've only had white and light amber versions, not extra aged.

Gary

[cigarnv]

Gary,

If given the chance I would explore both the Clement's and if possible the 1952 which is most likely the best rum I have ever tried. Perfect balance, great length and complexity. Roasted nuts, ripe fruit and a hint of toffee wrapped up in a silky package. Delicious.

I would also recommend the Trois Rivieres rums also from Martinique. The 1980 and the 1989 are very good and can still be found at bearable prices in the Carribean.

[Gillman]

Thanks, I would love to try these. I did have a light amber Trois Rivieres once, in Saint Martin, and it seemed unique in taste. I recall too buying its sugar syrup for use in the petit punch of the region. I may be able to get these or something similar when next in Montreal.

Gary

[cigarnv]

Thanks, I would love to try these. I did have a light amber Trois Rivieres once, in Saint Martin, and it seemed unique in taste. I recall too buying its sugar syrup for use in the petit punch of the region. I may be able to get these or something similar when next in Montreal.

Gary

The sugar syrup is outstanding stuff... very tough to find but it makes an outstanding Mojito.