Medellin 12 Years Gran Reserva Rum

The award-winning Ron Medellin Gran Reserva 12 Años is a blend of the finest Colombian rums that were aged naturally in American oak barrels between 8 and 12 years at 5,000 feet above sea level. Only the finest sugar cane is selected from various regions of Colombia and the long maturation period in noble wood smoothens out the flavor of this exquisite expression, while the low temperatures reduce the angel's share.

This is a complex, smoky and smooth rum with a unique character. While the flavor profile is complex enough to stand beautifully on its own, it's also perfect as a cocktail base.

The wood together with the time transform ardor and crudeness, in softness and smoothness; for these properties it presents a personality of its own and a good body; a pleasant and uniform taste of great fineness, roundness and delicacy. These flavors and smells make them, a rum with greater personality, consistency and uniform characteristics, more palpable for human consumption with a characteristic dark brown color.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Nice fruity first nose, more oaky afterwards.

Palate: Vanilla and baked apple flavors.

Finish: Long warm finish.

Extremely Smooth.  Medellin 12 Años has an honest, mild amber color, perhaps lighter hued than you might expect from a rum aged up to 12 years, but likely indicating an absence of artificial coloring.

Legs are prolific, fast and thin, perhaps indicating a rum aged well and an absence or sugary adulterations. A warm, light caramel bouquet emanates comfortably from the squat bottle of Medellin 12 Años as soon as its screw cap is twisted off.  Aromas tend more toward toffee, oak, moist pipe tobacco, an oily nutty essence, mild vanilla and spice – unencumbered by alcohol at 35% ABV.

Initial tasting reveals a rum that is more spicy on the front end that the aromas hint at, but still pleasant with caramel and milk chocolate mid-palate, then a bit of mild white pepper to liven up the flavors.  The body is medium lightweight and there’s nothing harsh about it.  The supple flavors and relatively low alcohol content makes Medellin 12 pleasing to drink.  The finish is just to the sweet side of dry, with caramel and toffee, like having an unsweetened rum for dessert.