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welcome to the fifty best spirits of 2004 |
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 Presents
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Page 4 - RUM & TEQUILA
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Charbay
Rum
(USA; Domaine Charbay Distillers, St. Helena, CA)
40% abv, $34.  
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The opening nosing picks up piquant aromas that are a cross between rum from sugar cane juice and 100% agave Tequila; aeration allows a mildly floral, dry and bittersweet bouquet to appear. Palate entry is bittersweet, brown sugar and cocoa bean-like; at midpalate the luscious sugar cane-molasses taste dominates. Concludes beany and very cocoa-like. A must-have for serious rum fanatics.
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Flor de Caña Centenario
12 Year Old
Rum
(Nicaragua; Shaw-Ross International Importers, Miami, FL)
40% abv, $27.  
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The aroma offers succulent dried fruit and nut surface notes plus deeper scents of oak, black raisins, cinnamon, prunes, vanilla bean and honey. Palate entry is stately and semisweet; by midpalate, lip-smacking flavors of nougat, almond butter, molasses and Sherry abound. Finishes as elegantly and fully as it started.
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Zaya
12 Year Old Gran Reserva
Rum
(Guatemala; Wilson Daniels, Ltd., St. Helena, CA)
40% abv, $45.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Seductive nose is juicy, with ripe, fruity aromas of baked apple, baked pear, nutmeg, vanilla bean, cardamom and dried orange peel. Flavor is firm, bittersweet, focused and more maple-like than sugary. Ends moderately oily and keenly bittersweet. In that league of aged rums that begin to resemble brandies.
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Cabo Wabo
Reposado
100% Agave Tequila
(Mexico; Wilson Daniels, Ltd., St. Helena, CA)
40% abv, $50.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
Aroma is herbal, with a trace of honey, then blossoms into a bouquet that’s peppery, herbal, waxy, floral. Palate is medium-bodied, oily, resiny, herbal and semisweet, with balanced flavors of green pepper, red pepper, toffee and honey. Finishes gracefully.
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El Tesoro de Don Felipe
Anejo 100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1139
(Mexico; Fielding & Jones, Deerfield, IL)
40% abv, $59.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
Elegant nose emits traces of mushrooms, dried herbs and lead pencil with deeper scents of mustard seed, vanilla bean and toffee. Palate is sublimely rich with succulent, brandy/Cognac-like flavors of oak resin, almond butter and tobacco leaf. Finishes Sherry-like and smooth. One of the best Tequilas available.
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1800
Antigua Reserva
Anejo 100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1122 CRT
(Mexico; Skyy Spirits, San Francisco, CA)
40% abv, $39.
SUPERB / Highly Recommende
The first whiffs reveal plump, toffee-caramel notes underpinned by an asparagus-like agave aroma; aeration unearths nuances of fennel, white pepper, sage and rosemary—a complex and engaging bouquet. Palate entry is vegetal, green and off-dry; at midpalate the flavor profile turns sweet and sour, fruity and oaky. Concludes on a bittersweet note that somehow closes the circle on the journey.
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Amate
Reposado
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1137
(Mexico; Travesia Import Group, Inc., San Carlos, CA)
40% abv, $43.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Initial inhalations detect tobacco smoke and palm oil scents; with more time aromas of lanolin, caraway seed and lead pencil emerge. Palate entry is sweet and vegetal; at midpalate the taste profile expands, adding flavors of roasted green peppers, pipe tobacco and cream. Concludes peppery and zesty.
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Fina Estampa
22 Year Old
Reposado
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1436 CRT
(Mexico; Oregon Parts, Inc. Salem, OR)
40% abv, $43.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Lovely bouquet of black pepper, sea brine, fennel, mint and dill. The palate entry is sweet, almost fruity/ grainy and ideally oily; at midpalate there’s a velvety feel on the tongue that underpins the briny, off-dry, salty taste. Finishes elegantly, oily, and extremely pepper- and dill-like. A terrific new reposado.
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Herencia de Plata
Silver
100% Agave Tequila
NOM-1124
(Mexico; Sailing Star, Inc, Astoria, OR)
40% abv, $36.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Delightful herbal/spicy aroma with deeper fragrances of green olives, twine/hemp and almonds. Palate entry is focused, dry to off-dry and bean-like; midpalate shows bitter to semisweet tastes of citrus rind, broccoli and tobacco leaf. Finish is concentrated, full-bodied and intensely herbal.
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