Twice I’ve tried Ron Pampero Aniversario Rum over a interval of a number of days and each occasions I’ve made a observe to purchase it once more once I get residence. Then once I obtained residence, I by no means see it in a retailer.
Which may be as a result of this nice “unique reserve” rum is from Venezuela. Again in 2016 I wrote on this weblog, “There’s not a lot of something good popping out of Venezuela lately. The financial system is in shambles, oil manufacturing was dropping quick even earlier than the value drop socked their revenues, and in 2015 Caracas had the very best murder charge on this planet. After so a few years of unhealthy authorities, it is onerous to see an upscale journey scene rising up right here in my lifetime, so we have mainly ignored the nation in Luxurious Latin America.”
Effectively, right here I’m scripting this within the second half of 2024 and it is much more bleak. There are extra Venezuelans dwelling exterior of the nation now than there are left in it. After one other stolen election and the U.S. confiscating the election cheat’s aircraft, the one good issues left there appear to be their oil, their sugar cane, and their rum. And Ron Pampero Aniversario is an excellent nice rum, not only a good Venezuelan rum.
When You Discover This Aged Rum, Do not Hesitate
I as soon as sat down with a companion on the Explora Atacama Resort in Chile and because it was all-inclusive, I stated to the bartender, “Pour us the perfect rum you have obtained.” He did not hesitate, pulling a bottle off the shelf that was inside an embossed leather-based pouch.
“That is my favourite,” he stated, and after we stated we might by no means heard of it, he stated, “No one has heard of it, however it’s actually good.”
We each took just a few sips, let it roll round in our mouths, and agreed that he knew what he was speaking about. Pampero grew to become my nightly companion after a day of adventures.
I then purchased an entire bottle just a few weeks in the past once I was headed to a Caribbean island and wished one thing for the condominium with a kitchen and bar. I hadn’t had any luck discovering this model in Tampa liquor shops, so once I noticed Ron Pampero Aniversario for $40 on the Ft. Lauderdale airport responsibility free store, I pounced on it.
Ron Pampero Aniversario Tasting Notes
This a clean and candy, well-rounded rum that manages to hit each style bud and fill your mouth with taste, however with out the same old burn and backbite you get from some decrease high quality various. Plus you do not get the overwhelming alcohol style or aroma that you just do with many Caribbean variations blended with much less finesse.
I frankly did not anticipate something popping out of Venezuela to be greatest described as “balanced,” however there’s clearly a real grasp distiller at work within the Pampero tasting room. This Aniversario model begins clean and finishes clean, with simply the correct quantity of heft from the oak barrels growing old to make it severe.
In case your palate is actually refined you will most likely style nutmeg, vanilla, candy espresso, and dried fruit within the combine. In any other case it’s going to remind you of the perfect piece of caramel or butterscotch you have ever eaten, the brown sugar nonetheless making an look however with out being cloying.
My unique bartender in Chile made an offhand remark that we should always “let it open up a bit” and pattern it over an hour or two. Possibly it is as a result of we have been feeling good by the tip, however it did appear to clean out a little bit.
I attempted that once more with the bottle I purchased and what appears to occur is among the alcohol nostril dissipates because it sits within the glass or will get swirled. Then there is a delicate spice style, a little bit vanilla, and a touch of leather-based that will get stronger. The flavour complexity of this particular rum simply will get higher.
Pampero Mixing and Packaging
The principle criticism I can muster for this Venezuelan rum is for the packaging contained in the pouch. The leather-based bag is way more enticing than the label with the unusual medieval font that is inside. Plus the squat bottle design makes it dribble when pouring till it is half empty. As soon as it was in my glass and I used to be sipping, nevertheless, I forgot about all that.
This Solera system rum is seemingly created from a mix of 4-year and 5-year barrels, which matches to indicate you it is doable that longer would not essentially imply higher within the rum world, particularly if it is aged close to sea stage as an alternative of within the highlands. I am not letting this one knock Ron Zacapa off as my prime choose, but when yow will discover Pampero Aniversario for lower than $40 (as appears to be the case in liquor shops when out there), snag a bottle for you and one for a pal. With the good leather-based pouch packaging and most different exports from Venezuela disappearing, this can be a nice reward that has a narrative to go along with it.
If you wish to attempt a special model, additionally they put out a Seleccion 1938 model that is lighter than the darkish mahogany shade of the sister with extra age on her. It is a mix as properly, from 10 completely different barrels apparently, so it is onerous to place any form of age assertion on it. No less than among the mix on this one is from rum that is solely been within the barrels (used bourbon and ex-sherry casks) for 2 years.
I can not vouch for that one as I have not tried it, however it ought to be comparable, however much less severe. When you do not find it irresistible, use it for cocktails.
This rum is distributed by Diageo, however you will not discover something about it on their web site. Final time I attempted to analysis this rum, Pamero.com redirected to one thing known as TheBar.com, however it appears to be like like they wrangled their area again and it is a nice-looking web site too.
The positioning exhibits just a few awards they’ve received, together with just a few Gold and Silver medals from blind tastings on the San Francisco World Spirits Awards and different competitions. The corporate has a protracted historical past and loads of expertise too: they have been at it for round 85 years now.
Ron Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva rum continues to be on my search record once I’m searching at a liquor retailer and if I see it at responsibility free once I’m occurring trip, I will be including it to my cart once more. The wealthy taste of this premium rum, which evolves over time as you sip it, is an actual delight.
