Centenario 9 Años Conmemorativo Reserva

Centenario 9 Anos Conmemorativo Reserva is a molasses rum from Costa Rica's Fabrica Nacional de Licores, the country's long established state distillery, bottled at an approachable 40% with no age statement attached to the 9 on the label. It sits firmly in the everyday Spanish-style lane, the kind of bottle poured casually rather than studied, and its appeal is ease rather than depth.

Like most rums of this heritage it comes off a continuous column still and rests in ex-bourbon oak, giving a familiar caramel and burnt sugar core lifted by a little woody spice. The profile runs to raisin, soft toffee and pepper, with a finish that turns a touch drier and sharper than the sweeter rons it shares a shelf with. The sugar level is undeclared and it reads only lightly sweet, so it works best long with mixers or as a relaxed pour for drinkers who want caramel and spice without fuss.