1816 Estaro

1816 Estaro is a blended rum drawing on stocks from several countries, bottled at a modest 37.5%. It sits at the value end of the blended spectrum, a rum aimed squarely at mixing rather than neat appraisal.

The nose is its most divisive feature, sharp and solvent driven with strong notes of glue, nail polish and a chemical bite that can come across as aggressive. The palate is rather more forgiving, offering dried fruit, tropical fruit, a touch of sugarcane and a little oak. Bottled below the usual 40% and built for cost, this is best treated as a cocktail base, where cola or fruit juice round off its rougher edges. Honest about its station, it is a mixing rum first and foremost rather than a contemplative pour.