Tres Hombres Ron Aldea Ed. 63 La Palma Suave (XVII Años) 2006

This Tres Hombres edition bottles a seventeen year old rum from Ron Aldea on La Palma, a long matured Canary Islands rum carried across the Atlantic by traditional sailing cargo. Aged in ex-bourbon and bottled at 40%, it is an old, gentle spirit pitched at easy sipping.

The years in oak show in a soft, dessert leaning profile, woody with allspice, chocolate and dried fruit on the nose, then caramel, wood, allspice and mocha on the palate, finishing on chocolate, mocha and dried fruit. At 40% it drinks smooth and mellow, the age expressed as rounded oak rather than tannic grip. Sweetening is undeclared and the impression leans gently sweet, in keeping with the Canary style. It makes a relaxed, mature after dinner pour with a good story behind its sail powered voyage.