CDI Pacifico (Panama & Thailand)

Compagnie des Indes, the respected French house with a terroir led range, bottles a few entry blends that are lightly and openly dosed, and this Pacifico pairs rum from Panama and Thailand at six years and 42.5%. It is the softer, sweeter end of their catalogue rather than a natural single cask.

The blend is molasses based, distilled on pot and column stills and aged in ex-bourbon oak, which gives a rounded, fruit rich character. Sweet cane and nutty notes open over sugarcane, with a palate of roasted wood, plum and dried fruit and a finish of cherry, vanilla and more dried fruit. Added sugar is present and lends a smooth, after dinner ease, and it drinks comfortably neat for those who like a gentle, layered, sweeter style.