Rum Nation Small Batch Rare Rums 2010

Rum Nation Small Batch Rare Rums 2010 is a 15 Year Old Venezuelan ron from the 2010 vintage, drawn from the Italian house's Rare Rums line. Where Rum Nation's softer regional bottlings can carry dosage, the Rare Rums tier is the dry, purist side of the range, and this Venezuelan is bottled at full cask strength of 54.2% in ex-bourbon oak.

Venezuela usually leans smooth and dessert like, so an unsweetened, overproof take is the appeal here: caramel, woody notes, coffee and a fresh top note on the nose, then wood, caramel, banana and spice on a firm palate, closing dry with wood, spice, caramel and chocolate. There is a touch of yellow fruit and vanilla under the oak, but this is a wood forward, characterful outlier rather than the honeyed style the country is known for. A bottle for curious drinkers who want to see what Venezuela does without sugar and at full strength, best taken slowly with a little water.