A.F.D. Ron Cristóbal Santa Maria Pinot Noir 2009

Ron Cristobal Santa Maria Pinot Noir is a Dominican molasses rum distilled at Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos and bottled by Danish house 1423, here under the more accessible Ron Cristobal banner. A Pinot Noir wine cask shapes the character, lending red fruit and a darker, spicier edge to the soft Dominican base, with the wine wood doing much of the heavy lifting over the light spirit.

The nose leans smoky and dark with dried fruit, dates and raisin, while the palate turns peppery and chocolatey with clear red wine influence and wood, closing on a spicy finish. There is a pleasant sweetness here balanced by the wine cask's grip, giving a rum that is rounder and fruitier than a plain Dominican pour. Bottled at 43%, it suits drinkers curious about wine finished rum who want dark fruit and spice without heavy sweetness or high strength.