Bacardi Superior Rum

Bacardi Superior is the original Puerto Rican light rum, column distilled from molasses and bottled here at 44.5%. It is arguably the most influential rum in the world by sheer volume, the template for the clean, charcoal filtered Cuban school style that came to dominate cocktail bars, and it is built squarely for mixing rather than contemplative sipping.

The column still and light filtration produce a deliberately restrained spirit, the nose showing solvent, heat and a touch of sweetness, the palate turning vegetal and woody with a dried apricot fruitiness, and an alcoholic finish. Neat, it reads as fairly neutral and a little sharp, which is the point, this is engineered to disappear into a daiquiri or mojito and let the other ingredients lead. Judged as a base spirit it does its job, even if it gives the dedicated rum drinker little to dwell on. A piece of living history more than a tasting flight centrepiece.