Brugal Papá Andrés (Collection 2018)

Brugal Papa Andres is a Dominican rum from one of the island's leading houses, named for the family founder. Brugal is notable in the Spanish-style world for testing effectively dry, so its rums lean on barrel character rather than added sugar.

Built on column-distilled molasses spirit, this kind of Brugal expression in the house style usually shows vanilla, caramelised nuts and dried fruit over a clean, lightly oaked base. Bottled at 40%, it should be smooth and refined rather than heavy. The absence of a sweetening crutch is part of the appeal here, making it a more honest Dominican pour than many of its sweeter neighbours. A polished after-dinner sipper.