Centenario 12 Años Gran Legado

Centenario's 12 Anos Gran Legado is a Costa Rican rum in the smooth, column-distilled Spanish-heritage tradition, bottled at a soft 40%. It sits firmly in the gentle, approachable camp, an easy, mild sipper where the light distillate leaves the barrel to carry most of the flavour, leaning toward caramel sweetness rather than intensity or structure.

The nose gives caramel, wood, honey and vanilla; the palate echoes caramel, wood, honey and soft spice, with a finish of caramel, chocolate, vanilla and a little citrus. There is a gentle floral sweetness and a warm, slightly alcoholic glow on the way down, but the body stays light and the finish short. Drinkers reach for it as an unchallenging sipper, a simple mixer or a soft opener for a tasting, and it works in those roles. Anyone after depth, length or a more characterful pour will want to look further up the range, but as an easy everyday rum it is pleasant and undemanding.