Destileria Carupano Ron Añejo Carúpano Reserva 18 Limitada

Destileria Carupano works Venezuela's eastern coast in the smooth, dessert leaning style the country is known for, and this Reserva 18 Limitada is one of its more approachable expressions. A column still rum from molasses, it is bottled at a gentle 40% and built for accessible, everyday drinking rather than depth or power.

The nose carries vanilla, oak, banana and coffee, and the palate follows that ripe banana through with caramel, barrel and buttery oak before a finish of oak, banana and vanilla. There is sweetness in the Spanish house manner, though several drinkers find this one a touch drier and oakier than the Venezuelan norm, which gives it a little more backbone. Pleasant and easy if not especially deep, it makes a comfortable neat pour for those building their palate, and an easy recommendation for sweet toothed friends.