Destileria Carupano Solera Centenaria

Solera Centenaria comes from Destileria Carupano in Venezuela and is built using the solera method borrowed from sherry, where older and younger rums are gradually married in a tier of casks. Any number tied to a solera names its oldest component rather than the age of what is in the bottle, so this is best read as a layered blend carrying a trace of well-aged spirit.

Distilled from molasses on a column still in the smooth Venezuelan manner, it shows cream, pecan and mocha on the nose before a distinctly nutty palate of toffee, coconut and black tea, finishing on wood and dark chocolate. It carries a gentle sweetness rather than the heavy dosing of some peers, the toasted, coconut-tinged character giving it interest. This is a soft, dessert-leaning sipper, easy to enjoy after a meal and honest about favouring smoothness over edge.