Dugas La Maison du Rhum Botran #2 2010

Dugas bottles this Guatemalan rum from Botran's Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala for the La Maison du Rhum range, and at 55% it shows the origin in a punchier light than the usual soft Guatemalan ron. Guatemala leans to sweet, solera-style rums, but this single-distillery release runs sharper and more spirit-forward.

The make is column-distilled molasses rum bottled at a firm 55%. The nose is fresh, sweet and fruity with vanilla, the palate turns woody, roasted and nutty with a pineapple note, and the finish stays sweet, roasted, woody and nutty. There is a sharp edge and a hard-to-pin strength to it that keeps it from feeling polished, more rough-edged Guatemalan than smooth sipper. Honestly read, this is a fairly raw, fruit-and-wood Guatemalan at higher proof, one for drinkers who want their rum livelier and less tamed, with water or cola helping to round it out.