Malteco Seleccion 1987

Malteco Seleccion 1987 is a Guatemalan rum from Bodegas de America, a column still molasses spirit in the soft, sweet leaning Spanish style and bottled at 40%. Guatemalan rums of this type are typically solera blends, so the 1987 on the label is best read as a vintage style flourish marking the oldest component rather than a guarantee that every drop has aged that long.

The profile is rich and sweet, with dried fruit, wood and vanilla on the nose, caramel and spice over more dried fruit on the palate, and a sweet finish of vanilla, tobacco and milk chocolate. The body is light and the sweetness pronounced, placing it firmly among the smooth, dessert leaning sippers. It is honest to take this at face value, an easy, sugary and relaxed pour for unhurried drinking, sitting close to the better known sweet Guatemalan style rather than offering dryness or grip.