Rum Nation Darsa Guetemala Gran Reserva 2020

Rum Nation, the Italian house with its tropical-plus-European ageing signature, bottles this four-year Guatemalan rum from Darsa. Guatemala is best known for cane-honey solera rums, but this is a more conventional aged molasses expression, sitting in the soft, approachable Spanish style.

The make is molasses spirit matured in ex-bourbon wood, and despite the modest four years it shows a savoury, mature-leaning character. Tobacco, leather, vanilla and confectionery notes open the nose, the palate moves through coffee, spice, dried fruit and more leather, and the finish brings caramel, biscuit, dried fruit and allspice. At 40% it is smooth and easygoing with a gently sweet edge. A soft, spice-and-leather Guatemalan that drinks comfortably after a meal, leaning toward rounded warmth rather than sharp definition.