A.H. Riise XO Founders Reserve is a blend of Central American and Caribbean rums, paying tribute to the brand's founder: Albert Heinrich Riise. In 1838, the Danish pharmacist obtained permission to distill his rums and bitters on the island of Saint Thomas. His creations were subsequently recognized far beyond the medical context, as AH Riise rum won its first medal at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893,
This cuvée is made up of 8 small batches. This batch n°2 was bottled in 1,788 units.
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, strawberry, banana and orange form a syrupy liquorice, enhanced by abundant but balanced spices. We don't necessarily find the brand's typical "Christmas spices", but a more woody, nutty register.
Aeration plunges us into an ocean of pastry notes, and it's as if we're discovering English cookies straight from the oven. Everything is here, from butter to sweet spices, cereals and nuts.
The palate matches the nose, with a buttery cookie topped with blanched almonds. Coated with a nice ladleful of vanilla liqueur, the rum is very round, sticky and syrupy. In the background, there's a slight concentration of exotic fruit that carries the whole through to the mid-palate.
The finish is very round, with a cookie baked with sweet spices and caramelized butter.
"A real pastry, like a shortbread cookie coming out of the oven..."
Jacques Bastide
A delightful treat