Cartavio XO 18 years is a molasses rum from Peru. It has been distilled in columns and in iron stills.
The ageing was carried out using the Solera method. This technique, which comes from Andalusian wines, consists of blending very old rums with younger ones. The oldest rums in theblend (30 years old) "educate" the younger ones (10 years old). It is estimated that the average age of the blend is 18 years.
The barrels used for this cuvee are French, American and Slovenian oak.
Nico's tasting note
The nose of this rum focuses on roasting, in all its forms and without restraint. Coffee is the first thing that comes to mind, before being joined by walnut brou, then by those same roasted and ground walnuts. Molasses coats the whole thing lightly, and one could also think of a roasted liquorice stick.
The aeration rounds out the whole thing considerably, which is now covered in caramel. A few dark, fat vanilla beans have also been caught in the wave. They settle quite naturally in the middle of this butterscotch atmosphere.
On the palate, it is rather the roundness that takes over at the moment of the attack. The rum even has the luxury of offering us some warm, acidic notes. These introduce other more resolutely fruity flavours, such as the orange liqueur that soon takes over the palate.
The finish is vanilla and caramelised. Finally, the roast remained very discreet when it came to the taste buds.
"An extremely roasted nose, which gives way to a very coated rum in the mouth..."
Melanie Wasson
Perfect birthday gift.