Centenario Limited Edition 1985 is the second batch of a special cuvée originally presented in 2020 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Costa Rican brand. Its distillery, FANAL (Fabrica Nacional de Licores), has been in operation since 1910 and has been producing Centenario rum since 1985.
This rum is made from sugarcane molasses. It is distilled both in columns and in iron stills.
Centenario rums are typically aged in old bourbon casks, to which a little sugar is added. But for this cuvée, Susana Masis, the house's maestra ronera, selected a special batch of old casks that had contained Scottish Highland whisky. The casks were stored in a rather unusual winery, located in the heart of a Costa Rican forest.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose is a patchwork of roasted notes, dominated by well-toasted nuts. They spin and melt into coffee powder and toasted oak dust. A trickle of fruit in syrup flows over the wood, with a slightly acidic sweetness.
Aeration reveals typical American oak, with vanilla, coconut, blond tobacco and much softer woody notes.
On the palate, the rum is rather light, with fruit notes quickly overlaid by a round wave of vanilla. The texture is soft and thick, and the palate is nicely coated. The nuts are reminiscent of the roasted aromas seen on the nose, like a well-caramelized nougatine.
The finish is light, the oak settling gently on the tongue.
"A rum that is both light and round, tenderly coated with sweet spices..."
Damien Chatonnet
Excellent