This Montebello rum from the 2000 harvest was aged for 14 years in oak barrels that had previously contained bourbon for at least 3 years. Each year, the rum barrels were topped up with the same vintage.
It was bottled by hand, without reduction or filtration, at the natural strength when it leaves the barrel. The reduction in the alcohol content from more than 75° at the end of the still to 50.6° therefore happened naturally throughout the aging process (the angels' part...)
Only 1250 bottles were made from 4 barrels in total (n° 806, 808, 814 and 817)
Nico's tasting notes
The nose is greedy and candied, almost candy-like. The banana and strawberry aromas are sweet, almost tart. The rum gradually gains in thickness, and the fruit becomes more candied, more pastry-like. Oak adds a fresh, green edge, with mellow tannins.
After a little aeration, the rum remains quietly fruity, a little like an exotic fruit salad in syrup. There's a certain sweetness, always accompanied by a hint of acidity.
On the palate, the rum grabs the taste buds with a surprising bitterness, which is at the same time tart. Yet it's very smooth, and doesn't jostle the palate at all, but clings to the tongue relentlessly. This allows it to deposit a few notes of stone and fruit in brandy.
A fruity, tannic wood finish.
"A surprising rum that's hard to pin down, much less powerful than it seems..."
