Rum Nation Guatemala XO 20th Anniversary Decanter is a molasses rum produced by Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala. It was bottled by the Italians at Rum Nation. This pretty decanter celebrates Rum Nation's 20th anniversary of discovering the world's rums.
Distilled in columns, it aged for 4 years in Guatemala's tropical climate, in the Rio Hondo region. It then traveled to Italy for a further 16 months of maturation. It was matured in old Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, we discover a round, caramelized "ron", clothed in a leather of bitter orange-peel notes. Candied citrus fruits follow, from bergamot to grapefruit, followed by woody notes draped in incense.
With aeration, the fruit becomes more mature and dried, with fleshy dates, figs and apricots. A little quince paste joins in, underlined by a hint of smoke.
On the palate, orange peel wraps around the palate like a liqueur. It is supported by a handful of spices (cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, cardamom) and rests on a rather elegant woodiness. Roundness is the order of the day, despite a few incursions of coffee and roasted nuts.
The finish is soft, with a hint of resin to accompany the orange liqueur.
"A very smooth rum, round like a spicy orange liqueur..."
