Relicario
Relicario rum
Relicario rum is a molasses rum from the Dominican Republic, the eastern part of what used to be called the island of Hispaniola, the western part being Haiti. Distilled in San Pedro de Macoris, in the same place as Brugal, it is the fruit of the Dominican light rum culture and the expertise of Juan Alberto Alvarez. This Cuban " Maestro Ronero " is already behind Palma Mulata and Varadero rums, among others. He is an experienced man who worked in one of Cuba's largest distilleries, before heading up the technical side of the Cuban sugar industry. He has subsequently advised many brands and distilleries, making him a key figure in the world of rum, and more particularly Latino rum.
Relicario rum is a light molasses rum. After being diluted, this molasses is fermented for a very short period, from 20 to 24 hours. This fermentation is closely monitored, as in the Dominican Republic the Non-Alcohol Content (where the aromatic molecules are found) is limited to 200g per hectoliter of pure alcohol. By way of comparison, West Indian agricultural rums average around 325g and Jamaican rums can reach 1500g.
After distillation, the rum that flows from the column is 94.5% alcohol, which is very pure, but we try to extract the maximum concentration of chemical molecules (acids and esters) that will interact best with the wood during aging. This is the essence of the Hispanic rum tradition: a light rum to which special care is taken during ageing.
The rum is reduced to 75-80% before being put into ex-Kentucky Bourbon casks. Modern technology is used to monitor the casks, so that we know exactly which casks we're using and what role each one will play, always with the same idea of precise ageing control.
Rums of different ages are then blended with " matrices ": aged aguardientes (much more aromatic cane brandies) in which dried and/or fresh fruit have been macerated. The blend then spends a further 6 months resting in casks.
The range consists of Relicario Superior, a blend of rums aged 5 to 10 years (30% 6 years and 70% around 10 years), and Relicario Supremo, a blend of rums aged 10 to 15 years. Read less
