Angel's Share Title
Brugal Leyenda
While traveling in the Caribbean, it is always interesting to see what is available in the duty-free stores. While visiting Puerta Plata in the Dominican Republic, we found a lot of rum by Oliver and Oliver, Barcelo, and one section devoted to Brugal rum. I picked Leyenda since I had not seen it in a store on any of my travels. Leyenda was created in 2015 in honor of the Brugal’s founder and first Maestro-Ronero. The rum is aged for eight years in used American White Oak Bourbon casks, then aged for an unspecified amount of time in Spanish Sherry casks. The rum is then blended to 38% ABV and bottled in its unique 700 ml bottle.
Brugal Leyenda
Appearance
The bottle of Leyenda for this review came in a box with some details about the product and the inspiration behind it in Spanish. The custom 700 ml bottle is featured in a cutout on the front of the box. The label provides a minimum amount of information about the product. The plastic cap is secured with a black security wrap and holds a large cork.
The rum in the bottle has a pleasant copper amber color with slight ruby hues as the light refracts through it. In the glass, the color mutes down to a more solid brown amber. Swirling the liquid creates a thick band that slowly drops, creating a single wave of large, slow-moving legs. By the time the legs return to the liquid, the band has already begun evaporating, creating pebbles around the glass.
Nose
The aroma of the rum is a mix of dried fruit- apricots, raisins, and honeyed banana chips—followed by light caramel, toasted walnuts, and just a hint of smoke before the sherry notes take over and dominate the profile.
Palate
The first sip of the rum delivers a wave of all the dried fruit flavors and caramel found in the aroma, with a honey sweetness dominating the mid-palate. Sherry and a wisp of smoke round out the initial flavor experience. Additional sips compound the sherry notes and reveal subtle notes of wood char, minerals, and alcohol that terminate in an abruptly short, dry finish.
Review
After years of being curious about this rum and its place in the Brugal portfolio, I now have my answer. It is the evolutionary step between Brugal Anejo and Brugal 1888. The influence of the dried fruit, honey, and sherry cannot be denied as they dominate the flavor experience, making all the other notes fight to be present during the tasting experience. Even the alcohol notes are subdued and, to a certain degree, nullified, coming in with some potency right before the finish. I understand why some people really enjoy the sweet fruit profile and others struggle with it. I found myself sort of ambivalent about it, neither loving nor hating the flavors, just finding them interesting compared to other Brugal products. For fans of the Brugal line, I am sure they will enjoy this product. For others who prefer their rums to not be fruity-sweet and sherry influenced, I recommend exploring other options.
