Facundo Eximo
Facundo Eximo is the second of the line of premium rums commissioned by Facundo L. Bacardi to honor Don Facundo Bacardi Masso. What makes Eximo unique in the marketplace is that the product was blended before aging.
The Master Blender took a combination of unaged as well as one and two year old rums, blended them in a used American Oak Bourbon Barrel and then aged them for 10 years in the Bahamas. It is then shipped to Tultitlán, Mexico where it is blended to 80 proof and bottled for export.
Appearance/Presentation
Eximo is sold in a thick gray cardboard box with artwork matching that of the decanter it holds. The heavy glass decanter has a crossing sun beam design that forms an X which is a nice nod to the age of the products inside. The bottle is sealed with a wooden cap that holds a synthetic cork. A security strip wraps the top of the bottle with an additional plastic wrap around the neck. The rum has a walnut hue in the bottle and glass. Swirling the liquid created a thick band with slow moving dense legs.
Nose
I removed the cork and a strong oak note filled the air. I let the liquid rest for a few minutes and when I returned to the glass, I found that the oak had settled and discovered notes of banana,cinnamon, caramel, baking spices and a slight hint of cocoa at the end.
Palate
The first sip creates a strong baseline of deep oak flavor and black pepper on the tongue. Toffee and vanilla swirl across the midline with spicy banana and fig notes take the high notes. As I continue to investigate the rum the oaky foundation reveals cinnamon, dark chocolate and a bit of cherry pops at the finish.
Review
I found this rum to be dynamically interesting. It has a lot going on from the first sip to the robust finish. I enjoyed that it was a very different experience than Neo and Exquisito. Easy to sip and at 80 proof a solid ingredient rum for your cocktail pleasure. This limited release product can be found in California, Florida and New York in the United States and has recently begun to be released in the European markets.
-Review by Mr. Paul Senft-
My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum.
The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to try the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!