"Got Rum?" Magazine- August 2015
Grander Panama Rum
Paul Senft reviews Grander Panama Rum in the August 2015 issue of "Got Rum?" magazine.
Grander Panama Rum
It is not an easy thing to start your own rum company. When sourcing a rum it takes a lot of trial and error before a company discovers the final blend that they are happy with. Dehart Spirits, LLC explored a lot of rums from around the world attempting to find the right flavor profile for their product. Finally, they selected a blend of rums made in Panama.
Using sugarcane from Herrara, Panama, they fermented grade-A molasses and had it distilled using a 1922 American Copper and Brass Works Continuous column still. The rum is then aged in used American Bourbon barrels. The rums in the blend have a minimum of eight years in age and it is blended to 90 proof. The product is then filtered - first through cellulose plates and then by cold filtration. The company claims that the rum is “not altered by coloring, flavoring or blending of additives”.
Appearance/Presentation
The custom 750 ml bottle has “Grander” embossed on the front and sides. A dark and light blue and white neck wrap with “eight years” on the front and “Batch No. P8001” on the back matches the front label. The back of the bottle provides details about the product and the company’s marketing theme.
The rum holds a solid amber in the bottle and glass. Agitating the liquid creates a razor thin line that slowly beads up and slides down the glass.
Nose
The aroma has a nice smoky vanilla baseline that dances with the banana notes, spices and heat of the alcohol. I covered the glass and let it settle for a few minutes. After the rum settled I was able to identify the spicy notes as baking spices, nutmeg and a hint of ginger.
Palate
The first sip revealed a strong wash of alcohol charged crème brulee with an oaken spiciness swirling in right before the finish. Additional sips slowly reveal tobacco notes, roasted walnuts, dried orange peel and hints of black pepper. Consistently as the rum begins to fade there is a strong nip of alcohol and pop of nutmeg that lingers into a long dry finish.
Review
Dehart Spirits wanted to capture a sense of adventure and accomplishment in a bottle with Grander Rum. I found the rum to be complex and aggressive. The proof of the rum does turn the volume up on some elements of the flavor profile while subduing others. With an eight year old blend it is not uncommon to have a pepper pop in the profile; instead there were hints of pepper, but a distinct pop of flavorful nutmeg instead. I enjoyed that it was unpredictable in nature and believe it can fill the role of quality cocktail ingredient or sipped neat with a meal that involves grilled meat or fish.
Currently Grander rum is available in central and southern Florida as well as through an online link that can be found on their website.
-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!