Angel's Share Title
Lola Belle Cherry Rum
During one of our recent vacations we were visiting a bottle shop and came across this rum glowing on the shelf. The vintage style of the artwork helped it stand out along with the ruby red color shining from the light of the store.
Cherry is a difficult flavor to get right in spirits and i found myself intrigued. After a little research I was able to discover that the rum used for this product was possibly sourced from the island of Antigua then blended with real cherries and bottled to 40% ABV by Proximo Distillers of Indiana.
Lola Cherry rum
Appearance
The rum has a dense dark red color in the bottle that lightens in the glass. I swirled the liquid and was surprised when a thick band formed that slowly released equally thick legs. Most of the legs pebbled and evaporated before returning to the bottom of the glass.
Nose
The aroma has the sweet maraschino cherry one would expect, but hidden in the depths I found notes of green apple, with a wisp of alcohol tweaking the nostrils.
Palate
Sipping the rum delivered the expected dose of maraschino cherry notes that I found in the aroma. Mid palate the rum has a bitter accent that helps ground it and prevents it from becoming medicinal. The bite of the alcohol hits as the rum begins to fade with a balanced cherry, earthy mineral finish.
Review
Other cherry spirits I have had tend to have a finish that lingers for a long time and are far too medicinal for me to enjoy. This rum was a pleasant surprise in that it did not do either of things and instead delivered a well rounded flavor experience. The balance of the cherry and earthy-bitter notes created something with applications beyond the scope of what I expected.
Used correctly the rum could be a good ingredient in an aperitif recipe or a cherry spritz. It could also be used in place of cherry liquor if the drink maker takes into account the heavier punch of the alcohol. The rum can be found in multiple states as well as online outlets.
If cherry flavor is something you enjoy, this might just be the best cherry flavored rum in the market.
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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 bartenders, 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!