Mezan Panama 2006
Mezan Panama 2006 rum is a nine year old rum bottled in 2015. The company does not identify the distillery of origin; however they do state that the distillery grows its own cane and cultivates historical yeast cultures that provide the desired character to their rum. The rum for this product was created using a multi-column still and aged twice in separate sets of white oak American Bourbon casks. No color or other additives were blended with the rum when it was bottled, staying consistent with the Mezan “The Untouched Rum” motto.
Appearance/Presentation
The 750 ml bottle is short necked with a screw cap secured to the bottle by a clear security wrap. In the bottle and glass the rum holds a solid amber color. Agitating the liquid creates a thick band around the glass that reluctantly releases equally thick slow moving legs.
Nose
The aroma is front loaded with notes of brown sugar, dried apricot and caramel. As the sweet notes subside I detected hints of black pepper and charred oak.
Palate
The first sip of the rum revealed the brown sugar, caramel and apricot notes from the aroma along with a nice bite of mandarin orange. When the oak and spice notes begin to pop I discovered notes of nutmeg, clove, light pepper and charred wood accompanying a solid pop of alcohol. The brown sugar and spice notes linger in a nice long finish.
Review
When I was pondering my opinion of this rum, I asked myself the question: “Does this rum represent products of Panama?” My conclusion is yes it does, but lacking some of the acidity and over sweetness of some other rums I have experienced from the country. This, to put it kindly, is a good thing. Blended to 80 proof it is a comfortable sipping rum, however should hold up nicely in most cocktail experimentation. Currently the Mezan line is in limited release across North America and Europe.
To learn where it may be available check out their website: www.mezanrum.com
-Review by Mr. Paul Senft-
Paul Senft, rum reviewer for "Got Rum?" magazine
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 tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!