Paraiso Rum

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Paraiso Rum

Facundo L. Bacardi tasked Manny Oliver, Bacardi Global Master Blender, and Jose Gomez, Bacardi Master Blender, with the project of creating a line of four special expressions to commemorate Don Facundo Bacardi Masso. To help complete this challenge they tapped into the Bacardi family reserves to create the Facundo line. To develop the four expressions they created over 40 blends and presented them to a panel of respected rum experts for evaluation. With their feedback the Facundo line was created and under the care of Manny Oliver and Jose Gomez, a limited number of bottles are released each year.

The rums in the Paraiso XA blend are aged in the Bahamas with used American Oak Bourbon barrels, after which they are blended and rested in French XO cognac casks for an unspecified amount of time. The exact composition of the rum is a secret of the two masters, but it is known that the oldest rum in the blend is 23 years old. When the rums are ready they are shipped to Tultitlán Mexico where they are bottled by hand and packaged for the world market.

Appearance/Presentation

This 750 ml squat bottle is presented in a leather embossed case. The glass of the bottle is embossed with the Bacardi bat logo with the Paraiso label crossing just below the neck. Blended to 80 proof, the liquid is a bit darker than the other spirits in the line with a rich walnut color. Agitating the liquid creates a thick band around the glass that reluctantly releases equally thick legs that slowly return to the rum at the bottom of the glass.

Nose

The aroma of Paraiso is much more subtle than I expected as the wood tones manifest as toasted almonds, ginger, cocoa, a bit of charred oak, along with caramelized vanilla, summer berries, and hints of mineral and spice.

Palate

The first sip of this spirit revealed a flowing rush of flavors that glide across the tongue. I explored several sips slowly puzzling out the flavor notes. Among them I discovered vanilla, chocolate covered cherries, sweet raisins, a touch of salt, trace minerals, toasted almonds, and dark caramel with an under tone of smoky oak and tobacco. The finish lingers on the tongue delivering hints of fruit and baking spices with a final touch of char and wood as the flavors fade.

Review

While writing this review I considered and compared this rum to the others in the Facundo line. Of them both Eximo and Exquisito had bourbon influences in their flavor profile, Paraiso on the other hand is far more delicate clearly breaking from this trend. I enjoyed the subtle notes in the profile and liked that the rum encourages the imbiber to take their time with it and truly explore the handiwork of the masters behind its creation. If you are seeking a rum for someone who truly enjoys the nuances of a carefully crafted aged spirit, then you need look no further than this rum. The entire Facundo product line is allocated worldwide and only available in certain cities.

-Rum 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 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!