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Rum Runner Press, Inc.
Pumpkin Face Reserve Rum
Paul Senft reviews Pumpkin Face Reserve Rum in the "Angel's Share" section of the 2014 October issue of "Got Rum?" magazine.
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Paul Senft
Pumpkin Face Reserve Rum
In the fall of 2012 the Itsko Imports Company began importing the Pumpkin Face rum line from the Dominican Republic. Using a custom designed bottle created by the Flow Design Company, the Jack-O-Lantern bottles have a different color design for each of the four expressions.There are no details about the origin of the rum other than the country. It is advertised as “an Ultra-Premium Dominican Rum”. Sadly, “Ultra-Premium” is a marketing phrase that is a bit overused in the spirits industry, especially in the vodka market. Because of this, instead of the phrase being an attractor, it has turned into a red flag as an over-used marketing phrase.
Appearance/Presentation
The Pumpkin Face Reserve 750 ml bottle has a brown tint with burgundy eyes and mouth. The bottle has a wooden cap with a metal medallion set in the top that holds a synthetic cork. The neck of the bottle has a burgundy label with silver type. On the back of the bottle at the base is a clear sticker with all of the legal requirements.
The rum is medium amber in color and when I agitate the liquid it creates a thick band around the glass with equally thick fast moving legs.
Nose
Sniffing the glass I detect brown sugar, orange peel, butterscotch, and a hint of spice and oak.
Palate
My first sip provides a heated full bodied mouth feel with a balance of alcohol, caramel, and spicy oak up front. As these flavors quickly subside they are followed b ybutterscotch, orange peel, and earthy tobacco notes which linger to form the baseline of a pleasantly sweet finish. Additional sips accentuate the spiciness of the oak and reveal a dark chocolate note that mingles well with the other flavors.
Review
When shopping for rums, the companies are always trying to find ways to attract consumers’ attention.This unique bottle definitely achieves that. The problem with this type of bottle design is that they also make the consumer pause and wonder if it is just a low quality gimmick product. I am happy to report that is not the case with this rum. Pumpkin Face Reserve has a depth of character which allows it to be a good sipping and ingredient rum. I personally enjoyed it neat, in a hand warmed glass. The warmth really brought out the flavors creating an enjoyable flavor experience.
Review by Mr. Paul Senft:
Mr. Senft currently serves as owner of www.rumjourney.com. He has a passion for rum and traveling. He has dedicated himself to describing to his readers about his travels through the Caribbean Islands and writing rum reviews. When he is not reviewing a rum, he is hard at work at trying different cocktail recipes.