Angostura Caribbean Rum 1824 12-Year-Old Review And Tasting Notes
The Angostura Caribbean rum 1824 12-year-old is a robust and tasty spirit, with a stormy character, full of spices, chocolate and a reasonably rare dryness for a dark rum aged 12 years. We mean that you shouldn’t expect the usual velvety rum with the classic cinnamon and chocolate suggestions. Indeed it hits hard and has incredible pulp. You may have noticed that it is a product of the “Angostura” distillery, which produces the famous bitter used to add that unmistakable balsamic touch to great cocktails like Zombie and the Old Fashioned. It almost seems that they want to recreate the same herbaceous and balsamic flavors typical of Angostura bitter with the refining in wood.
The result can be unsettling for palates not accustomed to full-bodied and earthy rums, so if you are looking for a dark and spicy rum, but super caramelized and sweet, this Angostura Caribbean rum 1824 12 years is not for you. The tones of burnt brown sugar, cola, cinnamon, and nutmeg mark the bouquet and the palate, leaving an aftertaste that pushes on ethereal, medicinal tones, but at the same time, very dark side.
How is Angostura Caribbean rum 1824 produced
It is a blend of dark rums produced with discontinuous copper stills in Trinidad and Tobago, aged at least 12 years in American white oak barrels used to make Bourbon whiskey. The aging is very intense and points to an intense concentration, ultra-spicy spiciness and in fact, smoking is clearly perceived. The alcohol content is classic: 40 degrees.
Organoleptic characteristics
The nose is a riot of oxidized aromas, fruit in syrup dipped in burnt caramel, the smoky tones then do nothing but accentuate this brown and burnt connotation. There is no lack of notes of coffee, vanilla and chocolate to shuffle the cards on the table. Floral finish with sugar cane goes hand in hand with fresher aromas of candied orange peel. Overall it is very stylized. It travels on a track and does not move, it does not have exaggerated territoriality, but it does not lack character and offers sure cleanliness.
It is complex, very structured, but mottled with pepper and nutmeg that cut a tropical fruit dipped in honey on the palate. The tone is quite severe. The sweetness is very contained indeed. It is a courageous distillate that focuses more on the aromatic articulation and does not just float on the sweet and vegetable flavors of the cane. It has a good rhythm, is never redundant, although all the suggestions together form a broad picture, full of spice and fruity fleshiness. Overall it is not dark rum that is easy to approach. Thanks to a good dryness, the first sip leaves you dry but eager to continue drinking.
Not for everyone, but if you love rums pulled to the lights, oxidized, but with elegance and pungent, then you should think about it.
Price of the Angostura Caribbean rum 1824 12 year old
65-68 euros: a price that reflects an intriguing and never predictable rum quality and thickness. Twelve years of refinement, careful distillation and excellent raw materials justify a not exactly light outlay for a mainstream rum, but in any case, in line with the quality of the distillate.
Food Pairings
Chocolate, salmon terrines, brisket and pulled pork, chocolate cupcakes, cheesecakes, ciambella, Tiramisù or chocolate salami.