Rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years old review and tasting notes
The Rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years is a very easy-to-drink distillate, the classic Dominican spiced ron, full of tropical fruit that shows a thousand Caribbean scents, but then offers endless drinkability on the palate.
As a type of rum it is somewhere in between, it does not want to be a pure mixing rum, since the cost is not exactly affordable (about 21-23 euros), but at the same time, it fails to establish itself as a tasting rum, due to heavy stylization. Nothing serious, but the exaggerated spiciness, the fruit in syrup and a mild alcoholic vivacity hold it back, limit the development of what basically would not be a bad distillate.
How is rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years produced?
The award-winning Matusalem distillery was born in Santiago de Cuba in the distant 1827, but then in the twentieth century, it moved to the Dominican Republic, where the production was concentrated on molasses rum produced with the solera method. And this 15-year-old Gran Reserva follows the tradition it is a blend of old rum (molasses) of the house, with varying ages between 15 and 23, produced with a mixture of various barrels. Briefly, we describe the solera system: there are five or more rows of barrels aligned, as the rum ages a part of it is poured into the lower barrels, while the upper ones are filled with younger rum. In this way, a sort of circle of rum life is created, where the distillate has the possibility of maturing, but at the same time being embellished with an older, oxidized and richly thick rum. The same process is also used for the production of traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, sherry, Marsala, Porto and also brandy and rum of course.
Organoleptic characteristics of Rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years
The bouquet is a rainbow of tropical scents with all the fruits of Eden, there is no shortage of oxidized tones, even marked ones of dried fruit and almond, coconut, endless spices, more refined suggestions given by wood, even if what dominates is the fleshy and sensual scent of sugar cane.
On the palate, it is bland, redundant in its sweet and ripe chant, but it is not evil either, it has amplitude and rhythm, great softness, sip played on oxidation, spices and caramel, but perhaps what is missing is the alcoholic boost. Overall, it is a well-made rum on a stylistic level, but it fails to have a clear articulation, it lacks a dynamic cue, again if we are talking about tasting. It is not a rejection, but only a note, if you use it as a mixing rum it is a good product. But suffice it to say that this type of rum is also “excellent” as a rum to drink straight because that’s not true.
Cocktail to make with Rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years
All the great classics involving dark rum are doable, even if it’s certainly a Jamaican rum, so don’t ask too much of it. Use it to make Zombie, Mai Tai, Painkiller, Dark and Stormy, Canchanchara, Pina Colada, Cuba Libre, Basito, Hurricane.
Price of Rum Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 years
22-24 euros: an acceptable price and in line with other similar rums.
Food Pairings
Mud cake, chocolate salami, apple pie, chocolate cake, pear and chocolate tart, chocolate muffin, white chocolate and strawberry cheesecake, tiramisu.