Panama-Pacific 9-Year

Crisp, refresing finish from a drier Central American rum. I was expecting something closer to Zafra or Ronnie Z but this is much more balanced and nuanced. I recommend this one Old Fashioned or just a splash of water to open it up. Complex and balanced. Wish it had a full bouquet on the nose to add an even bigger element of complexity, but what are you going to do

I was so impressed with the 23 year old that I went back to grab the 9 the very next day. I'm a firm believer in side by side tasting. It's not enough to just say the sky is blue, wiki has 67 shades of blue listed and without 2 points how can you measure?
Beyond the obvious age difference it should be noted that the younger of the two is bottled 5% higher at 94.6 proof. I most certainly had to let them breath for a few minutes to clear the air so to speak. These are big rums and I did need to resort to a salted baguette crisp or two for a little palette cleansing while sampling.
The nose is pretty non-discernible, conventional wisdom says the elder is softer and it is, but here's the thing, big brother is not much heavier with barrel notes. The Oak in the younger is there but it's wispy. I absolutely love and agree with the 9 being bottled at a higher ABV. It cuts the less refined and mellowed sugars of it's elder and in doing so becomes multifaceted. It's closer to the stalk and more vibrant. Hitting the 9 with a splash of H2O cutting the burn left me with the distinct mind set that the Panama-Pacific rums are 100% about the quality of the cane and the aging is solely for the intricate nuances. Which is the obvious function of aging most everything anyways. Ultimately everything ages and pairing these siblings side by side can easily turn the evening into a metaphysical exercise.
At the very least I came away with a better grip on what the long idle time does too fermented distilled sugar as it basks in oak at equatorial climates.
Finally in a clean dry glass tilt test as well as a swirl test our mature girl gives up the legs a little quicker. I think I'd like to live with the 23 but at $30 out the door the 9 is steamrolling.

Aroma hints at oak, pepper, and subtle smoke. Taste reveals oak, pepper, and delicate vanilla notes.

Update: Test showed 0g sugar **(my hydrometer is not super accurate though)**
Bumped rating up to 8 because of this, plus I found a store selling it for $16 USD!

Everyone seems to disagree about whether this juice is legit (by that I mean true age statement, no flavoring, etc.)

I've read everything from "best I've ever tasted" to "gasoline and paint", but to me this is a solid mid-range sipper with just enough proof be memorable. Now I really need to find the older expressions.

Notes of butterscotch, cinnamon, blackberries, and a very spicy oak finish.

Although one could happily sip this rum, it is so light and friendly I use it for all my rum cocktails that require a more delicate flavor (daquari - mai tai etc.) A must have on my shelf!

Purchased in Topeka. Tasted May 15, 2023.
Aroma: heat and sweet, some vanilla
Flavor: caramel, vanilla, sweet goodness
This is a delicious sippable rum.
Edit: 6/11 I'll add white pepper to the flavor profile. I'm still loving this rum.

I tried the 23 at a cigar lounge and enjoyed it quite a bit. When I purchased a bottle of the 9 and tried it at home, I found that it has a similar deep oaky flavor and I did not have the heart to rate it lower. 7.5 for both on my scale. If I tried them side by side, I might end up changing my rating(s). Stay tuned!

The nose and burn on the tongue tell you up front that this is a higher proof, not for sipping. The real find here is the way it blends adding distinct tastes with different mixers. Coke, lemon-lime, ginger ale, etc., every one brings out different flavors in the rum.

It made for a great night to discover the many facets of this rum and will look forward to finding the 23.

barva : jantarová
vune karamel vanilka
chut: na panamu docela težký rum, vanilka, karamel,
zaver : dubový záver, teší
hodnoceni 7,3
koupit ano z 40%
Alcohol 47,3 %

Light, buttery, banana, oak, this is not an overwhelming rum. Nothing "special ". But, you'll keep reaching for this one if you have it in rotation. Solid neat, rocks, and mixer. A real sleeper. One I'd like to keep around especially for the price. You need to try it.