Malecon 1985 Seleccion Esplendida

Absolutely delicious. Vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and cigars are the major players. Tickles the tongue, no burn. Starts with an immediate hit of vanilla and caramel, as it dances across the tongue, the chocolate and cigar flavours make their debut. 30 year perfection. Best enjoyed neat with dark chocolate.

Nice amber color with golden reflections. The nose is very pastry and well balanced with notes of caramel, citrus, candied fruits, vanilla and after some time chocolate. On the palate we can feel a very nice and hot sweet sensation. Vanilla still present with citrus fruit, but also apricot; banana. The final is very long with tobacco and the chocolate is coming back. Very nice rum to finish a beautiful evening.

I had previously tasted the 15y old while you still can find some common markers this 30y old is obviously at another level.

The tobacco is still very present especially on the palate but much more balanced.
The smell is a lot on the vanilla due to the long casking period, but still a little bit tropical. I read candied fruit by other, I am not good enough to define it more.

Very good rum but maybe a bit too expensive comparing to an Appleton 21y for instance.

Tried the 1979 version of this at London Rumfest 2019 and it was excellent but didn’t buy it in London, but found out it is not available in the USA. However, I was able to find one bottle of the 1985 version and it is just as excellent. Fine aroma, wonderful taste, very smooth, great finish. Deep rich flavor.

Bottle number 0179. Enjoyed a bottle of Malecon Seleccion Esplendida 1985 while vacationing in Tokyo. Located the bottle from Mukawa Spirit liquor store. High end wooden case surrounds the sturdy bottle but a surprisingly boring label design. Golden color. Vanilla, mild caramel and plenty of oak to the nose and palate when neat sipped. Dry burn at the end. Whisky fan boys can add 2 points to my score. For me, this is good but far from a great rum.

Bottled in 2015 gives 30yo, wow!
When warmed up in your hand with the other hand over the glass opening it has sting when coming to the nose.
It’s very smooth, balanced and complex. The sweetness is much lower than expected.
There’s amongst other tastes vanilla, caramel etc but also tobacco which fades out a little if you let the rum stand in your glass for a while.
The afterburn is medium long.
As a summary a fantastic rum that’s very close to a 10.
Picture: My Opened bottle & My Malecon shelf.