Abuelo Gran Reserva 12-Year

Upon first taste I knew I liked this rum. I had read that the 7-year was better or at least a better buy. That is arguable because the 7-year is a great value and a good rum, but I think it serves as a great mixer and pretty nice on the rocks. The 12-year competes taste-wise and complexity-wise with rums 30-70% more expensive. For me burnt caramel, cedar and oud on the nose. It starts with smoky tobacco and anise on the front end of the taste and then you get dried fig and creme caramel to finish. It is great neat and on the rocks. Also the price allows for the cheeky cocktail mix here and there. Try it in a Cherry Bomb (replace whisky with Abuelo 12-year) or in a 3 dots and a dash with Hampden Estate Gold and the 12-year, sooo good.

I felt it had caramel notes. Very smooth and tasty.

Tested this long ago and you can definitely taste that it’s a Panamanian Ron. It has it all, but everything is weaker than in the better ones.
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Tasted it again during Birka’s rumcruise 22/3-2019 at a Master class and this time I had difficulty to distinguish from Havana Club 7yo.
So my rating will not be changed.
Picture: Brands included at the blindtest.

Tasted 12/25/2018 in Key West at The Rum Bar. Neat. Very delicious! Very oaky, and dry, in a good way. Not sweet like some rums. El Dorado 21 is much sweeter. This is damn good, a little hotter, not quite as smooth, but at half the price. 90+

Abuelo 12 mi velmi připomíná Diplomatico, ale je méně sladký. Oproti El Doradu méně kořeněný. Finish Abuela je rozhodně lepší než u obou konkurentů výrazně uhlazenější. Taky víc po propolisu a dřevu, ale nepřehnaně, zase uhlazeně. Rozhodně 8.

12-ročný rum od Abuelo je mojom prvotinou od tohto producenta, typická fľaša v ktorej sa navhádza rum, ktorý chuťovo pripomína niečo medzi Zacapa 23y a Diplomatico reserva exclusiva.

Fľaša: fľaša ma nejako obzvlášť nezaujala, je taká typická pre tohto producenta. Hnedá s korkovou zátkou. Asi som skôr za dizajn podobný Diplomaticu.

Vôňa: krásna vôňa po pomarančoch, sušených hrozienkach a slivkách, vanilke a dube. Naozaj pekná vôňa, ktorá neustále niečim prekvapí.

Chuť: chuť je sladká, nie veľmi ale cítiť tu sladkosť po ovocí. Možno by tu mohlo byť viac komplexnosti ale mne sa prejavuje značná nevyváženosť.

Záver: krásne voňavý rum, ktorý kazí chuť, fľaša to zachránila nakoľko je pre tohto producenta špecifická. Celkovo je tento rum chutný len by som tu doladil chute rumu. Záver je krátky ale jemný.

Vůně příjemna, málo výrazná.
Láhev obyčejná, ale ukrývající skvelý rum.
Chuť lehce ovocná a sofitistikovaná - vyvážená.
Skvelé překvapení večera.

Knowing Spanish-style rums are notorious for added sugar, I wasn't expecting much. The nose is extremely molasses forward which was confirming my worst fears. Upon tasting however, I was mildly surprised it wasn't a complete sugar-bomb like Diplomatico Reserva Exculsiva. It came across the palate a bit drier than anticipated, but that was a pretty low bar. There's a hint of smokiness and very little burn. It's not offensive, but there isn't a whole lot of complexity either.

It's similar to 7y, but more expensive and in my opinion 7y is little bit more balanced.

Velmi velke prekvapenie menom Abuelo 12y. Moj oblubeny rum Diplomatico RE dostal silneho supera!

Sladky rum, vonavy drevom a vanilkou az ovocim. Chut je jemna, alkohol doznieva velmi prijemne a chute idu na povrch cez sladkost, vanilku az ku drevitosti zo suda...

Ozaj odporucam. Testoval som s jeho bratom Abuelo 7y a je tam veeelky rozdiel. Oplati sa priplatit.

Nazdravie :)