Mezan 2010 Panama 10-Year

Cask: ex-Bourbon
Alc/vol: 46%
Distillation: multi-column stills
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2020
Tropical ageing: 3 years
European Ageing: 7 years

I am not going to make any bones about it, I am biased. I love Mezan's Panama bottlings.

The official tasting note: Orange notes with a little cinnamon and coconut. Light estery tones with some dried fig and a backnote of fresh sap wood. Well structured spiced oak with nutmeg and tropical fruit. Hints of ginger and a delightful zingy sweetness on the finish.

Well what more could I add!!!?

The mouth feel is rich, velvety and unctuous. The finish, is full and long with a full oakiness to it. I guess if like me, you like a rich, fruity rum with a lot of oak, then this will appeal. If you aren't a fan of plenty of oak, then this might not rock your boat as much as it does mine.

I've tried it side by side with the 2008 Panama. They are both quite similar, but the 2008 has an extra zingy vivacity about it that makes it, to me at least, a better rum. However, if I didn't have the 2 side by side, then I suspect that I'd rate them equally good.

Very fruity and sweet despite no added sugar. Quite flat though and not the smoothest. The body does develop if allowed to breathe for a while but it would have lifted further if it had more body and/or spiciness.

Big thanks goes to Rhum Attitude for providing a proper rum tasting experience during the global lockdown. Our tasting continues onwards with Mezan Panama 2010. Traditional Mezan bottle and label design influences. Bright golden color. Plenty of oakiness and mild vanilla to your nose and palate when neat sipped. A tad of heat at the end die to no added sugars so pretty good but not great.