Abuelo Gran Reserva 12-Year

A pretty good sipping rum, just love the smell

I liked this rum, but I have only seen it when I traveled.

The Abuelo 12 anos is a very smooth rum. Women will like it and I do as well because of its smoothness but also his very sweet side with vanilla notes!

One of my favorites

Bottle: Normal bottle, nothing fancy 0,5/1
Colour: Dark amber
Aroma: Some vanilla. 1/2
Taste: Nice and smooth. Something fruity in there. Maybe too sweet for me. I don't recall much difference from 7yo 4/5
Aftertaste: There is something I don't like 1,5/2
With this rum and probably whole Abuelo collection I have problem - sometimes I really love this rum and sometimes I have to force myself to finishing the glass. I assume it depends on my mood and what I have eaten that day but still I never know what to think about these rums.

Panama, Amérique du Sud... On pourrait donc s'attendre à un rhum rond et moelleux comme les Diplomatico, Centenario, Millonario & autres productions de type espagnoles. D'autant que la couleur est d'un ambré profond... Et bien non ! Nous sommes ici sur un produit plus sec, au nez puissant et épicé, avec une pointe d'alcool qui n'est pas désagréable. La bouche amène de la cannelle et des épices, un surprenant coté sec. La longueur est moyenne, mais agréable avec des notes végétales et fumées discrètes.

This one reminds me very much of the El Dorado 12 year. I am fairly certain there is some substantial added sugar, as I recently found out there is in the ED 12 - but it has enough flavor to hold up and not be overwhelmed by sweetness. Smoky, woody, with leather and tobacco notes. I don't smoke but it seems to me this one would be excellent with a cigar.

Edit : I have since found out that this rum and El Dorado 12 yr have almost the exact same amount of added sugar, around 30 g/ltr. This is a substantial amount and makes the usual $30+ price tag something I would not pay - although I am not unhappy that scored several on closeout for under $20.

I'm not one to enjoy too much wood, and this tips to that side for me. I can appreciate the expertise though and will recommend it. For my tastes, I'll stick with the 7 year.

For me, this is what I like in a rum. However, I can understand why people would find this too sweet and too oaky. The sweetness is intense on the front palate before the oak kicks in to mellow it down. On the finish, the sweetness caries on well after the oak. But.....just sometimes, I can find it to be all a bit too confected. But whether it is a good drinking day or not, it is supremely smooth, full bodied and easy to drink

EDIT - the Mezan Panama is made by the same people as this, and to me is better. While it doesn't have the smokey flavours, the sweetness isn't quite so in your face.

2nd Edit - I have just been given a litre bottle at 37.5% and it is very different to the 70cl 40% bottle that I have just finished. Unsurprisingly it is smoother than the 40%, and the oak notes are much more pronounced. I had become rather undecided about the 40% as it had a dirty edge to it, but the 37.5% is right up there. Very good.

God bid i starten, efterfulgt af en masse smagsoplevelser.