Brugal 1888, Dominican Rum, 40%

Two of a distillery’s greatest tools are patience and time, and Brugal engages both forces to great effect. The distillery has honed its production methods over 130 years and is currently under the stewardship of Jassil Villanueva, a fifth-generation Master of Rum and, notably, the first woman to hold the position in the Dominican Republic.

This double aged rum, as the name suggests, is also a product of the passing of time. It was double distilled before undergoing a lengthy maturation period in American oak casks, followed by a secondary maturation in European ex-Sherry casks.

On the nose the influence of the Sherry casks is clear, with dried red fruits at the fore, alongside inviting notes of demerara sugar and vanilla. The palate is instantly gratifying and brimming with toffee and raisins, finishing with a hint of charred oak and smoke.

Iain Glover, Spirits Advisor, Berry Bros. & Rudd