Santa Teresa 1796

A blend of Venezuelan rums, aged using the solera method and therefore without a specific or average age. The brand tells us about rums ranging from 4 to…35 years old. It relies on very old stocks and is one of the rare distilleries to offer a real solera, mixing column and pot still rums.

Deep amber color, coppery/bronze highlights, for a dress that appears oily. The nose is fine and balanced, with notes of honey, dried and ripe fruits (banana, grape, cherry), tobacco, vanilla and caramel (crème brûlée). We also find a lot of cocoa (roasted beans) for a very pleasant nose that does not overdo it, and it feels good. The palate is honeyed and sweet, on fruits (dried bananas, cherry) and a fairly dry caramelized woodiness, as well as vanilla and coconut. It is warm and sweet in the mouth, it becomes slightly spicy, with notes of coffee. Beautiful presence in the mouth. The finish is dry, rather on the woodiness (always this tobacco which brings a smoky touch) mixed with caramel and dried fruits. The finish is long and offers a beautiful persistence that warms the throat as the rum passes and even after. Always under the sign of a smoky woodiness and tobacco.

A good rum that doesn't overdo it, and above all that isn't too sweet, which is a change... A house with a solid reputation that has always been able to offer a consistent product over time, and at an attractive price. Rating: 82

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Santa Teresa Bicentennial

Like the 1796, a solera rum, "the result of the assembly of the oldest barrels present in the distillery's cellars, some of which contain 80-year-old rums" . Unverifiable, but 80 years seems at least astonishing...but perhaps not so much given the stocks and the age of the distillery?

It is pretty much the same appearance as the 1796, slightly more sustained in terms of color and fatter too. The nose appears clearly richer than the 1796: there are exotic fruits (still banana, very ripe), citrus fruits (blood orange, lemon), the woodiness is less dry and classier for a much more complex and still well-balanced, creamy and ample ensemble. We even find a vegetal side which brings a certain freshness to the nose, very pleasant, and fruits full of sugar which considerably soften the nose. The attack is very soft, delicate and unctuous, without shock; we find the fruits (exotic, citrus, dried, cherry), it is very gourmet, ample in the mouth but also well supported by the spices (lots of cinnamon, and ginger) and light notes of tobacco; the vanilla is predominant, and the tannins very melted. Really very sweet, maybe too much even, but pleasant for any lover of sweetness. The finish is long but once again very smooth and perhaps lacks depth; spices (pepper), tobacco and fruits share the finish.

This Bicentenario is unsurprisingly more worked than the 1796, with a rich and very pleasant nose, but the mouth lacks something, relief and response. A very good ron overall, but the quality/price ratio will put the 1796 forward. Note: 83

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

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