Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva

Category: Dark
Country: Dominican Republic
Aged: 15 years (blended)
Alcohol: 40% (80 proof)
Availability: Limited
Price: $30-$38 (750 mL)

Appearance (0-5): 5
Aroma (0-25): 23
Taste (0-35): 31
Smoothness (0-10): 7
Body (0-5): 5
Overall Quality (0-20): 18
Machete Grade (0-100): 89

Notes: Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva is made in the Solera style, which is a method of blending rums of different ages in stages until the desired age, smoothness, and taste is achieved (Ron Matuselm's website has a nice section detailing this blending process). The beautiful brown-amber pour is as classic as its bottle and label. Rich aromas of vanilla, smoky caramel, and alcohol. The first sip is a velvet-gloved jab to the tongue and teeth - piercing yet smooth all at the same time. And the first sip is merely gentle foreplay for the second and third. But once the soft bite from the alcohol and spice settles, the tastes are pure rum: wood, molasses, vanilla, smoke, caramel, alcohol. Further tastes reveal a bit of an earthy tone (leather?) followed by a subtle buttery fruitiness. Slightly dry with a medium-to-full body. Long, sultry finish. Neat or on the rocks, the sipping is superb and in the right setting, yearns to be shared with a cigar. This probably shouldn't be mixed, though a sacrilegious splash of coke with lime does taste near divine. Since its roots are in pre-castro Cuba and it is still made in the Cuban style (whatever that may be), this is considered to be as close as you can get to available Cuban rum until that rat bastard fidel kicks it. I feel its rich and somewhat buttery, sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavors are more signature Dominican than Cuban, though certainly this is as close to the real thing without being the real thing as I've yet had. Bottom line, Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva is among my personal favorites; it's classically delicious and a treat for special occasions. Highly recommended.

Reviewed: July 2007