Dictador Parrafo I Pardo Vintage 2004

Dictador rum single vintage casks 1976 and 1978 finished in Sherry casks and then shipped to Hardy in Cognac, where it was further carefully blended by Master Bouilly who used his Chauffe Légère 350 liters oak cask from 1954 for the process. The rum spent at least 7 months in Cognac cask and due to the taste profile was called ÉTÉ which means SUMMER. Nose        : Immediate vanilla, fudge and butterscotch, but a character reminiscent of a great Cognac as well with some dried figs and apricots, then pencil shavings and hints of damp earth. Truly rich and complex. Palate      : This heady tipple coats the palate with an impressive array of flavonoids including an overlay of nutmeg on milk chocolate, toffee, sea-salt caramel and a beautiful softness without the sweetness, a great marriage. There is a rise on the mid-palate before it fades slowly into a minute-long supple and silky finish that is pierced only by flashes of oak, pure rum character and raisins. Color       : A deep mahogany with flashes of gold and bronze out to the rim, showing immense viscosity with long painted legs in the glass. Matured in Chauffe Légère 1954 Time of Finishing: 7 months

A 37 year-old Dictador Rum from a 1980 single vintage cask finished in whisky barrels then shipped to Château d’Arche in Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, where it further spent six months in American oak barrels of 225 litres. It is a typical size for Bordeaux wines. This barrel has been filled up with Château d’Arche for the vintage 2014. Nose        : A plethora of sweetness with vanilla crème brulée, dark caramel-coated chocolate and plenty of dried fruits including figs, dates and quince, then hints of toasted bread and orange rind. Palate      : Quite an interesting marriage with marzipan, dried apricots and cloudberry marmalade over maple syrup, milk chocolate and crème brulée. Once the initial burn dissipates, true rum character comes through overtaking the “foreign” flavours and  it finishes nicely with a relatively balanced supple golden fruit cake with hints of toast. Fine and supple. Color       : A firm dark bronze going out into a lighter golden hue at the rim, showing high viscosity with fine long legs in the glass. Matured in Fine American Oak medium heat Time of Finishing: 6 months

A 39-year-old Dictador Rum from a 1979 single vintage cask, finished in sherry casks and then shipped to Leclerc Briant in Champagne, where the rum spent eight months further in lightly toasted TARANSAUD & SEGUIN- MOREAU cask used by Leclerc Briant. Nose        : Surprisingly rich, mellow buttered caramel overtones with greener new French oak nuances, toasted coconut, vanilla stalk and salted caramel with freshness and nuttiness. Palate      : A rich, expansive complexity with maple bar over vanilla yoghurt, then honeyed berry character and grape juice. On the mid-palate it changes character and begins its slow lingering route back to the origins of the rum with condensed sugar cane juice, evaporated milk and hints of honeysuckle flowers. Colour     : Deep golden bronze with lovely graduating layers of mahogany to the rim, showing excellent viscosity in the glass. Matured in French Oak “Chaue Légère” (light toast) Time of Finishing: 8 months