Objective Notes
Extremely Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

Beautiful reddish, medium-amber color.
Subtly large and inviting, with strong scents of butterscotch, vanilla, molasses, honey-vanilla, and slight cardamom and golden raisin. Its taste rewards the critical palate with pale dried leather, oak, caramelized brown sugar, and a captivating butterscotch warmth. Long aging ion oak casks before and after blending produces a remarkably smooth rum.
It is worth spending time letting 1824 seduce your nose before you taste this rum. On the palate, 1824 is delicious and full bodied, with pronounced oak, vanilla bean syrup, and smoky praline cheesecake flavors. An understated warm spice like nutmeg is present, with a slight oily undertone. Every sip says "more!"
Difficult to find in the US, but well worth the effort.

Anecdotal Notes
Sulky smooth, with no bite, an exquisitely easy sipping. Drink it neat, no rocks required to smooth out this rum. After first opening my newest bottle of 1824, I detected a slightly oily aftertaste. I cannot remember the diesely harbor taste from previous tastings, and a few months after uncorking, that undesirable distinction is all but gone. Either way, this is one Great Rum. An attractively large, waxed over corked cap adds old world charm. Spoil yourself every time you sip 1824, or use it to impress your friends that there really is something to this whole exotic Caribbean rum tasting thing after all.

Taster’s Opinion
Dave - 1824 is a great, seductive rum that makes no excuses for what it does to you. Solid vanilla flavors up front, caramel and molasses, and subtle Caribbean spices give it a voluptuously sweet body. Aged perfectly towards the smooth end, this rum requires you really wrap your taste buds and tongue around it. At first, I preferred the more familiar and younger eight-year-old Angostura 1919 over its 12-year-old sibling, 1824. But after hangin' with 1824 awhile, I appreciate the beauty that a few more years in oak brings. A word of advice; Share this rum only if your guests are serious about discovering how wonderfully complex a refined island rum can be. 1824 is a keeper.

Care for a delicious Caribbean dilemma? Okay, make it a mission to own a bottle of Angostura 1824 and one of 1919. Then, make up your mind which is the better rum. Taste repeatedly as your mood swings, and try to decide which rum you would recommend to your closest friend.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):
Dave - 9.5 Flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Dave in October 2005, and July, 2006 at RnD's south tasting room, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated