Objective Notes

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

With a beautiful-to-look-at dark walnut brown color, and heady aromas of caramel, brown sugar and organic qualities of dry leaves, musty old leather, smoky, sweet tobacco, Mocambo 15 year old offers an interesting complexity.  The initial taste delivers a dry old oak woodiness (aged European white oak) with bark and cork flavors predominant, then licorice, browned butter, subtle vanilla and caramel, but surprisingly it’s not very sweet on the tongue.  The medium-heavy body works well with the dry texture, while a medium long finish brings back much of the sweetness experienced on the nose, and lingers enough to send fond memories for another sip. 

Anecdotal Notes

Dave -  A tall, slender, clear glass bottle in Mocambo’s signature shape is minimally adorned with a small label, allowing the rum to showcase its deep brown color.  I sampled Bottle 117/230, Barrel No. 1512, the numbers clearly handwritten on the label. The natural cork stopper under a cap made of real wood adds a traditional touch - understated, elegant - and appreciated.

Taster’s Opinion

Dave - Mocambo 15 Year Old is certainly as pleasant as it is different from the sweeter rums so popular now.  It exhibits a rather heavy sweetness upfront on the nose, displays its more earthy flavors on initial taste, and then finishes similar to the beginning.  Whether you call the sipping experience inconsistent or complex depends on your perspective, but Mocambo 15 year old is an interesting rum.  Neither as widely distributed nor as uniquely packaged as Mocambo’s 20 year old Art Edition, the younger sibling is nonetheless a worthy complement to your collection.

Roger – Mocambo Single Barrel 15 year old rum is a good sipping rum. It’s dark mahogany and copper blend of colors presents well in the tall slender bottle. It’s just about as good as it’s older sibling, the Mocambo Art Edition 20 year old, in my opinion. The single barrel has good notes of vanilla, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and wood. It has an earthy woody flavor up front followed be leather, anise, cinnamon, pepper, and faint vanilla. I would recommend it neat or on the rocks as it’s not meant for mixing. It will make a good addition to any collection and is available in select markets and online.

Taster's Rating (10 is best): Dave - 8 Flasks; Roger - 8.5 flasks

Most recently tasted by: Dave and Roger, July 2011 at RnD’s South and North Tasting Rooms, USA