Objective Notes

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

Santa Teresa 1796 commemorates the distillery’s 2ooth anniversary.  Beautiful medium-amber mahogany in color, as you’d expect from a rum that spent so many years in French Limosin oak.  Slightly sweet, well balanced aromas hinting of black cherry and maple sugar, but not overpowering. Sipping shows well-integrated flavors of oak, smoke, some cinnamon spice in a medium body that gives every indication this rum is masterfully crafted with care. Finishes with a slight anise dryness that lingers until the next sip.  I couldn’t agree more with the distiller’s self-assessment: “A rum, round in bouquet, rich in aroma, developed with the skills and tradition of 200 years of heritage.”

Anecdotal Notes

I was gifted a bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 for Christmas awhile back.  The wrapping was soon off on that festive morning, so I cut the wax and pulled the cork, then sipped a bit and knew that Santa Teresa was amongst the finest rums I had yet tasted.  To this day it remains one of my favorites.  In fact, Santa Teresa was my introduction to rums made in the rare Solera method, where portions of older rums are cascaded into younger rums in a multi-tiered aging and blending process.  I’ve been a big fan of Solera-style rum ever since, finding them uncommonly smooth.

Taster’s Opinion

Dave - If one rum could possibly define the centerpoint of all fine rums, Santa Teresa would be right there. Their 1796 offers a beautiful color and aroma, great balanced flavors neither too spicy nor too hot with understated vanilla, sugars, and oak, all at a bargain price. This is a rare find; a terrific premium rum, one that’s a pleasure to sip, and is affordable to be enjoyed everyday.  It’s available in the US at finer spirit shops or online. You can’t ask for anything more.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Dave - 9 Flasks 

Most recently reviewed by: Dave in December, 2006 at RnD's southern tasting room in USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.