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

Vizcaya VXOP shows a beautiful deep mahogany amber color from long aging in wood. Vizcaya VXOP stands above so many of the other fine rums with its mature, sweet and complex favors. Yet it’s relatively new to the market.

Aroma/Nose: Vizcaya VXOP is delicately sweet, with maple, brown sugar, caramel, raisin, subtle vanilla, clove, Allspice, plus hints of apricot and mango. The alcohols are well integrated with no offensive bite.
Initial Taste: What a wonderful feeling as buttery smooth reflections of sweet light warm maple syrup envelopes your mouth!
Body, medium viscosity, substantial without being cloying, somewhat fruity, a little butterscotch and wood, and finely distilled alcohols.
Vizcaya’s pleasant finish lingers with savory flavors that are completely consistent with the overall tasting experience.

Anecdotal Notes
Vizcaya VXOP is beautifully presented in an attractive decanter – a curved-shoulder, oversize perfume-style bottle shows off well, and is a fitting container for a rum you will be proud to own. Markings are simple. A small label indicates this is a Cuban Style rum but says little else, and a script-font logo in gold print delicately declaring the brand. Topping it off is a nice golden colored cork stopper that further indicates there is a quality rum inside. For sheer shelf ego, the bottle ranks right up there the bottles of other RnD favorites like Mount Gay Tricentennial and Ron Barcelo Imperial. All of which would mean nothing of course, if the rum itself were not up to snuff. But Vizcaya VXOP tastes as good as it looks.

Vizcaya is relatively new to the USA market, and there isn’t much information available on it. It is said to be made with the Cuban Formula. RnD believes – as do our contacts in the industry ¬¬– that almost all rum made in Cuba is made from molasses, as opposed to the juice of sugar cane. So Vizcaya doesn’t reveal all is secrets, leaving us with a little mystery!

RnD first tasted Vizcaya VXOP at Edward Hamilton’s Ministry or Rum Tasting Competition in New Orleans in July 2007. Mr. Hamilton, well known as the Minister of Rum, conducted a high quality blind tasting of well over 60 rums. Vizcaya VXOP earned a well deserved Gold Medal in that competition in the premium/aged rum category. (See all the results here http://ministryofrum.com/2007.php 

Taster’s Opinion
Dave - Vizcaya VXOP is one of RnD’s top-ranked rums. It delivers an excellent sipping experience, and at $40 (or less) in the US, is bargain priced too. If you are looking for a rum on the sweet side of excellent, RnD encourage you to seek this rum out. But please, sip it neat, Vizcaya VXOP is far too refined to waste in a mixer. You may like it on the rocks but we prefer it neat.

Final Comments:
Dave – Vizcaya VXOP is outstanding; a must-have for RnD’s South Tasting Room.
Roger – Vizcaya VOXP is a great new rum that you should add to your collection. It won’t disappoint in any way.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Dave - 9 Flasks; Roger - 9.5 Flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Roger and Dave, August, 2007 at RnD's North and South tasting rooms in USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.