First Impressions
This is a genuinely historic bottling. The Dominican Republic is a country where column stills reign supreme, and this release from the Consuelo distillery represents the very first rum distilled in the new pot stills at the facility. Made from cane juice rather than molasses — another departure from Dominican convention — it's a rum that signals a new direction for Dominican rum-making.
Tasting
The nose is fresh and vibrant. Sugarcane leads with grassy herbs and tropical fruit providing support. White pepper adds spice, and there's a clean mineral note that reflects the terroir. It's an agricole-style nose from an unexpected origin, and it's genuinely interesting.
The palate is vibrant and punchy at 57%. Raw sugarcane provides the foundation, herbal complexity adds depth, white pepper spice builds through the mid-palate, and tropical fruit sweetens things. The cane juice intensity at cask strength is impressive — this feels like a rum made with conviction and purpose.
The finish is medium-long with peppery spice, sugarcane, and a crisp herbaceous close.
The Bottom Line
At £47.25, this is a fascinating piece of rum history at a very fair price. The first pot-still, cane-juice rum from the Dominican Republic represents a bold departure from tradition, and the quality of the liquid justifies the experiment. One to watch as the distillery develops.
