Santa Teresa 1796

[angelsword]

At the 2007 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition, I had the opportunity to meet and converse with Nestor Ortega, the rum master at C.A. Ron Santa Teresa of Venezuela. What an excellent gentleman with such deep knowledge of fine rum!

His Ron Antiguo de Solera won a gold medal in the competition! You'll have to ask Ed as to whether that was in the dark or the premium category. Either way he scored over some other very fine rums.

[Edward Hamilton]

Santa Teresa Antiguo de Solera 1796, named for the year the estate was founded, won a Gold Medal in the premium category. I've loved that rum for years but last year it only won a Silver Medal in Ybor City.

[angelsword]

The Antiguo is indeed quite impressive. Color is an appealling reddish dark amber. The first notes on the broad aroma are french oak and toasty caramel. Spice, molasses, and smoke impress me on the first sip. Mostly high and medium notes across the tongue. The basso profundo is in the finish. Yep, it certainly deserved the gold!

[Roger]

Santa Teresa 1796 is an exceptional rum. Hats off to Nestor for making it so great and consistent for the last 11 years! It was great to meet him at the competition.

Roger

[aglasser]

And if you're looking for a good cocktail for the 1796 - try making a Sidecar with it, substituting the Santa Teresa for the brandy.

Santa Teresa Sidecar
1.5oz Santa Teresa 1796
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Lemon Juice

Shake and serve in a cocktail glass. If you find that it's a little sweet for your taste (because of the Cointreau), use a lemon peel twist (use a potato/vegetable peeler to get a wide piece of lemon peel, fold it above the cocktail glass so just a hint of lemon oil hits the top of the cocktail, wipe the rim of the glass with the lemon peel and then throw it away - the peel that is, not the cocktail)

[Edward Hamilton]

Ahh yes, the Sidecar. Though I find Cointreau a little sweet for my taste in most cocktails, when mixed with the right rum, something complex with a smoky finish, it can make a very nice drink.

[aglasser]

Agreed - Cointreau does tend to run a little sweet for my taste as well, but the little bit of lemon oil does a nice job balancing it out!