Review: Zafra Master Reserve

[Arctic Wolf]

At Rum Renaissance, I had a wonderful time. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting the people who are responsible for producing the Zafra Master Reserve.

These people were the highlight of my trip because they brought with them a sense of ‘family’ to Rum Renaissance. In a town like Miami, where the lines between reality and pure fantasy are blurred, it was totally unexpected to find such genuinely nice people, who from the beginning treated me like part of their family. If the approach they take towards their rum is half as good as the approach they take towards people, then the Zafra Master Reserve will be a delight to sample and review.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The rum enters the palate with a soft bourbon flavour which is very approachable. However this soft approach is followed quickly by a wave of oak spices and tannin. Riding the crest of these waves are flashes of cherries, blackberries and grapes which are vaguely reminiscent a port influence upon the spirit….”

You may read the full review here:

Rum Review: Zafra Master Reserve (http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/rum-review-zafra-master-reserve/)

[Edoc]

I just saw this on the shelf of my local liquor store. The price is $44.
Whisky/bourbon style rums aren't usually my favorites (I prefer dominican and venzuela/demerera rums). I have Abuelo (also from Panama) and Mt Gay Extra Old, which both serve this category well.

Artic Wolf, I know you're a big whisky fan-- do you consider this to be a "classic" rum? Since it seems fairly rare in these parts, I'm wondering if I should snap it up. I'm thinking I wouldn't regret it, but it might not be my favorite. Your review suggests that your appreciation of Zafra is dependent on your mood or whatever has been on your palate.

[Arctic Wolf]

Hi Edoc

If you like Abuelo then you should love Zafra. The master distiller of Zafra, used to work for Abuelo, and the rum is in a similar style, just up a notch or two in complexity. (I have also compared it to Santa Theresa in style on another site.) I know in the review I mentioned about the bourbon notes at the front of the rum but the rest of the rum is all in that classic south/central American style.

PS: My review score of 90 is, believe it or not, the lowest rating I have seen anywhere. RnD gave it 10/10, the BTI gave a score in the mid 90s. So I'm thinking you should snap it up.

[Edoc]

Thanks!