My first tasting notes - Pyrat XO vs. 1796
So, here it goes...be kind to my mistakes.
I've tried Pyrat XO and Santa Teresa 1796 a couple of times now and have digested my impressions. I tried these from a standard .1 l wine/whisky tasting glass and today I had a sip from a large Riedl cognac sifter, both worked pretty well. These two rums made a nice pairing, as I found them to be quite distinct.
Pyrat XO: My immediate association, perhaps due to the name, was: this is to rum what Jack Sparrow is to pirates. Flashy, somewhat over the top, very much in line with the slightly campy packaging. The orange note is pungent, almost cointreau-like, there is a good deal of sugary and caramel sweetness. Another thing this reminds me of is one of my favorite perfumes, Creed's Orange Spice. There's a bit of christmas feeling here, spicy melange, vanilla and pleasant woody notes in the background. A warm burn, perhaps a bit too sharp and a bit short on the palate. All in all, this is quite a romp. Very enjoyable, good bang for buck. I liked the movies, too.
Santa Teresa 1796: If Pyrat is Jack Sparrow, then Santa Teresa is a gentleman planter. Serious, restrained, and, to me, superior on the long haul. It reminds me a bit of very good Spanish brandy (without the grapey element). There is a sublime sweetness, like sniffing fine muscovado sugar, and loads of fine wood - oak, with vanilla, and also cedary notes and a pleasant smokiness that reminds me of a Highland Malt. There's also something christmassy here. It is smoother than Pyrat and would make for wonderful after-dinner fireside sipping (too bad I don't have a fireside).
I'm quite satisfied with my first two purchases & I get the feeling these bottles won't last very long.
Last edited by the_good_life; 02-07-2008 at 09:14 PM.
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