Granalta Cask Strength Single Barel B&B Exclusive Anejo Rum

This rum takes you on a unique journey into the heart of the Mexican state of Michoacan, west of Mexico City, just south of the Tequila dominated Jalisco, and north of the Mezcal soaked Guerrero. Michoacan is a unique destination for spirits lovers - while the state does produce some spectacular Mezcal, the real heart of distillation culture is based in Rum. Often going by names Aguardiente or Charanda (a protected designation in Michoacan), the noble sugarcane is the king of spirits here. 
 
This Añejo Rum from Granalta (primarily known as a bottler of Mezcal) is made from a distillate of both Guarapo, a term used for fresh sugarcane juice, just like agricole style rum, and more uniquely, Piloncillo. Piloncillo is a staple of much Mexican baking, sweets production, and more, derived from boiling down the fresh cane juice until it begins to caramelize, and then pouring it into a cone shaped mold (a "pylon", where the term Piloncillo comes from), where it hardens. The result is a complex, buttery, caramel-y, slightly earthy substance that will make you leave behind brown sugar forever. After a fermentation in Oak and Pine vats of both the Piloncillo and Guarapo (50% of each), they are distilled on a small copper column still. Though almost all the rum, charanda, or aguardiente consumed in Michoacan is blanco, or unaged, in this case the rum was aged for 25 months in an American oak ex-bourbon cask, and bottled as a single barrel edition, exclusive to Bitters & Bottles. 
 
The result is a unique and delicious rum in which the character of piloncillo shines through and marries beautifully with the effect of oak. On the nose, burnt sugar meets cinnamon bun and vanilla bean, with a waft of grassy earth, raisin, and fresh green pepper. The palate is unctuous, viscous, and full of rich caramel, cinnamon, cake frosting, black pepper, and a hint of spicy oak. The finish begins to bring out those vegetal green pepper notes again, with more burnt caramel, dark chocolate, and a subtle sweet breadiness on the tail end. We can't wait to have a pour of this alongside a slice of flan or creme brûlée. And while it is great on its own, it's also one of our favorite new rums this year for an Old Fashioned, adorned with some orange and coffee bitters - absolute perfection.