Gentlemans rum as its called in my house, due to my wives dyslexia. Having said that perhaps it was Freudian slip. This is another rum from Marks and Spencer. But are they offering a premium experience at a more manageable price?
The rum comes housed in a nice stubby style bottle with a high quality polished metallic screw top. Immediately it is a cut above most “supermarket” rum. The bottle has a lovely uncluttered and clear styling (it’s a bit like this blog!)
The rum is available in most larger M&S at around £22-25 a bottle, I got a bottle of this on sale for £22 but its usually £25. There are a few different rum producers in Guatemala (Zacapa are the first name on the list) however unlike the “rummaster” http://www.marksandspencer.com/cana-negra-guatemalan-rum-nv-single-bottle/p/p60046481 I do not believe you are getting Ron Zacapa 23 rum for half price. I know this because I’ve got a bottle!
So what are you getting? Well (you may notice the label is different between my picture and M&S’s) as explained in more detail on my newer bottle you are getting a rum which is finished in cognac barrels. Clue anyone?
Basically this is a rum which is likely to have been procured by Plantation (Cognac Ferrand) from possibly the Ron Zacapa distillery. There is a rum available via the Plantation label which is a Guatemalan Gran Anejo. I would say that the age of this rum is probably similar to that. It may even be the same rum as I understand that rum is no longer widely available. As that rum was available for around £30 I would say may guess is probably more accurate than the rummasters.
So onto the rum. The rum is golden with a reddish tinge. The label also states that caramel is added, if that was to impart sweetness then it has certainly worked. The rum is as sweet as honey. On occasion it can be too much. I guess it just depends on the mood. The rum is different and quite distinctive. When the taste buds are in the mood for this rum it can be drank quite quickly. It works as a sipper if you have a sweet tooth.
It’s a very good rum and you are getting a bit of a bargain. Not as much as some think but still not bad.