Samaroli 2005 Venezuela 14-Year

I bought a Jamaican rum from Samaroli for $550 that I wasn't too impressed with, but I thought I'd try a Samaroli from another country whose rums I really like. This $220 Venezuelan is better in my humble opinion.

Smells and tastes of spice, caramel, and oak. It's a fine rum to me, that deserves an eight.

This may be up there with my favorite rums. It definitely isn't a funky high ester rum. It's got some great fruit notes that are subtle and balanced. Despite the lower proof, the mouthfeel and flavor profiles are thick and rich. Has some burnt sugar and caramel notes. Compared to some Foursquare and Traveler's Belize rums I had along side it: all had a somewhat similar oak/vanilla/caramel profile. This Venezuelan rum had more fruit than the foursquare, with a little darker (think burnt caramel) profile and no bitterness or charred oak. The belize was a bit more tannic and bold with charred oak, and a similar darker caramel or burnt sugar. The low proof lets you taste more of the nuances and flavors from start to finish, but it doesn't lose that richness that sometimes comes with added water.