Papas Pilar Dark 24-Year

After exhaustive research on this site to find another one for my rum collection, this one barely appeared like one that may appeal to me. Everyone who helped in my decisions got votes of approval here, which includes the most popular rums from Panama, Colombia, Martinique, Haiti, and Trinidad. Now with my self imposed $50 per bottle limit, I doled out $38 for this one, well knowing that it was a risky buy for me. Being the most popular rum based in the USA also helped, especially since it is from Key West.

I gather that the goal of the folks at Papa's Pilar was to mimic the very successful model of Plantation Rums by combining rums from all over the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and other places, and then age them one final time elsewhere. Plantation Rums are generally harmonious. This Papa's Pilar Dark is a total clash of complex flavors as stated on the side of this bottle. As others have already stated, it starts off smelling and tasting like maple (or Crown Royal Maple, God forbid!) The bad aftertaste is due to aging in oloroso sherry casks. Of course Papa would be proud of it because he drank like there was no tomorrow and did not have a discerning palate. One day, he would have called it rum the way that it was meant to be and the next day he would have tossed it overboard and called it swill (or worse). To make a long story short, it was an arduous task drowning out the awful flavors over several days with Pepsi sweetened from pure cane sugar.

It is a very nice bottle modeled after the World War II USA Army canteen, even complete with the chain to keep from losing the cap. I had a few of those aluminum canteens as a kid growing up. But the best part of the bottle is the rooster on the neck to remind me of the protected Key West native. Similar to Kauai, these birds crow 24 hours a day for the inconvenience of tourists who have the nerve to complain about them. And no, I did not buy this rum for the bottle. It is a very unique rum, but it is not for me. However, once the bottle was finally emptied, it makes one of the best bottles due to it's low height and wide mouth for storing pre-mixed complex drinks like Zombie Punch or Planters Punch in the fridge or ice chest. Just juices, rums and flavorings with no carbonation.

With the distillery having been opened fairly recently in Key West, hopefully some new and better rums will be released in the future. They just need to not try so hard as they did here. It backfired for me, but has been a huge success for many others who view this as one step above Bacardi.

Tasted this nectar in Key West on New Year Eve at the Rum bar. This is Pilar’s Pilar. Congrats to Hemingway family for creating this awesome rum. All profit from Pilar’s sale will go to AA organization. The bottle is the shape of an Army cantine as a miltary I appreciate the attention.

I like sweet rums and this one is great. Mixed with Cream Soda is my favorite way to have it.

A little something Santa left under the tree. The bottle is really cool. Great presentation.

I poured it neat, it smells of chocolate and toffee. It had just a little burn, but tasted great. I put it on ice, and it really opened up. There's an oaky sweetness with hints of sherry and a little pepper left behind that leaves you wanting more. A great sipper.

Post Script - I love the heft of the bottle, but it doesn't pour very well. If there's a trick to pouring from this bottle, somebody let me know.

Vanilla and Maple are the first two flavors that jump out of the glass to fill the pallet. I like this rum but strong almost over dominance of maple notes leaves it short as a sipper but mixed cocktail is perfect. which is the way I tend to prefer rum.

I like this one sweet but has some
burn but it’s a good burn being a bourbon drinker just getting into rums this is a good one bourbon drinkers

Velmi dobry rum. Krasna flasa a myslienka ze ho pil aj pan Hemingway je parada...

Nie je to lahky rum, citit tam drevitost sudov, aroma je silna a dozvuk chuti je silny! Sladkost pride na zaver co je velmi mile. Odporucam nechat postat v pohari aspon minutu-dve a potom pit aj vonat. Potom sa prejavia jeho silne zbrane - drevita vona sudov, aj chut a dozvuk sladkosti.

Odporucam, nazdravie ;)

When I was introduced to this aged rum a couple years ago I found it refreshing without lime juice. When you first sip this you can taste that toffee flavor. This rum is best with cola or straight to the glass. One of my favorites in the aged rum category.

I love the glass container but be careful after you pour it as it is oddly shaped. Enjoy!

Hints of maple syrup start this smooth drinking rum. Nice aroma. No bite to it.

This rum has managed to be sweet and add a bite all at the same time. Kinda confusing for me but it is drinkable.