Over the past few years, bartenders all over the globe have been reintroducing the world to the lost art of the craft cocktail. We have seen an ebb and flow of what the chicest new/old cocktail is…from the rise of the Mai Tai to the reinventions of the Old Fashioned at bars from coast to coast to coast. But what has remained constant is the old age that the finest quality ingredients and spirits make the best cocktails. Enter the latest trend – sipping liquors and spirits. My favourite? Sipping Rum.
Now sipping liquors and spirits is not a new practice. In fact, it is a very old trend. Before we had mixers, we drank all liquor straight up. For centuries, we only sipped dark liquors like whiskey or scotch….until we discovered that some tequilas are better sipped not shot (and chased down with a sweet chaser – yuck). But have you sipped a perfectly aged rum?
No? Then you are in for a treat. The best rums are enjoyed sipped (not mixed). And my current favourite is the Reserva Exclusiva from Diplomático.
The Diplomático distillery is an independent and family owned business based at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Venezuela. The family controls the whole production process from field (even developing and growing their own new strain of sugar cane) to bottle to create superb quality rums. The family has won numerous awards the world over for their dedication to making the finest rums.
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
The Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a blend of exclusive rum reserves that have been aged up to twelve years in former bourbon and malt whiskey barrels. This ageing process creates a depth of flavour in the rum that you won’t find in other rums. Marrying a unique body with excellent balance has made this multi award-winning rum a reference for connoisseurs and fine spirits lovers throughout the world.
But how does it taste?
First, take a sniff (half of sense of flavour comes from smell after all). Opening up with aromas of orange peel, toffee and licorice, it is smooth on the palate, and follows on with notes of toffee fudge that offers a seductive, long-lasting finish. It is perfect for sipping straight up (my favourite in the cooler months) or on the rocks (perfect for the hotter weather). It’s simply delicious.
Now if you don’t want to sip on this beauty, it also makes the most exquisite cocktails (remember, great spirits make great cocktails). So why not try your hand at making an Old Cuban?
The Old Cuban cocktail was invented in early 2000 by Audrey Saunders, New York’s most famous female bartender (and one of the world’s most famous bartenders for that matter). This creation, made with aged rum, gained popularity across the drinking world because it’s an exquisite yet refreshing take on the classic Mojito; switching out the soda for champagne and the white rum for a dark aged rum.
It’s simply delicious!
The Old Cuban Cocktail
Ingredients
50 ml Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
25 ml lime juice
20 ml sugar syrup
5 mint leaves
2 drops of Angostura bitters
Directions
Muddle mint leaves using a muddler. Add lime juice, simple syrup, bitters and Reserva Exclusiva rum to shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with champagne, cava or Prosecco.
Top up with champagne, cava or Prosecco. Garnish with mint sprig.
Enjoy!