Casa Santana 12YO – Colombia

58,4% || That Boutique-y Rum Company

The first bottling of Casa Santana rum from Colombia from That Boutique-y Rum Company, and it’s a fascinating expression which was matured for 12 years before bottling. Very satisfying stuff, with some unexpected flavours coming through. The label is just as curious, featuring some sort of sorceress winning at pontoon while ominously holding a fireball in her hand. Well, you wouldn’t try you hardest to win when faced with the constant threat of a fireball, would you? (Even if you’ve got one of those cool visor hats!) Oh, and there’s a massive Andean Condor, the national bird of Colombia, also losing the game and wearing a snazzy hat.

Batch 1 is a release of 3,766 bottles.

Nose: Toffee oak, soft vanilla and brown sugar lead among touches of salinity, sweet red chilli heat and hot tyres. Gingerbread adds a little aromatic spice among plenty of grilled tropical fruit and raw honey before ground black pepper and vegetal, almost Mezcal-esque notes develop way below.

Palate: Through melting butter, creamy banana pie, a little salted caramel and plenty more heaps of exotic fruit comes rich baking spice, wasabi and just a touch of oak char.

Finish: A long and confident finish. Thick caramel, dry nutmeg spice and some engine oil.

Overall: All kinds of brilliant and bizarre, it’s a Captain Beefheart of a rum.