Rum - Don Q Cristal
Destileria Serrallés
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Don Q Cristal
Destileria Serrallés, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Importer: Serrallés USA, Dallas, Texas
INGREDIANT: Molasses
PROOF: 80
AGE: 1-3 Years
TYPE: Silver
PRICE: $15.99 750ml
Notes: The top selling rum in its native land, Puerto Rico, Don Q was little known anywhere else till recently. Long a producer for other rum lines they decided to get credit where credit is due by putting their own name on their products. All natural, and in the case of their flavored rums, all natural flavorings, Don Q offers a variety of rums of various ages and price points along with a few flavored rums.They include this the Cristal, Gold, Anejo and the Grand Anejo in the unflavored line and Limón, Cocoa and Mojito in the flavored line.
Appearance: Sparkling clear with no hazing separation or floating sediments. Long legs and crenellated edges develop on swirling.
First Impression: Slightly sweetish, caramelized molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, backstopped with hints of tobacco, leather, barrel char and oak.
Taste: Dryish entry, some citrus, dried fruits and flower notes ,walnuts, persimmons, light body. Oak vanilla notes intermixed ginger, leather and tobacco. Nice drying finish to it. Finish is medium-long with a spicy dry tingling to the lips.
Drinks: Works well for all types of rum drinks looking for a lighter bodied but smooth rum in style. A drier alternative to many other silver rums out there (particularly the Venezuelan or Guatemalan).
Cigars: A natural wrapper cigar, milder type would work well with it.
Final Thoughts: Reminds me a bit of Cuban rums, spicy and lighter body than South American rums but more body and complexity than a Puerto Rican rum. A somewhat complex rum with a pleasing dryness and interesting flavors. Cheap enough for mixing or enjoying straight. Excellent choice to try to get your friends on the path to better rum.
Bottle/Packaging: Clear glass shows off rum nicely. Family crest on shoulder of bottle Pressed glass arch surrounds silkscreened blue and black label. Ribbed sides make for easier grip at bar or poolside. Silver neckwrap with blue Don Q with trademark "knight on horse" (who could that be?) silk-screened on front. . Silver colored ribbed plastic cap with embossed family crest on top. Altogether, an attractive yet practical package. Much better look, feel, and utility than it's chief competitor.
Web site:http://www.donq.com or http://destileriaserralles.com/
Quick loading, and somewhat informative, nice videos. A trifle hard to navigate.
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