Lovely...
...the bottle anyway. I'm fortunate in that many of my friends are world travellers, and one in particular likes to travel the Carib by cruise ship, this time Mexico.
After some research, I asked to find either a Mocambo 20 (non-artistic, non "Anniversary" bottle), and/or a Los Valiente 15 year. He found the Mocambo at $28 (the fancy bottle was also 20 years, same exact label, but went for $90). He bought the plain bottle but asked the clerk, why so much for the other? The answer - "well, it comes in a special art bottle".
More to follow. Anyone have any opinions about these two?
That's what friends are for Dept: a Mocambo 20
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
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- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
- Location: Paradise: Fort Lauderdale of course...
- Contact:
What price gingerbread?
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According to my friend who bought me a "plain" 20 Anos (the labels are entirely in Spanish), he examined both bottles and found the labelling and sealing to be exactly the same. My "plain" bottle (still quietly elegan) even sported the same bottle hanger. The difference: the "Anniversary" arts edition adds a tricked out bottle. Look at me! The difference in price? Add $60 for the mooseshit bottle. Ralfy would laugh. The Frozen One would have an orgasm and buy the expensive model (do recall he scores the bottles and labels).
A quickie first taste...
I couldn't resist. I was going to invite my cooperative friend/buyer to share in the first taste, but the bottle was here, and he wasn't, ergo I cracked the bottle. I'll just try a single dram I promised myself.
My impressions
Slooooow thick legs. Very dark mahogany. Hmm. My best recollection is that this one has spent some time in ex-wine oak (French?). Nose is dominated by tar over younger leather, but not nearly the vanillan I'd expected. The palate was entirely consistent, add some black licorice with a background of vanillan and dark, dark fruits (some will say dark raisins, figs). Oh yes, and some subtle sweetness. Heavy body.
The finish adds just the mildest touch of tannic leather astringency, hot black and white pepper leaving a medium long glow. No sweetness or aftertaste.
In sum: integrated, balanced, elegant for a 20 year, not as complex as I'd expect, but at $28 I'm not complaining one single bit. I have noticed the slow legs, the deemphasized green edge, the lack of complexity, ergo I can't wait to test this one for sugar, stay tuned...
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. . . . . . .According to my friend who bought me a "plain" 20 Anos (the labels are entirely in Spanish), he examined both bottles and found the labelling and sealing to be exactly the same. My "plain" bottle (still quietly elegan) even sported the same bottle hanger. The difference: the "Anniversary" arts edition adds a tricked out bottle. Look at me! The difference in price? Add $60 for the mooseshit bottle. Ralfy would laugh. The Frozen One would have an orgasm and buy the expensive model (do recall he scores the bottles and labels).
A quickie first taste...
I couldn't resist. I was going to invite my cooperative friend/buyer to share in the first taste, but the bottle was here, and he wasn't, ergo I cracked the bottle. I'll just try a single dram I promised myself.
My impressions
Slooooow thick legs. Very dark mahogany. Hmm. My best recollection is that this one has spent some time in ex-wine oak (French?). Nose is dominated by tar over younger leather, but not nearly the vanillan I'd expected. The palate was entirely consistent, add some black licorice with a background of vanillan and dark, dark fruits (some will say dark raisins, figs). Oh yes, and some subtle sweetness. Heavy body.
The finish adds just the mildest touch of tannic leather astringency, hot black and white pepper leaving a medium long glow. No sweetness or aftertaste.
In sum: integrated, balanced, elegant for a 20 year, not as complex as I'd expect, but at $28 I'm not complaining one single bit. I have noticed the slow legs, the deemphasized green edge, the lack of complexity, ergo I can't wait to test this one for sugar, stay tuned...
I have a bottle of the Art Edition it only cost about 30 dollars if memory serves me correct. I'm not sure if the normal edition is the same but the Art edition is all hand numbered and shows what single cask it came from with bottle number. I believe only the Art edition is sold in the USA. Los Valiente I believe comes from the same distillery and stock but is much more expensive but is 43% abv. The blend per Los Valiente is very similar to Mocambo. The blend of the Los Valiente is 70% cane juice and 30% molasses. The cane juice is pot distilled while the molasses is column distilled.
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
- Posts: 3551
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
- Location: Paradise: Fort Lauderdale of course...
- Contact:
And the sugar test was...
Zero. Though we can never, ever be sure of the real age of any rum, the fact that the Mocambo 20 year shows zero sugar (40.1%) is reassuring. This is an incredibly well-balanced, harmonious, subtle and sippable product.
At the $28 I paid, it's a Best Buy. I highly recommend you try one at any price under $35.
Zero. Though we can never, ever be sure of the real age of any rum, the fact that the Mocambo 20 year shows zero sugar (40.1%) is reassuring. This is an incredibly well-balanced, harmonious, subtle and sippable product.
At the $28 I paid, it's a Best Buy. I highly recommend you try one at any price under $35.