DIPLOMATICO 2013 SINGLE VINTAGE RUM
VENEZUELA
Folks, let me tell you: this Venezuelan distiller has turned many a one-drink drinker into a passionate rum lover. That's my own story, and when I first encountered Diplomático's single vintage offerings, I thought I’d discovered an altogether different category of drink.
That's how singular and incredible these rums are.
Produced only occasionally, when the sugar cane harvest in Venezuela happens to have been especially sweet, and in small quantities, these are peak expressions of their craft, a thrilling testament to what tradition, terroir, and time can make.
And the 2013 vintage, their first since 2007, is one of their greatest.
We're thrilled to have acquired a small allocation for you, and hope that, if you aren't already in the tank for this independent, family-run producer, you’ll be hopping aboard the bandwagon.
I'm particularly taken with how Maestro Ronero Tito Cordero approaches this bottling — less like an industrial process and more like a culinary art form. He combines both copper pot and batch kettle distillation methods (the former giving richness, the latter precision), then takes his time with maturation. Here, he has blended their three signature distillates before aging, then given the whole thing ten patient years in ex-bourbon and ex-whiskey barrels.
The proof, of course, is always in the pudd — er, glass. And this one delivers in every way. The rich toasted almond hues and buttery toffee aroma set the stage for a tasting experience that unfolds with dark chocolate-covered cherries, ripe pear, and smoked vanilla. The finish is smooth and silky, lingering with creamy brown sugar and a whisper of mint chocolate.
Pair this with a few squares of good dark chocolate, and you’ve got yourself a simple, but exquisite, way to end a long, hard week.
I can’t wait for you to taste this and see for yourself.
But act now; our allocation is limited, and you don’t want to miss this one.