Our son and daughter-in-law surprised us with a rum of the month subscription from Taster’s Club, a subscription based company featuring whiskey, tequila and rum. Taster’s Club carefully selects “must have†rums from around the world and surprises its members each month with an exciting new rum to ponder and enjoy. Each bottle is accompanied by a ‘Rum 101’ course which guides the member through the rum’s production techniques, trends and history. First to arrive was Dos Maderas PX 5+5, arriving in a beautiful protective box reminiscent of a fine single malt.
Dos Maderas PX 5+5 is produced using a triple aging process. It begins with rums made in Barbados and Guyana. After aging for five years in the Caribbean the rum is shipped to Bodegas Williams & Humbert in Jerez, Spain. The Bodega complex is the largest winery in Europe, housing more than 65,000 casks and bottling nine million bottles a year. Once the rum arrives, master distiller Paola Medinas continues the aging process using the solera method. For the next three years the rum is aged in 20-year-old Don Cortados Palo Sherry barrels followed by an additional two years in 20-year-old Don Guido Pedro Ximenez Sherry barrels.
He Said
A really nice nose of deeper mellow fruits with cherry standing out. There is a hint of vanilla and a slight charred oak note. The rum laces the glass as a fine rum should. On the tongue the rum is mellow with not one note overpowering another. I’m getting apple, slight raisins and molasses. The sherry is subtle on the palate and lingers on the finish. Each sip presents the same combination. I’m quite enjoying this.
She Said
My nose reminds me of the port wine my grandfather drank. I keep looking for rum notes but honest to goodness I can’t find them. Unlike Clint I do get an alcohol heat on the tongue but it is quickly coated by the viscosity of the sherry. Like the nose I keep sipping looking for the rum notes of caramels, vanillas, or molasses. I’m getting none. The finish actually presents some cherry and maybe a hint of orange but apple and vanilla? I think that’s Clint’s subtle hint he wants an apple pie.
Overall
We are definitely in opposition here. While Clint is enjoying his dram while listening to some Eric Clapton, Terry is left thinking, “What the heck was that; a rum or a fine sherry.†This rum is definitely different from your typical Caribbean rum but different isn’t always bad.
Rating: 3.5
Sipping Rum Scale
1 – An expensive mixer
2 – A quick celebratory shot
3 – Wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with friends
4 – Are my friends worthy of a sip
5 – Special moments rum
About Clint and Terry: We have sampled many a dram over our 32 years of marriage and quite often we don’t fully agree. Could be the difference is male/female taste buds. Or, somebody is just wrong.
