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Copalli White Organic Rum
The Copal Tree distillery is in the southern rainforest of Belize, and uses non-GMO, heirloom sugar cane grown at the neighboring Copal Tree Farm for their rum line. Within two hours of harvesting the cane, it is pressed to ensure the freshness of the sugar cane juice. To produce their white rum, the company ferments the juice using yeast and rainwater harvested from around the property. After fermentation, they distill the liquid in column and pot stills to create the components of their final blend. This blend is rested for six months in stainless steel containers before being blended to 42% ABV and bottled on-site. Due to the distillery’s unique location, they strive to be an environmentally zero impact company, using their dried cane bagasse to fuel their distillery’s boilers and coiling systems. They then use the ash to fertilize their sugar cane fields. Any wastewater generated by the distillery is filtered and used to water the plants and crops around the property.
Copalli White Rum
Appearance
The 700 ml bottle used for their entire line is a tall bottle with a short neck and a thick base. The bottle is sealed with a clear security wrap and has a long top label that covers the wooden cap, holds a plastic cork, and goes down two sides of the neck. The front label contains basic information, whereas the back label contains information about the company and the product. The liquid is crystal clear in the bottle and glass. Swirling it produced a thin band that beaded up slowly and released a single round of legs before evaporating, leaving behind a ring of residue.
Nose
The aroma of the rum begins with the smell of freshly cut sugar cane, followed by a strong hit of lemon-orange citrus notes and grilled pineapple. The fruit esters are balanced by an intriguing array of mineral and earthy notes that remind me of some other Rhum Agricoles and Cachaças I have sampled over the years. The alcohol is always present, but not overpowering, augmenting instead of suppressing the notes in the profile.
Palate
The palate is very similar to the aroma, the citrus notes pave the way as the alcohol wraps the tongue and conditions the mouth with a light vanilla note. The cooked pineapple is present, with the addition of ripe banana, breadfruit, and papaya that cover the midpalate. The cane and earthy mineral notes form the baseline and transition with the other flavors into a long, dry finish.
Review
I had heard about the Copalli rum line for a few years and was happy to finally acquire a bottle to review. I admit I was curious about the product after hearing so much about it. I did not have any expectations concerning the flavor profile but was pleasantly surprised at the fruity complexity balanced by the mineral notes. I tried the rum in a couple of cocktails, and the flavors of the spirit held up nicely. Fairly priced, I found this to be a quality rum that can be easily enjoyed neat, with an ice cube or mixed in a Daquiri, punch, or light fruit-based cocktail. I look forward to exploring the other two products in their line, as this one sets a high bar for them. In the United States, the Copalli rum line is currently available in California, Florida, and New York, as well as at certain online retailers.
