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Paranubes rum is produced in Sierra Mazateca of northern Oaxaca, Mexico, by Maestro Jose Luis Carrera. He is a third-generation rum producer who has learned his craft from his family and has been making rum for 35 years. The company grows four varietals of sugarcane, as well as coffee and fruit, on their property. They press their sugarcane and extract the juice for their rums using either a single varietal or a combination of varietals to make their rums. For this bottling they use only the juice from the Criolla sugarcane varietal, fermenting it for 24 hours, and then distill it using a 550-liter still with a six-plate copper post. They blend and bottle their rum on-site and use no sugar or additives other than two handfuls of boiled mesquite bark used during the fermentation process to make their products.
Paranubes Criolla Oaxaca Rum
Appearance
The 750 ml short-necked wine bottle holds an all-in-one synthetic cap-cork combination that is secured to the bottle using a clear security wrap.
The rum is clear in the bottle and glass with no signs of any distillate floating in the rum. Swirling the glass creates a thin band that slowly beads up and releases a single wave of slow-moving legs before evaporating, leaving a ring of beads around the glass.
Nose
The aroma leads with a floral array of canegrass, pepper, and herbaceous vanilla notes.
Palate
The first sip is a wave of vanilla, raw alcohol, and pepper notes. The second sip introduced cooked apples, overripe melon, and smoky mineral notes. The earthy mineral notes drift in with a few spicy pepper pops before fading with a nip of acidity.
Review
As a sipping experience, this Aguardiente de Caña was everything I expected and a bit more. The fiery, herbaceous flavors, with the fruit and spice notes at the end, created a flavor profile that I would expect from a high-proof agricole or Jamaican rum. Used in a daiquiri cocktail, the flavors really popped and worked well with the citrus notes. I am comfortable recommending this spirit in any cocktail that calls for a minimally aged rum. Just be mindful of the proof and enjoy the experience.
