Angel's Share Title
I have not seen any Tanduay products on the shelves in Georgia for a while and came across Especia and decided to review it. This spiced rum is made using grade A molasses from sugarcane grown in the Panay region of the Philippines. The spices they use for this rum blend are sourced from the forests on the islands of Visayas and Mindano and infused with Tanduay Gold rum. The rum is bottled at 40% ABV.
Appearance
The 750 ml bottle has a metal screw cap with the Tanduay logo on top of it. The front label has a glider snake along the side of it with gold script. There are almost no details about the rum on the labels other than its proof and that it was blended and bottled in the Philippines.
Swirling the liquid created a razor thin band around the glass that slowly thickened before releasing a single wave of legs. The band and legs evaporated quickly, leaving residue all over the glass.
Nose
The aroma leads with a strong rush of caramel, honeyed almonds, cinnamon, orange zest, dried fruit, ginger, and light toasted oak.
Palate
The first sip delivers a swirl of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and coconut with a touch of honey. Additional sips present nips of different fruits -pineapple, cherry, and raisin, with nutty oak notes creating the baseline.
Review
During my time as a reviewer, I have evaluated quite a few spiced rums and was curious if Tanduay’s spiced blend would be different or like other products already on the market. Sadly, I found the spice profile was not that different; however, I found other things about it enjoyable. I liked that the rum was a higher proof than most of the spiced rums on the shelves, as it amplified the aroma and taste of the spices in the blend. The part that was surprising was the fruit notes woven into the profile, and I enjoyed taking the time to identify them. However, when I mixed this with soda, the caramel-driven sweetness just overwhelmed my palate, and I was sort of let down by the experience. I usually enjoy spiced rums in a rum and coke highball, but instead I found I liked this one more mixed in ginger beer or with pineapple juice cocktails. Overall, while the spice notes were familiar, the company did manage to create an interesting and unique flavor experience.
