Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva: It feels like it’s about to ask you out on the best date of your life
- Apr 26, 2015
- 3 min read
We’re kicking off this week with one hell of a rum; Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva. A mighty bruiser, a robust warrior, a champion of the rum world, and if it were human, a stupendous contender that could easily beat Wolf up the travelator on Gladiators.
So let's get our hands dirty and take a look at some facts. Hailing from Venezuela, this distinguished rum is made from a complex blend of rums distilled using molasses in a copper pot still, which is then left to age in whiskey barrels for 12 years. It was produced in honour, and upon the death, of Don Juancho Nieto himself. Winning multiple awards, 27 to be accurate, this rum is Venezuela’s proudest rum export and rightfully so. This rum is amazing. But facts smacts, let’s delve in to the liquid depths of this powerhouse.
Boy is it good. On the first inhale you get completely immersed in nostalgic cake aromas; cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, which conjure up wistful visions of Mums baking cakes on a Sunday. But then BAM! Sweetness of vanilla comes swarming in, riding triumphantly alongside toffee, rich caramel and chocolate tones, exactly the aromas you’d expect upon visiting Willy Wonka’s factory. But we’ve smelt enough, we want it in our mouths. And we want it now.
For the love of God, what intricacy you get, what sweetness! This rum wastes no bloody time. It’s impressive. Punky, nutty undertones are fused with sweet caramel, toffee and those wonderful cake spices, which gives it a really smooth edge and a stand out sweetness. Let it breath for a minute and you’ll find notes of brown sugar eager to come to this opulent party.
It’s indulgent, rich and seductive. It kind of feels like it’s about to ask you out on a date and to be fair, probably the best date of your life! But there are also murmurs of orange and gingerbread which gives this rum a great depth. What does it for us is the toffee, fudge and caramel tones. It’s what makes this rum intensely delectable, dangerously delectable (watch how quickly the bottle empties!). They are sweet enough to give you that bountiful hit, but subtle enough to allow the other flavours to poke their heads through and say hey. It definitely feels like birthday time for your mouth!
The colour of this rum is bewitching too. You can see the intensity. The dark, golden, almost burnt bronzed colour swirls around the glass, leaving a wonderful oil that should show this rum has a long finish. And it does. It resides in your mouth like a loyal bar patron, devoted to his local. A great finish to such a mammoth rum. We are officially in love.
Check out these Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva cocktails, served up by David Coveney, Head Bartender at Reunion Bar London.
Diplomatico has been my go to sipping rum for quite some time now. It's caramel and fudge character lends itself so well to being drank neat. This said though, it's perfect balance between sweetness, ageing and that magnificent orange and citrus fruit character makes it very versatile in many drinks.
These cocktails may seem like they have been put together for long winter nights in front of the fire, but believe me, they work just as well on a summer terrace.
Diplamatico Manhattan
I never want to draw away from this rums brilliance so I like to keep it very simple. Make a Manhattan. Do it. Right now. Use a heavily spiced vermouth like Antica Formula or Cocchi Vermouth di Torrino and stir it down well with some Angostura bitters and Fee Brother Orange Bitters. Serve it super chilled.
Ingredients
50ml Diplomatico
20ml Antica Formula
3 Drops Angostura Bitters
4 Drops Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
Method: Stir all ingredients well to taste and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry (preferably ones that have been marinated in the vermouth).
Vanazuelan Tot
Vanilla also works extremely well with the flavours that this rum shows. I like to call this one a Venezualan Tot and actually uses some of the brilliant Pusser's Navy Strength to lift the alcohol a touch. The Pusser's adds a wonderful wood character which holds well in this drink. I also love how the vanilla and orange peel bite through the fudginess of the rum. I add the chocolate bitters, well, because rum and chocolate? Yeah durr.
Ingredients
25ml Diplomatico
25ml Pusser's Navy Strength
12.5ml Vanilla Syrup
12.5ml Lime Juice
3 drops of Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters
a orange twist (no pith)
Method: Shake all ingredients (including the orange peel) and double strain into a cocktail glass, the aromas of this make a garish unnecessary.
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