ngel’ s sh A re

by Paul s enft

d on Q d ouble Cask Finish Zinfandel Cask

i n m arch 2023, d on Q added two new rums to their premium line with the addition of their Port Cask and Zinfandel Cask finished expressions. For the Zinfandel cask release, they aged their molasses-based column still rum in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels from o ctober 2009 to July 2012. Then, at the end of 2018, the company blended these barrels and put the rum in California Zinfandel casks, where it rested until being blended to 40% AB v and bottled in s eptember 2022.

m y name is Paul s enft - r um r eviewer, Tasting host, Judge and w riter. m y exploration of r ums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. i quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and u nited s tates visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. i have also had the pleasure of learning from bartenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum.

The desire to share this information led me to create www. r umJourney.com where i share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that i would inspire others in their own explorations. i t is my wish in the pages of “ g ot r um?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. h opefully my tasting notes will inspire you to try the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others.

Cheers!

A Ppearance

The 750 ml bottle is the same design used for all the expressions in the d on Q premium line. The gold cap is engraved with the d on Q logo, wrapped in clear security wrap, and holds a synthetic cork to the bottle. e mbossed above the front and back labels, the words s errallés r eserva appear, adding a nice visual touch to the bottle design. The labels are loaded with information about the rum, sharing details about its aging process.

The rum holds a medium amber color that lightens slightly in the tasting glass. s wirling the liquid creates a medium band that slowly thickens and releases a couple of waves of legs before evaporating.

Nose

Pouring the rum into the glass released a strong vanilla aroma. After letting the liquid rest for a few minutes, i discovered notes of dried apricot, blackberry, and fig, along with other fruit and berry notes, with hints of toasted oak tannins rounding out the experience.

Palate

The first sip of the rum is a fine balance of deep m adagascar vanilla and robust fruit and berry notes. Additional sips reveal the tango of flavors that balance between the rum flavors and the nuances of the cask finish, with the caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak tannins from the rum influenced by the blackberry, cherry, fig, dried cranberry, and apricot notes with a hint of allspice and anise drifting underneath.

r eview w hen evaluating rums, i have only had a few that were finished in Zinfandel casks, and they have all been different. i found the d on Q d ouble Cask Finish Zinfandel Cask r um to be a well-balanced expression and incredibly different than anything else i have tried in their portfolio. This is one you want to take your time with to sip, savor, and enjoy neat or with a single ice cube. By design, this rum, like the others that have appeared in their premium line, showcases the strength of d on Q’s blending team and provides a flavorful experience that any rum enthusiast can look for when they want to experience something unique in their glass.