Dictador 20 year old Icon Reserve

Profile: The Dictador 20 year old Icon Reserve at a Glance

• Dictador 20 year old - A Caribbean long-term vacation in a bottle
• Made from sugarcane honey from Colombia's oldest sugarcane-growing region
• Distilled in copper and column stills for harmonious balance
• Tropical maturation in former bourbon, sherry, and port wine Casks
• Double Gold Winner at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Double Gold Winner at the 2012 WSWA Tasting Competition Las Vegas
• Gold Winner at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Gold Winner at the 2013 WSWA Tasting Competition Orlando 2013
• Gold winner at the China Wine & Spirits Awards (CWSA) 2013
• Gold winner at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition 2016 & 2017

Portrait: What makes the Dictador 20 year old Icon Reserve special.

Some people need 20 years to figure out what they want in life. Dictador 20 Years Icon Reserve knew from the start: He wanted sun, ripeness, and truly good sugar cane. He wanted it in South America's very first sugar cane-growing region - right on Colombia's Caribbean coast, where the climate is so fertile that even the rain seems sweet. The sugar cane harvested there is tall, sun-drenched, and processed into the finest sugar cane honey - the foundation of Dictador's character. Distillation then takes place both traditionally in copper stills (alambics) and modernly in column stills - allowing for flexibility, but with style. The maturation process? Tropical, of course. In oak Casks - some with a bourbon, sherry, or port wine history. And because not only the rum but also the "Angel's Share" evaporates quickly in the Caribbean, the distillers rely on a clever variation of the Solera method: Only rums of the same age are allowed to be aged together. No age discrimination in the Cask!

Behind it all is Hernan Parra, master blender and member of the Parra family, which has led the Dictador empire for decades – with a precision that seems almost German, but with a considerably better mood.

And yes, he has received countless international awards - although he never had to dress up for them. Because Dictador 20 is more of that type: finely aged, charmingly mysterious, and always a bit cooler than the others.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Dictador 20 year old Icon Reserve tastes like

• Nose: complex and warm with distinct aromas of caramel, vanilla, and roasted coffee - subtle hints of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and a touch of oak in the background
• Palate: smooth and round with an elegant balance of sweetness and spice - toffee, mocha, and candied fruits meet subtle wood notes and a hint of nutmeg and leather
• Finish: long and velvety with lingering impressions of vanilla, dried fruits, and a fine roasted note - the influence of the port wine Casks is evident in an elegant, slightly fruity depth