The history of port wine
Port wine has a long and storied history, dating back to the 18th century when it became popular among the British upper classes. Today, it remains a popular choice for special occasions and as a dessert wine. It is often served chilled and accompanied by cheese, chocolate or nuts.
How is port wine made?
Port wine production is a regulated and protected designation of origin. The Douro Valley is divided into three sub-regions, Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior, each with its own terroir and grape varieties. The most common grape varieties used in Port wine production include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão.
What are the types of port wine?
There are several types of port, including Ruby, Tawny and Vintage. Ruby Port is the simplest and least expensive type of Port. It is blended from different vintages and aged for a short period of time. Tawny Port is aged for a longer period of time, usually 10-40 years, and has a nuttier, caramelized flavor. Vintage Port is made from a single year's harvest and aged for at least two years before being released to the market. It is considered the highest quality type of port.
What are the most famous brands of port wine?
Some of the most prestigious and well-known port brands include Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and Warre's. Whether you're a seasoned port connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of fortified wines, there's a port wine for everyone to enjoy.
What does port wine taste like?
Port wine typically has a sweet, rich and full-bodied taste with a complex array of flavors. The taste can vary depending on the type of port, but there are some common characteristics:
Ruby Port: This is the simplest and cheapest type of port. It is blended from different vintages and aged for a short period of time. It has a fruity, plummy flavor with notes of black cherry, raspberry and strawberry. It is also characterized by hints of spice and a soft finish.
Tawny Port: aged for a longer period, usually 10-40 years, Tawny Port has a nuttier, caramelized flavor with notes of nuts, dried fruit and caramel. It also has a more complex and mature flavor profile.
Vintage Port: Vintage Port is made from a single year's harvest and aged for at least two years before being released to the market. It is rich and intense in flavor, with notes of dark fruits, black currants and plums, and hints of chocolate and spice.
White Port: White port is a less common type of port and is made from white grapes. It is usually dry and can have floral, fruity and sometimes nutty notes.
Port is a fortified wine, meaning that a neutral grape spirit (aguardente) is added to the wine to increase the alcohol content and give the wine its unique flavor profile. For this reason, port wine has a higher alcohol content than regular wine.
Overall, port has a complex and nuanced flavor that is influenced by the type of port, the grape varieties used and the aging process. It is best enjoyed in small quantities, either as an after-dinner drink or in combination with cheese, chocolate or nuts.
Botucal is a brand of premium rum produced in Venezuela. The name "Botucal" is a combination of "botella" (bottle in Spanish) and "Venezuela", paying homage to the country of origin. The rum is made from molasses and aged for up to 12 years in oak barrels. Botucal rums are known for their smoothness and complex flavors, and have won several awards at international spirit competitions. The brand offers a variety of expressions, including a white rum, a dark rum, and a extra aged rum.
Three things why I love Botucal Rum
Smoothness: Botucal rums are known for their smoothness and lack of harshness, making them easy to drink and mix in cocktails.
Complex flavor profile: The rum is aged for up to 12 years in oak barrels, which contributes to its complex flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and spices.
Awards and Recognition: Botucal rum has won several awards at international spirit competitions, which is a testament to its quality and craftsmanship.
How does Botucal Rum Taste?
Botucal rum is known for its complex flavor profile, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and spices. The aging process in oak barrels imparts these flavors to the rum, creating a smooth and balanced taste. The white rum is less intense than the dark rum, and have a lighter, crisp and clean taste. The dark rum has a richer, more full-bodied taste, with notes of chocolate, coffee, and dried fruit. The Extra aged rum has a more intense flavor and aroma, with a long lasting taste. The brand offers a variety of expressions, each with its unique flavor characteristics, making it a versatile rum that can be enjoyed neat or mixed in cocktails.
The Botucal Range & recommendations
Botucal offers a variety of rum expressions, each with its own unique flavor profile. Here are a few recommendations from their portfolio:
Botucal Reserva Exclusiva: This is an aged rum that is aged for up to 12 years in oak barrels. It is a dark rum with a rich, full-bodied taste and notes of chocolate, coffee, and dried fruit. It is recommended to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
Botucal Añejo: This rum is aged for up to 8 years in oak barrels. It has a complex flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and spices. It is a great rum to mix in cocktails such as Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Botucal Blanco: This is a white rum that is aged for up to 2 years in oak barrels. It has a light, crisp and clean taste, and is ideal for mixing in cocktails such as daiquiris and mojitos.
Botucal Emperador: This rum is aged for up to 15 years in oak barrels. It has a deep and intense flavor and aroma, with a long lasting taste. This rum is recommended to be enjoyed neat, to fully appreciate its complexity and smoothness.
How is Botucal Rum made
Botucal rum is made in Venezuela from molasses, a by-product of sugar production. The process of making Botucal rum typically begins with the production of sugar from sugarcane. Once the sugar has been extracted, the remaining molasses is collected and fermented using specially selected yeasts. The fermented molasses is then distilled in copper pot stills to create the rum base.
After distillation, the rum is aged in oak barrels for varying amounts of time, depending on the expression of the rum. Botucal rums are aged for up to 12 years in oak barrels. The aging process imparts flavor and color to the rum, and also helps to smooth out any harshness from the distillation process.
Once the rum has reached its desired age, it is blended to create the final product. The blending process involves combining rums of different ages and from different barrels to create a consistent flavor profile for the brand. The blended rum is then bottled and shipped to market, ready to be enjoyed by rum lovers around the world.
Facts and Figures about Botucal
Botucal is produced in Venezuela.
The brand was founded by the company Destilerias Unidas S.A. (DUSA).
The company is owned by Empresas Polar, which is one of the largest food and beverage companies in Venezuela.
Empresas Polar was founded in 1941 by Lorenzo Mendoza and it is a family-owned company.
The company has diversified business interests and it is the largest producer of beer, soft drinks, and food products in Venezuela.
Botucal is one of the most important brands of rum produced by Empresas Polar and it's known worldwide for its high-quality rums.