Context

Grander Rum is an independent bottler of Panama Rum. Distilled, aged, and bottled in Panama at Las Cabras Distillery, the rum is aged in a variety of casks, including ex-bourbon American white oak, ex-sherry casks, ex-rye whiskey casks, and ex-scotch casks. The rum is without any added sugar or additives. The age statements on the bottles denote the minimum age of rum in the bottle. The Grander line contains an 8 year-old, 12 year-old, Barrel Series finished in a variety of casks (including ex-rye whiskey), a Trophy Release containing a blend of 8-15 year-old rums, and finally a variety of single barrel offerings.

The Bottle

The bottle is beautiful. It is a sloped obelisk, with a tight cork enclosure. The bottle has a heavy glass base, and feels sturdy. The bottle is informative, with a lot of details about the rum, including its distillation, origins, and age. It clearly states that the rum has no additives, no sugar added, and that the age on the label is the true age of what is in the bottle. The embossed graphics of “Grander” and the symbolic Marlin are a nice touch. This feels like a “premium” product by the bottle alone. Most important is the information on the bottle allowing the purchaser to have an understanding as to what they are buying.

Into the glass

In the glass, the rum is a dark gold, with some clean hints of copper. It is thin-bodied, as the rum does not necessarily coat the glass for long. The aroma coming from the glass contains a slight vanilla, a nice oak presence, and an almond quality to it. There is a faint note of alcohol present as well. There is also a slight honey character to the nose, but more of a raw honey and not a sweetened honey. It has a light nose, but not unpleasant.

The Mouth

On the palate, the rum has a relatively thin mouthfeel. Vanilla is the dominant flavor, stemming from the ex-bourbon casks. There is some vanilla custard present, balanced by some slight oak and light baking spices. There is no alcohol burn, but there is a slight stringency present. The finish is short, but offers a nice, warm feeling with notes of almond and honey. It is a light, inoffensive rum offering light aromas which satisfies the need for a straightforward, dry rum that will not turn anyone off with heavy flavors.

Conclusion

With an authentic, unadulterated 8 year-old rum from Panama, Grander offers a decent flavor profile that is inviting enough to cause one to sit a while and enjoy, but doesn’t offer much beyond the initial burst of vanilla and almond. The nose and palate are harmonious without offering too many surprises or deviations. Coming from a column still, this rum does the light-style and light-flavor very well. However, because the rum doesn’t offer much beyond the initial profile of vanilla and almond, it could get lost in the plethora of high-ester, powerful rums present in the market today. However, this rum is not trying to be that powerful, but rather an easy sipper for those interested in light-body rum. This would be a good entry point for those looking to expand beyond the standard, mass-produced rums that dominate the market.

Disclaimer: Grander Rum graciously provided samples for this rum to us.