Three very old Cuban rums, a 1964 and 1967 (both bottled by The Whisky Agency) and the other from 1973.
La Morita Caribeña is a brand registered by Distilerias Acha in the North of Spain. You may remember them from the Haran whiskey I reviewed a few years ago. Some of the Acha family members went to Scotland to study production, and others went to live in Ciba and started a rum distillery there. After they returned to the Basque country, they must have maintained some relations with Cuban producers.
Very Fine Old Cuban Rum 60 yo 1964 (47,7%, The Whisky Agency ‘Wave Farewell to 2025’, barrel, 240 btl.)
Nose: sweet and caramelly, although there’s more depth to it. Exotic woods, sweet tobacco, brown sugar. Then sweet coconut shavings, a little milk chocolate and toasted nuts. Honeyed notes, glazed chestnuts and Maraschino cherries.
Mouth: like a Pedro Ximénez. Chocolate coated biscuits, lots or raisins, dates and grapes, a few drops of herbal liqueurs and plenty of syrupy notes. Honey and cinnamon buns. Mid-palate there’s a nice kick of acidity to balance it (raspberry), as well as some liquorice and resinous notes to add more depth. Then plenty of sweetened black tea, vanilla beans and hints of sweet coffee.
Finish: medium length, on blackberries, hazelnut cream, raisins and tobacco.
Very rich and heavy fruits here, with an overpowering sweetness, a little rancio and subtle spice. Certainly not overdone or overdue. Quite easy-going. Still available in German stores as we speak.
Cuban Rum – La Morita Caribeña 58 yo 1967 (50,8%, The Whisky Agency 2025, barrel, 359 btl.)
Nose: dark caramelized notes up front. Chocolate turrón, caramelized almonds, pipe tobacco and cinnamon. Sour notes too, a mix of polished Ipe or sandalwood, blood oranges and sour cherries. Then some incense, roasted hazelnuts and coffee, as well as citrus peels.
Mouth: more coffee, sour berries and drops of old herbal liqueurs. Orange liqueurs too, along with some herbal bitters and hints of tobacco. No woody astringency, but I’m sure it strengthened the tart side. Hints of pepper, maple syrup and cinnamon too. Probably sweetened at some point, like most of these old spirits.
Finish: short to medium, with a similar mix of sandalwood, mint leaves, tobacco and bittersweet hints.
Not on the same level as their lovely Cuban Rum 1963, less complex but still a really nice dram. It’s a rich after-dinner style, and like the 1964 it’s very close to the PX cask matured rums (or brandies) released by some sherry houses, like Dos Maderas. Score: 90/100
Cuban Rum 50 yo 1973 (51,9%, Whisky Dudes 2024, first-fill bourbon barrel #88191, 128 btl.)
Nose: a tad more acidity here, say Cherry Heering, raisins, dried apricots, ripe apple and orange peels. Humidor aromas, some dried flower petals too, along with chocolate notes and dark honey. Then some moist leaves and mulch. Also very nice whiffs of oak polish.
Mouth: like the 1967 it feels like a mix of old herbal liqueurs, some molasses sweetness and a tart fruitiness. Overall quite a bit sweeter, in fact, with raisins and vanilla that make it seem a little more modern, or even younger. Lots of plummy notes. There’s also menthol, hints of Pu-Erh tea, pipe tobacco and roasted pecans.
Finish: still a little short, with caramel sweetness, mint and a little coffee.
These rums are heavily influenced by caramel notes and I’m quite sure they were given some make-up over the years. That said, there’s a great balance here, with a lot of polished touches and intense fruity notes. Still available from WhiskyDudes. Score: 91/100