Rum Review: Caliche

What do you get when you combine six generations of rum-making knowledge and one of Miami’s top club promoters? A super premium white rum, apparently. From Roberto Serralles and Rande Gerber comes Caliche, the new super premium white rum from Puerto Rico.

The good folks at Serralles were kind enough to provide me with a bottle of their new creation prior to its West Coast release, and now that it’s almost gone, I think I’m qualified to offer my opinion. Let’s take a taste and experience this new rum together.

There has been a lot of talk about the Caliche bottle, and the praise is well-deserved because it’s a real work of art. Thick glass with pronounced dimples and tiny air bubbles throughout gives the bottle an antique look , while the raised “Caliche Rum” lettering strikes a counterpoint with its modern sans serif font and yellow/orange fade. Adding to the vintage look is the sisal twine wrap on the bottle neck that not only looks great, but feels really secure in your hand while pouring. Topping the bottle is an engraved wooden stopper with a synthetic cork. Well done, design team, but how does it taste?

Clearly this rum is intended for mixing–and I have been doing plenty with it–but let’s taste it neat. In the glass, the rum is crystal clear, owing to its charcoal filtration. A swirl in the glass produces a razor thin ring that releases an innumerable amount of minuscule droplets that eventually creep back toward the bowl of the snifter.

After a few minutes of breathing, I go in for a whiff above the snifter. As expected with a white rum, there is a moderate astringency, but it’s milder than most. The initial aromas are of citrus and vanilla. A second pass yields a bit of caramel  and a hint of oak.  The aromas make sense given that despite its lack of color, this is an aged rum that includes a solera-aged rum in the blend. Time for a taste.

As the rum washes over the tongue, I’m sensing a nice viscosity for a white rum–the texture is quite smooth. There is a healthy dose of vanilla on the front palate while at the rear palate I’m getting a spicy kick. There is a hint of sweetness, but this is definitely a drier rum. The aromas have translated well into flavors now, and the lengthy finish of caramel, lemons and oranges completes the experience.

Summing up, Caliche definitely deserves the super premium designation. While many white rums are nothing more than vodkas made from molasses, Caliche delivers a complex rum that just happens to be clear.  Dry enough for a great daiquiri, sweet enough to replace an aged rum in other cocktails.

On to the scores :

• Appearance 1/1
• Aroma 1.5/2
• Mouth feel 1/1
• Taste 3.5/4
• Aftertaste 2/2
•  Total 9/10

Buy Caliche online

Have you tried Caliche? Have a different favorite white rum? Please share your thoughts below.

Cheers!
Josh