NAUD Ron Panama 15yo

Ron Panama 15 is a rum sourced from Panama and produced by NAUD (“Noble and Unusual Distillery”), who appear to specialize most in Cognac. It is first aged (for an undisclosed length of time) tropically in Panama in American oak casks, before being moved to France to be further aged at NAUD’s facility. Very little other information is given. It appears to not be a Solera rum, and that the age statement is, in fact, accurate. According to the Finnish alcohol monopoly ALKO, it has added sweeteners, and according to my eyes, it has added colouring.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “24 Rums” advent calendar. I have not looked at what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Dictador 20
2. Whisper Antigua Gold Rum
3. New Grove 8yo
4. Cihuatan 8 year Solera
5. Domaine de Séverin VO
6. Novo Fogo Familia
7. NAUD Ron Panama 15yo
8. Enghaven Blackstrap Rum
9. Zuidam Flying Dutchman Dark Rum No. 3
10. Deadhead Dark Chocolate
11. Rum Magec Ron Añejo XO Oloroso
12. Fijian Rum Liqueur 8yo
13. Matugga Golden Rum
14. Cane Island Trinidad Rum
15. Cane Island Jamaica Rum
16. Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo
17. Neptuns Rhum
18. Cane Island Cuba Rum
19. Borgoe 8yo
20. Mombacho Ron Reserva 8yo
21. Old New Orleans Amber Rum
22. Tres Hombres 2017 7 year Solera
23. Travellers 5yo Reserve
24. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
25. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano (Take 2)

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Distiller: Undisclosed
Bottler: NAUD
ABV: 41.3%
Sugar: 7g/L
Age: 15yo
Cask type: American Oak Casks (type undisclosed)
Source: “24 Rums” Advent Calendar
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Sugarcane, icing sugar, nutmeg, sulphured dried apricots, an acetone richness, deep oak and cherry.
Palate: Sweet, the fruitiness takes over, cherry and apricot and some sulfur notes.
Finish: Finishes on a medium length cherry note with some of the dry wood character coming back into play.
Overall: Damn. The nose was so promising on this one, but as soon as it was in my mouth the sugar hijacked the party, pulling all the fruity notes to the front. The wood, oak and leathery richness were still there behind it, and as the sugar faded in the finish they showed themselves. What’s even sadder than a backsweetened rum is one that so clearly could have been better were it not for the sugar.
Rank: 4