Dominican rum makers Brugal have veiled a limited-edition collection of sipping rums, Colección Visionaria. The range was crafted using the world’s first–according to the brand–Aromatic Cask Toasting technique, developed by Brugal family member and fifth generation Maestra Ronera, Jassil Villanueva Quintana.
For the first edition of Colección Visionaria, Brugal hand-selected cacao beans and infused the toasted casks with their distinct velvety nut and fruit aromas. The rum is reminiscent of Villanueva Quintana’s upbringing and heritage.
“One of my most cherished childhood memories is walking amongst the cacao trees surrounding my family home. I remember the lush and green cacao fields, the bittersweet scent of the cacao pods, and the rich aromas of roasted beans,” says Jassil Villanueva Quintana. “It’s this memory I wanted to recreate with the first edition of Colección Visionaria.”
The toasting process begins with the selection of the finest virgin European oak casks. Each cask is thoughtfully toasted with hand-picked Dominican cacao beans – infusing them with its organic, aromatic notes. The cacao beans are then removed before the rum is added into the toasted casks, saturating the liquid with the aromas created by the toasting process before they are aged under the Dominican sun. This new technique adds a layer of depth and complexity to the liquid without the cacao beans ever touching the rum directly. The result is a rich, elegant, and well-rounded sipping rum, without any added sugars or additives.
On the nose, the rum offers rich aromas of hot chocolate, toasted oak, spices, and citrus balanced by subtle notes of vanilla. Tastes of vanilla surfaces on the palate with subtle hints of caramel giving way to dark chocolate and dried fruits with a touch of toasted nuts. The finish is smooth with toasted oak notes lingering after the sweetness is gone.
The rum is best enjoyed sipped slowly, neat or over ice. It comes presented in bottles wrapped in navy blue netting. Carefully sealed by hand and personally signed by Jassil Villanueva Quintana herself, each bottle also displays the batch number on the label.
Bottled 45% ABV, Brugal Colección Visionaria Edición 01 is priced at $100 per bottle and will be available at select retailers across the US. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Last year, Brugal payed homage to its founder, Andrés, with the release of a limited edition expression priced at $2,800, Andrés Brugal.