Vigia la progresiva 13 mezcla 15 yo Vol.40% Cl.70

Vigia La Progresiva 13 Years Mezcla is a complex and rich Cuban rum, balanced with dry citrus and floral notes, with a hint of spicy spices.

Of course, this rum would be like orange juice compared to any Hampden rum, for example, but Cuban rums rely more on elegance and subtlety of flavors.

Cuban law literally does not allow the production of a rum with an ester count higher than 90 g/hlaa and still call it Cuban.

La Progresiva was born in 2017, created by the master rum makers of Bodega Vigia, and is produced at the Enrique Varona distillery, located in Falla, Chambas, Ciego de Ávila.

The distillery was founded in 1944 under the name Nauyu, and in recent years has received a significant investment, facilitating modernization work such as improving fermenters and stills, as well as building a laboratory.

"Mezcla 13" (not "mezcal" – I got tricked once) on the label means "Blend 13."

Why that name? Well, it was literally the 13th blend to make it through when La Progresiva was developed.

Speaking of blending, this is the foundation of Cuban rum production.

Molasses is distilled in multi-column stills, but a heavy component, aguardiente, is distilled between 74% and 78% ABV for a more intense flavor, while a lighter component must be distilled between 94.4% and 96% ABV, making it almost neutral.

Aguardiente must be aged for at least 2 years and charcoal-filtered before being blended with the lighter distillate for further aging, in order to meet the Cuban Denomination of Origin for Cuban rum.

These are called "rum bases," which are then blended with aged light distillate and/or other rum bases and potentially aged further, depending on the final blend recipe.

Ron La Progresiva is molasses-based, distilled in multi-column stills, and follows the blending and aging process described above.

There are three rum bases in the blend: an 11-year-old, a 13-year-old, and a 15-year-old, all aged in ex-Bourbon barrels in Cuba.

Bottled at 41% ABV – a classic for Cuban rums – you will struggle to find a Cuban rum above this ABV.

Tasting Notes:

Color: Dark amber.

Aroma: On the nose, it has a beautiful woody profile. Dried figs, raisins, plums, cocoa butter, and nuts. Cayenne pepper powder, dusty cardboard, and maple syrup. Notes of grapefruit zest, caramel, and passion fruit follow.

Taste: On the palate, it is slightly sweeter but also has some tart notes. Pears, passion fruit, plums, lemon, and orange zest, tobacco, and red Tabasco sauce.

There is a wide range of flavors with a pleasant spiciness. Cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and vanilla. Milk chocolate, ground coffee, charred oak, toffee, nuts, and blueberries.

The finish is medium-long with cayenne pepper, dark chocolate, and caramel.