From master blender Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez of Panama, this bold and smooth overproof rum delivers great taste, big flavors and a smooth finish.
Panama Red is bottled at 108 proof. Despite it's higher alcohol content, Panama Red is easy to enjoy straight or on the rocks.
With a lovely vermilion shade of amber, the rum displays great legs in a tasting glass. Initial aromas of honey, charred oak, vanilla and dried apricot are inviting. On the palette, there is a bold and bright entry of warm sweetness and spice, accented by oak barrel, a touch of citrus and a distinct earthiness. The finish is unexpectedly smooth with a slow fade that leaves a pleasant echo of the flavor profile in the mouth for some time.
In cocktails, Panama Red shines through with big rum flavor that can't be matched by lesser proof spirits. The sweetness balances the heat masterfully, commanding attention in mixed drinks with a smooth and sassy quality that stands up to bold ingredients.
The rum reflects the local legend of a beautiful young lady with notable talents named Carolina. Referencing her stunning auburn hair, her husband always referred to her as Roja. Over time, she gained fame as the owner of an intimate night spot with a stage on which she could perform, named Cantina Roja's. Soon American sailors and soldiers from the Canal Zone became frequent customers and began calling the bar Red's Place. They gave her the title "Panama Red" which she graciously accepted for the rest of her life. Her rum also gained a great reputation. She would also mix it with Panamanian oranges, guava nectar, and guava soda. That cocktail became a local favorite known as a "Panama Red Sky" and would later inspire a song titled "Red Skies At Night."
Panama Red overproof rum is produced by Panamonte Brands of Panama and imported in to the United States by Liquor Group Holding LLC of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
web site: Panama Red Rum
Robert Burr is the National Rum Examiner. He publishes the Gifted Rums Guide and hosts the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise, in addition to organizing the International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP).
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