Ron Abuelo is produced by the Varela Hermanos SA company, one of few distilleries in the industry to grow and mill its own sugar cane. This company traces its history all the way back to the founding of the nation itself, with Don José Varela building a sugar mill in the recently formed Republic of Panama in 1908. The company has grown considerably since then, and these days produces over a million litres of spirits a year. This 7 year old rum is an excellent example of the quality product created by Ron Abuelo. On the nose, dark sugar and toffee take the fore, with a little woody vanilla. The palate brings stone fruit: apricots and peaches, with some ripe bananas, bright white sugar and toasted oak. The finish is short and sweet with a little chocolate and coffee bitterness. A perfect rum for adding a little luxury to cocktails.