A very popular rum from Panama, produced by Varela Hermanos SA. The company traces its history near enough to the founding of the nation itself, with Don José Varela building the first sugar mill in 1908, soon after the Republic of Panama came into being. These days the company produces over a million litres of spirits a year. This is a cracking 12 year old rum, aged in former Bourbon barrels, which results in a delicious depth of flavour and complexity. On the nose this rum brings wonderful dark aromas of treacle, toffee, vanilla and burnt sugar. The palate is faithful to the nose, adding a thick mouthfeel and flavours of tobacco smoke, citrus peel, leather, and dark toasted woodspice. Some fruits arrive late on, with preserved cherries, peaches and apricot. The finish lingers for some time, with a delightful bittersweet drying oak note. A top quality dark rum which excels both drunk neat and in cocktails.