Diplomático / Botucal Reserva Exclusiva

For less than 6€ you can buy in Germany brandy called Diplomat. For over three decades held some discount supermarket chain rights for this brand. Therefore Venezuelan Destilería Unidas has resigned expensive legal battle and distributes its flagship Diplomatico on the German market under a different name - Botucal. Both liquors belong to the same product category, however they differ completely in price range. I really don't see the risk of confusion between top, internationally well recognized rum brand and six times cheaper discount brandy. Seems Henry Kissinger may be right saying diplomacy is "the art of restraining power.” 

Diplomatico is a popular rum and popular means often chosen. It's often chosen,  because of taste preferences, which are average. So what is the flavor profile of Diplomatico rum? It's a dessert kind of. Smooth and sweet. And indeed, tests show 29 grams of sugar added per bottle. Tito Cordero, the leading Maestro Ronero, explains it with the inspiration straight from the champagne world with a pompous bubble name 'liqueur d'expédition'. To profile the taste of rum into a sweeter one - Hacienda Saruro Licor de Ron is added. Likewise, DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) 'Ron de Venezuela' doesn't prohibit adding sugar in the production process. And the final blow - ultimately the consumer chooses what he likes.

The Destilerías Unidas is located at the foot of the Andes, bordering the Terepaim National Park, in La Miel. As material serves the sugarcane syrup and molasses. Fermentation lasts two days with use of a proprietary yeast strain. Rum is distilled in copper pots and columns stills and then aged in ex-bourbon white oak casks. Blend contains a batch that has matured for 12 years, but the proportion is not known. Known is that the youngest ingredient has been aged for no less than two years, as these are the legal guidelines in Venezuela.