Please know that I have nice Flor de Cana Buzz - no make that buzz - on as I write this long awaited review. Flor de Cana is widely considered one of the smooth and balanced rums of the day. It is. Sue Sea and I just now completed a Flor de Cana Smackdown (click here) and it was great fun, not to mention a great education.
There is no doubt the Flor de Cana is a fine rum of exceptional value (up to the Seven and possibly Twelve year, anyway). Is the Twelve Year worth its (to some) reasonable price tag of around $30? Let's see...
Sue Sea:
Me:The Flor de Cana Twelve Year comes in a somewhat modified squat bottle with actual shoulders and a complex attractive label and the ubiquitous Flor de Cana "slow-aged" informative tag that is just a little bit too cute. Too well done. But I did like the Twelve Year. My intial aroma was of oak and caramel, leather, furniture polish (in a good way, like "Pledge") and a deep orange apricot. The caramel carried through and I tasted toasted caramel, pecan, locorice and butterscotch. The finish was lightly peppery, very clovey and long. Very nice. The Twelve Year left an aftertaste of light cigar smoke. As an ex-smoker, it was too nice, ha!
All in all a nice complex and sophisticated kind of aftertaste that makes you want some more.
I first tasted Flor de Cana Twelve (12) Year as part of a long awaited "smackdown" of the 4-7-12 years (click here). This was a terrific experience, be sure to check it out. I found the Twelve's aroma featured tarry oak (nice), with a bit of alcohol prickle (not as much as the four) against a background of raisin and a deep, deep orange/apricot and leather. The early palate was entirely consistent, and included some raisin. The finish was very smooth and peppery with raisin and cigar box. The cigar box carried through an aftertaste, obviously a possible cigar rum.
All in all a fine rum that still works at a price of $29. But not much more.
Rating (10 is best): 7.
***********
For a "Smackdown" of Flor de Cana Four (4), Seven (7) and Twelve ) 12 Year click here.