Limited to 460 bottles worldwide, of which just 30 will be available in the UK, Andrés Brugal is an ultra premium rum of rare heritage.
Priced at £2,200 a bottle, the exclusive expression is the Dominican rum brand’s first release that blends two double aged reserves with first fill single casks.
“This liquid is a true testament to five generations of rum making and 134 years of craft,” enthused Jamie Campbell, Brugal’s UK brand ambassador, at the drink’s London launch.
“What we have here is a blend of a first fill, single bourbon cask with a first fill single Oloroso sherry cask combined, and two special double-aged family reserves, released from a secret part of our ageing warehouse in the North of the island. This blend has been crafted to extract the true flavours of the Dominican republic…”
ABV is 41.5% – “that small degree and a half we’ve added really help carry those flavour profiles across the palate,” said Campbell.
“This liquid is a true testament to five generations of rum making and 134 years of craft…”
The release ostensibly celebrates the first journey of Don Andrés Brugal from Spain to the Caribbean.
Brugal’s story began in 1888. Settling in the Dominican Republic after journeying from Spain and Cuba, Brugal and sons first cultivated sugar cane, before distilling rum.
Generations have since perfected the art, resulting in Brugal’s signature double ageing technique, and the use of Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
The ultra-premium release has been crafted by fifth generation Maestra Ronera Jassil Villanueva Quintana, the great, great granddaughter of Don Andrés. So what’s it like? We were first in line to sample…
On the nose there’s the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and fresh Cacao, layered with a waft of homemade Dominican raisin rum cake (although that might have come from the Oriole’s kitchen).
On the palate, we noted a distinct combination of vanilla, dry spice and caramel, underscored with berries. The mouthfeel is warm and rich, the finish deliciously long.
The packaging is equally spectacular. The release has been bottled in a limited-edition, hand-blown crystal decanter and ships in a bespoke display cabinet directly inspired by the travelling suitcases taken by Maestros on their past voyages of discovery.
The twin segments of the faux case fold down to reveal the decanter, illuminated by surrounding mirrored surfaces which display a world map. It’s quite the statement package.
Andrés Brugal: the London launch and food pairings
To launch Andrés Brugal, the brand collaborated with the team at the Oriole cocktail bar, in London’s Spitalfields market (soon to close but hopefully to reopen in 2023), creating a tasting menu and appropriately themed cocktails, starting with a branded twist on an Old Fashioned, with perennially popular Brugal 1888, coconut and coffee biters.
Here’s the premiere menu, presented to provide inspiration for your own Dominican journey:
Chorizo croquettes and garlic aioli, served with a Transatlantic Tuxedo, a Martini variant featuring Brugal 1888, sherry, vermouth and maraschino liqueur, served with a parmesan crisp.
Apepas with Avocado, accompanied by a Sitages Snapper, aka Brugal 1888, tomato juice, and blossom mead.
A Seabass Ceviche and Shrimp Salpicon, served with a Hispaniola Highball, made from Brugal 1888, Huacatay mint (native to Latin America), Lulo fruit juice, pineapple cider and garnished with a lime leaf.
The menu concluded with Andrés Brugal, perfectly complemented by some flan caramel cake.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
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Limited to 460 bottles worldwide, of which just 30 will be available in the UK, Andrés Brugal is an ultra premium rum of rare heritage.
Priced at £2,200 a bottle, the exclusive expression is the Dominican rum brand’s first release that blends two double aged reserves with first fill single casks.
“This liquid is a true testament to five generations of rum making and 134 years of craft,” enthused Jamie Campbell, Brugal’s UK brand ambassador, at the drink’s London launch.
“What we have here is a blend of a first fill, single bourbon cask with a first fill single Oloroso sherry cask combined, and two special double-aged family reserves, released from a secret part of our ageing warehouse in the North of the island. This blend has been crafted to extract the true flavours of the Dominican republic…”
ABV is 41.5% – “that small degree and a half we’ve added really help carry those flavour profiles across the palate,” said Campbell.
The release ostensibly celebrates the first journey of Don Andrés Brugal from Spain to the Caribbean.
Brugal’s story began in 1888. Settling in the Dominican Republic after journeying from Spain and Cuba, Brugal and sons first cultivated sugar cane, before distilling rum.
Generations have since perfected the art, resulting in Brugal’s signature double ageing technique, and the use of Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
The ultra-premium release has been crafted by fifth generation Maestra Ronera Jassil Villanueva Quintana, the great, great granddaughter of Don Andrés. So what’s it like? We were first in line to sample…
On the nose there’s the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and fresh Cacao, layered with a waft of homemade Dominican raisin rum cake (although that might have come from the Oriole’s kitchen).
On the palate, we noted a distinct combination of vanilla, dry spice and caramel, underscored with berries. The mouthfeel is warm and rich, the finish deliciously long.
The packaging is equally spectacular. The release has been bottled in a limited-edition, hand-blown crystal decanter and ships in a bespoke display cabinet directly inspired by the travelling suitcases taken by Maestros on their past voyages of discovery.
The twin segments of the faux case fold down to reveal the decanter, illuminated by surrounding mirrored surfaces which display a world map. It’s quite the statement package.
Andrés Brugal: the London launch and food pairings
To launch Andrés Brugal, the brand collaborated with the team at the Oriole cocktail bar, in London’s Spitalfields market (soon to close but hopefully to reopen in 2023), creating a tasting menu and appropriately themed cocktails, starting with a branded twist on an Old Fashioned, with perennially popular Brugal 1888, coconut and coffee biters.
Here’s the premiere menu, presented to provide inspiration for your own Dominican journey:
Chorizo croquettes and garlic aioli, served with a Transatlantic Tuxedo, a Martini variant featuring Brugal 1888, sherry, vermouth and maraschino liqueur, served with a parmesan crisp.
Apepas with Avocado, accompanied by a Sitages Snapper, aka Brugal 1888, tomato juice, and blossom mead.
A Seabass Ceviche and Shrimp Salpicon, served with a Hispaniola Highball, made from Brugal 1888, Huacatay mint (native to Latin America), Lulo fruit juice, pineapple cider and garnished with a lime leaf.
The menu concluded with Andrés Brugal, perfectly complemented by some flan caramel cake.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
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