Rumview - Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva

The second best thing that comes in a leather sack

So there is a story about how I stumbled upon this rum.
Few years ago I went to Finland to the "Junction" hackathon. To get there I took the ferry ride from Estonia and while I was exploring the shop floor I stumbled upon this lovely leather sack.
My initial thoughts were that I should buy it as a cool looking souvenir and that the package is there to compensate for the contents.

When I got home there was a surprise waiting inside. A very pleasant surprise.
It is one of my top 3-4 favorite rums at the moment. I'm on the third bottle and planning to buy more.

The Facts

This rum blend is made in Venezuela and was created in 1963 to celebrate 25 years of Pampero. And yes, it is a blend.
And pretty good at that - on their website this particular rum boasts multiple awards. The rum is triple distilled and held for up to 4 years in barrels used to hold sherry and whisky. The rum has a rich dark color.
The rum is sold in a real leather sack and leaves a really good visual impression.
The price range is medium - high and is considered to be a premium rum.

The Feelings

If you like rums - you will like the smell of it. Sometimes you can tell just by the smell it's going to be good. And that is true in this case. The smell reminds sweet caramel and if you are not careful it can bite in the nose.

The taste starts with a bittersweet explosion tasting of tobacco and brown sugar. Then it proceeds with a smoky taste and the alcohol bite. The Alcohol bite isn't that strong but still noticeable, after all this is a 40% proof alcohol. The finish is with a nice oaky almost dry taste.
This definitely is a rum that should be left out to breathe a moment before enjoying it. The taste is one of the top 3 richest tastes I tasted for a rum. This definitely not the case of a pretty package and shitty contents.

Final thoughts

This rum is meant to be enjoyed the old fashioned way - on the rocks. However I really enjoy just sipping it without any ice. Sipping this rum just brings me pure joy, I try to buy it whenever it is on the sale as it is a bit on the expensive end. This rum in Europe should cost around 36 euros and is well worth the price.
I haven't tried mixing it because If I can sip it, I'll sip it and not waste it on mixing.
It really is one of the best price/performance rums out there. If you would like to try and start tasting rums without any additions - this would be a great place to start as it is rich in taste and the alcohol bite isn't that strong compared to others. If you smoke cigars or pipe - this will be a great companion for that experience as well as the taste really compliments the tobacco.

This is a rum that will always find a place on my shelf.

I just can't recommend it enough. This is something everyone should try regardless of personal preference