Exotic Don Papa Single Island Rum from the Philippines
Don Papa Single Island Rum should be considered in a class of its own. After all, it is a Filipino rum from Asia, crafted with great care and attention to detail. Normally, we associate rum with the Caribbean, and occasionally with a European country. But Asian rum is still a rarity. However, Don Papa Single Island Rum makes sense, as it is produced by a company that uses locally grown sugarcane. The island of Negros Occidental, part of the Philippine archipelago, is also called “Sugarlandia” or “the sugar island” due to its long history of sugarcane cultivation, introduced by Spanish colonizers several centuries ago.
The rum is named after a historical figure, Papa Isio, who worked as a foreman on the former sugarcane plantations. He was also a shaman and a freedom fighter for Filipino independence. Don Papa Single Island Rum and its family members bear his heroic image on the label. The rum benefits from the fertile volcanic soil of Negros Island, where the sugarcane is grown at the foot of the Kanlaon volcano and processed as freshly as possible into molasses, often called “black gold.” This molasses is one of the secrets behind Don Papa Single Island Rum and the other products from the distillery, giving the rum a special terroir character that proudly points back to its origin as a “Single Island.”
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Buy Don Papa Single Island Rum and let yourself be tropically seduced
The light amber-colored Don Papa Single Island Rum reveals its complexity, as it has been aged in two different types of barrels. On the nose, the rum charms with a fresh fruit note, where citrus fruits mix with orchard fruits and strawberries. In addition, exotic fruits like mango are noted. The bouquet is completed by a mild spice that blends with a sweet undertone and a hint of oak. The taste is rich and nuanced, with citrus fruits combined with brown sugar, and the experience is rounded off with soft vanilla cream and a hint of baking spices. Don Papa Single Island Rum also pampers the palate with a touch of fresh ginger and delivers a rich, lingering finish.
Worth a try: Don Papa 7 Years Single Island Rum
The unique feature of Don Papa Single Island Rum is that the blend has matured in two different types of barrels. Over the seven years, the rum has been aged in both American bourbon barrels and Spanish Rioja wine barrels. This aging gives an impressive depth, best enjoyed neat. Recently, the distillery has slightly adjusted the recipe to comply with updated EU regulations on sugar content in spirits. As a result, the new Don Papa Single Island Rum has a slightly drier profile compared to its predecessor.
