Ron Abuelo Announces Newest Rum to U.S. Markets

By Sophia DeVito

Ron Abuelo is adding their newest adventure to the U.S. Market — Ron Abuelo XII Años Two Oaks, Selección Especial. 

Ron Abuelo Rum

Ron Abuelo Rum

The newest aged rum is from Panama and unlike any other. It is a blend of exquisite, aged rums between eight and 40+ years. The basis rum was matured in white oak bourbon barrels then finished for an additional nine months in extra-charred American oak barrels. This yields a smooth and nuanced flavor.

Ron Abuelo Selección Especial

Ron Abuelo Selección Especial

The idea for this arose when the third generation of the Varela family, Luis J. Varela Jr., produced a silkier version of what already existed in the Abuelo portfolio. It was something so smooth and exceptional that these new techniques needed to be used to produce this result.

The team at Ron Abuelo worked with an acclaimed cooperage house in Napa Valley. They created a series of innovative barrel techniques for the newest rum adventure: Two Oaks.

Before bottling, Two Oaks spends the last nine months in virgin American oak 200-liter barrels, that have been cut on the inside for maximum surface extraction. Inside the barrel experiences a slow and low char (365°F) for 60 minutes once it is cut. The barrel then receives a final char at a high temperature (437°F) for 20-25 seconds. Each barrel is created specifically for Two Oaks and features eight millimeters of interior black char. To finish, the barrel is then filled with 11-year-old rum for the nine-month aging process.

Two Oaks Rum

Two Oaks Rum

This type of barrel technique amplifies the naturally produced notes of vanilla and spice. The heat and charring, which breaks down carbohydrates into simple wood sugar, gives off delicious notes of toffee and butterscotch. The eight millimeters of char will lessen the contact with the wood’s tannins, producing a smooth, silky, and round character.

The dark mahogany liquid has a light and smoky mouthfeel. Two Oaks has intense flavors of caramel and spice with roasted coffee beans and hints of coconut. It is now available in select markets with an SRP of $59.99 and will continue to roll out nationally across the country throughout 2021.

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