Review #53: Ron Navazos Palazzi 15

I stumbled across this bottle accidentally at Smuggler’s Cove. It was sitting on the main floor (the basement is where most of the rums are kept) and I didn’t want to force the bar back to walk downstairs to retrieve additional rums. So while scanning the shelf, I noticed the “Ron Navazos” out and requested a pour.

Many of my more adventurous requests are often met with a nod and a grab for the bottle. With this one, our young barback enthusiastically said, “Oh, do you know [Master of the Cove – but I forgot her name…]? It’s her favorite!”

The pour ended up on the reasonable side for Smuggler’s Cove prices ($22/oz) and was utterly delightful and unique. It has somewhat sherry funk elements (that remind us more of a dry, yeasty amantillado rather than the Oloroso cask finish) and mildly reminiscent of a peaty scotch, in fact. Definitely a new favorite.

Additional Information

• ABV: 51.5% (cask strength)
• Cask: 5 years in first fill bourbon casks and solera aged for 10 years in Oloroso sherry
• Age: “15 solera” years (in other words: 5-15 years)
• Molasses rum distilled in Antilles on a column still
• Bottled in July 2014

About Ron Navazos Palazzi:

• Joint venture between Nicolas Palazzi (owner of Paul-Marie Spirits) and sherry bottler Equipo Navazos. They have been working on a line of rare spirits including Spanish brandy and rum.
• Nicolas Palazzi is particularly known for his work on sourcing cognac
• Equipo Navazos was started by wine writer Jesus Barquin (also a professor of criminology) and Eduardo Ojeda, technical director of Grupo Estevaz. The group began bottling after finding 65 butts of 20+ year old Amontillado hidden in a bodega in Sanlucar.
• They also produce whisky, which I’m very interested in trying now.