In this tasting set from Relicario, the Dominican Republic tells its story softly before asserting itself with flair. The Relicario Superior / Supremo / Peated Rum Gift Set 3x20cL stages a sensory journey in three acts, each revealing a distinct facet of the local cane. At 40% vol, these expressions were designed to offer a clear reading of the raw material and the wood: from the sunlit sweetness of the Superior to the depth of the Supremo, and on to the smoky thread of the Peated Finish, finished for six months in peated single malt casks from Speyside. Fermented for 30 hours, distilled in a copper column, and assembled with precision and transparency, they contain no added sugar and are not chill-filtered, under the guidance of master rum-maker Juan Alberto Alvarez. The bottles, square and generous with wide stoppers, give a service ritual worthy of the occasion, while the 20 cl format encourages comparative exploration, vertical tastings and sharing.

Blend and winemaking

Each of the three rums expresses a time and a material. Relicario Superior blends rums aged mainly 5 to 10 years in bourbon casks, for a caressing texture and a vanilla-led score that showcases the cane. Relicario Supremo assembles older distillates, 10 to 15 years, patiently matured in ex-bourbon American oak, offering a deeper register—tending toward tobacco and gentle nutty notes—with a touch of brown sugar and refined oak. Relicario Peated Finish takes the backbone of the Superior and gives it a second breath with six months in peated Speyside single malt casks. This finish lays down a smoky veil and a mineral patina that thickens the structure without weighing it down. The whole is crafted from local sugarcane, fermented for 30 h, then column-distilled in copper for a pure line and remarkable aromatic precision. With no added sugar and not chill-filtered, these rums present a straight, frank style true to the blender’s hand.

Tasting notes

• Colour: Shades of sunlit amber and light honey, coppery highlights depending on the bottling. Superior shows a shimmering clarity with golden flashes. Supremo displays a deeper tone, almost light mahogany, reflecting its extended ageing. Peated Finish retains the amber-gold of the Superior with slightly darker glints, as if touched by smoke. The brightness and viscosity reflect a fine material without ostentation.
• Nose: Superior evokes vanilla, ripe cane, a hint of soft caramel and airy floral notes. Supremo unfolds a broader palette where blond tobacco, walnut, toasted oak and brown sugar intertwine, punctuated by dried fruit hints. Peated Finish adds a smoky, peaty dimension, nuanced by gentle spices, vanilla pod and dark caramel, while a mineral trace, almost damp earth, underlines the depth without overpowering the gourmandise.
• Palate: Superior’s attack is supple and caressing, carried by cane and vanilla, with balanced roundness and a clean finish. Supremo gains in density, with well-integrated wood structure, nutty and tobacco notes that stretch with discreet brown sugar; a broad, harmonious finish. Peated Finish, darker, sets up a peaty vibration, a muffled smoke that pairs with caramel, dried fruits and robust persistence. The three bottlings share an elegant presence, melted spirits and a precision that invites contemplation.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 16 and 18°C in a tulip glass or a small tasting glass to focus the bouquet and reveal the aromatic layers. Allow each rum a few minutes of aeration after opening so vanilla, wood and peaty accents can unfold. Tasting the three expressions side by side, from Superior to Peated Finish, lets you read the rise in intensity and the signature of the finish. A drop of water can highlight spicy finesse without upsetting the balance. Store bottles away from light and excessive heat to preserve the spirit’s integrity.

Food pairings

• Appetisers: roasted dried fruits, sesame crisp, thinly sliced Iberian ham. Superior accompanies starters with tact and softness.
• Starters: pineapple and coriander ceviche, vanilla-cured salmon, scallop carpaccio with citrus. Superior’s freshness finds a bright playground here.
• Main courses: lacquered pork belly, spiced duck, smoked beef short ribs. Supremo’s woodier, spicier register dialogues with the sweetness of sauces and the chew of meats.
• Cheeses: aged Comté, extra-aged mimolette, matured cheddar. Supremo’s structure and Peated Finish’s smoky touch wrap the fat and emphasize the length.
• Desserts: dark chocolate fondant, banana flambé, tarte Tatin. Peated Finish provides a smoky counterpoint to cocoa, while Superior elevates fruit pastries.

Tasting occasions

This Relicario set fits as well on a festive table as in the intimacy of a cozy lounge. It lends itself to didactic tasting, almost musical, where each glass becomes a distinct movement. It suits long conversations, memorable gifts, and signature moments.

• After-dinner comparative tasting, in three stages, to grasp the house style and the concept of a peated finish.
• Gourmet dinner where you build texture and aroma pairings, from ripe fruit to gentle smoke.
• Connoisseur gift for a spirits lover seeking stylistic clarity, without artifice, with real depth of flavour.

Characteristics

• Name : Relicario Superior / Supremo / Peated Rum Gift Set 3x20cL
• Origin : Dominican Republic
• Type : Rum from local cane, blends aged 5 to 15 years
• Maturation : Superior 5 to 10 years, Supremo 10 to 15 years, Peated Finish finished 6 months in peated single malt casks
• Casks : Ex-bourbon American oak, Speyside peated finish for Peated
• Distillation : Copper column, fermentation 30 h
• Alcohol : 40% vol
• Volume : 3 x 20 cl
• Production : No added sugar, not chill-filtered
• Signature : Master rum-maker Juan Alberto Alvarez