Ron Diplomatico Mantuano Rum

Mantuano is a rum from the Ron Diplomatico range. The listing gives no age statement, ABV, or tasting notes, so what follows is what a gold, lightly aged rum of this kind usually does, not a measured profile. Expect a medium-bodied rum with caramel, vanilla, and dried-fruit sweetness. It should have a little oak and spice underneath and a smooth, fairly soft finish. Check the bottle label for the exact style and strength. Rums in this style work as a sipper and as a mixer, which makes them more flexible than a clear white rum. For neat or on-the-rocks drinking, use a rocks glass with one large cube. The ice dilutes slowly and lets the vanilla and spice open up without flattening them. A small pour at cool room temperature also works if you want the aroma at full strength. In cocktails, a gold rum suits the Rum Old Fashioned best. Stir it with a bar spoon of demerara syrup and two dashes of Angostura bitters over ice, then express an orange peel over the glass. It also makes a rounder Daiquiri than a white rum does: shake it with fresh lime juice and simple syrup, then strain into a chilled coupe. In a Dark 'n' Stormy, use it with a sharp, spicy ginger beer and a lime wedge in a highball glass over ice. It also holds up well in a Piña Colada, where its caramel notes sit well with coconut and pineapple. A Mojito works too, though the mint and soda will hide most of its aged character. For food, expect it to go well with grilled pineapple, roast pork, plantains, and dark chocolate.