Friday Happy Hour: The Unifying Power of Papa’s Pilar Dark
Rum, some might say, is as strong a symbol of unity as exists in the Caribbean.
The sweet stuff has, of course, been produced in just about every corner of the region at one point or another. It’s also most certainly enjoyed all across our islands, often bringing people together at fetes, rum bars, beach limes; anywhere, really.
Many different rum producers exemplify this spirit of unification, bringing together blends from several different parts of the region to create special new products. One such special spirit is Papa’s Pilar Dark.
Like its Blonde sister blend, Papa’s Pilar Dark is an artisan-crafted rum inspired by one of history’s greatest adventurers (and my favorite author), Ernest Hemingway.
The quintessential “man’s-man,” always full of bluster and bravado, you could just imagine Hemingway preferring his rum bold, strong of character and potency; the kind of rum that asserts itself heartily without compromise, excuses, or any signs of weakness.
Papa’s Pilar Dark is just such a rum… mostly.
Oh, it’s PLENTY robust and full-flavored, leaving a lasting impression in its long and enveloping finish that you won’t soon forget.
Papa’s Pilar hand selects the fine rums that go into making its Dark rum from disparate parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and the U.S. Some are pot still rums, others a product of column distillation. The oldest rums in the blend check in at the ripe old age (at least for rum) of 24 years.
Somehow, the magicians at Papa’s Pilar bring these many varied rums together beautifully, employing a solera aging method using American Bourbon barrels and Port Casks before finishing the whole lot in Spanish Sherry Casks.
Indeed, there’s A LOT going on with Papa’s Pilar Dark, which doesn’t totally fit the straight-shooter picture I’ve long had of Hemingway. The rum’s also a bit sweeter and more spicy than I might associate with Hemingway, each sip bursting with vanilla, honey, apricots, and spices. Bourbon and Sherry notes shine through as well – as complex a flavor experience as I’ve enjoyed in quite some time.
Is Papa’s Pilar Dark for you? Well, if you like your rum deliciously dynamic, sophisticated, bold, and distinctive, it’s hard to do much better than this.
Cheers!
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