In 2023, Venezuela’s oldest rum producer, Hacienda Santa Teresa, introduced Speyside Cask Finish, the first new expression under the Santa Teresa label in 30 years. Now Santa Teresa is adding yet another unique cask finish to its lineup, Coffee Cask, and the backstory here is even more elaborate. I’ll let them explain.

Crafted with top-quality Arabica coffee beans, organically grown, roasted to a medium level, and ground coarsely under the guidance of the brand’s master distillers at Hacienda Santa Teresa, this single-estate masterpiece represents the first Venezuelan rum ever finished in coffee casks. The production process begins with the selection of premium Arabica coffee beans, which then go through a cold brew process with 4-year-old rums instead of water. This cold brew mixture is placed in selected American white oak barrels, where it rests for six months, allowing the barrel to add maturity and complexity while absorbing the rich coffee notes. At the end of this period, the cold brew is extracted, and Santa Teresa 1796, once it’s undergone its triple aging process through the unique Solera method, is introduced to the coffee-infused barrels. This final step, lasting three months, allows the rum to acquire subtle notes of coffee.

So, there you have it. Another ambitious rum from Santa Teresa and perfectly timed with the recent trend in coffee cocktails. Let’s check it out.

There’s no hiding the classic Santa Teresa on the nose with its rich, toasted sugar sweetness, gentle nuttiness, and lush wine-soaked notes. It takes time to tease out, but the coffee cask is there on the fringes with a dusting of cocoa powder and a bit of café con leche. The finishing is far more apparent on the palate with early notes of chocolate-covered espresso beans complemented by silky Demerara syrup and clove. Baking spice builds on the midpalate, giving way to gently bitter coffee grounds, dark baking chocolate, and tart dark cherry before a well-spiced finish of burnt sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. It’s a bolder flavor profile than the inaugural Speyside Cask but not without considerable charms. Another winner from Santa Teresa. Now, where can I get some of this rum cold brew?

92 proof.

A- / $60

Santa Teresa 1796 Arabica Coffee Cask Finish

$60

9

Rating

9.0/10

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