We first introduced Montanya Distillery just after the first of the year when we released the Platino review.  We got some great feedback and questions about what rum is doing in Colorado instead of Jamaica.  While I am not going to go back over why Silverton, CO is the perfect place to be making rum, I am going to talk about just how good Montanya’s “Oro” is and how the distillers up there know what they are doing. 

The oro rum is aged in once used Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels giving this rum a unique flavor.  Aged spirits get their color and a great deal of flavor from the barrels that they are aged in.  Large distillers tend to use the same barrels over and over again until they no longer bring anything to their products.  Montanya avoids this by always using quality wood for their aging process.  The scent of honey is noticeable and the taste of molasses, honey, and a hint of vanilla is there.   I am finding many good products using some level of vanilla flavor and at first it was a hard taste to pull out but with the experience I have gained over the years, it just jumps out at me every time.  The golden (oro) color is also very clear and pure. 

I moved away from cheap liquor years ago. I am sort of a snob and critical with any new product that I try.  I have to say that the Oro from Montanya is a product that belongs in anyone’s bar and should be a staple in my bar for years to come.  For more information check out: http://www.montanyadistillers.com/

Since you are now obligated to buy a bottle, I would like to suggest a unique rum that is distilled in Colorado. Montanya Distillers in Silverton, CO has begun the production of high quality rum with a couple of unique twists. The first part of Montanya’s unique qualities begins with where it is distilled, in Silverton, CO at 9300 feet. Everyone knows that rum comes from the Caribbean, so why build a distillery so high up? It is actually a brilliant idea. Most rum is aged in oak barrels for a time after the distilling process. The length of time depends on what type of rum. Altitude and temperature add efficiency to this process. You age spirits in a barrel so that the liquor will penetrate the wood and take away some of the harshness of raw distilled spirit, and gain some of the character of the wooden barrel. Aging at altitude makes the liquor permeate the wood more efficiently so it gains more character more quickly.

Montanya Platino is not a clear rum. It has a slight almond color to it that indicates that it was happy inside of the oak barrel and gained some character. The nose on the rum has a soft sweet vanilla scent that gives it a nice introduction to your senses. This vanilla taste washes over the back of your tongue and creates a nice smooth finish. If you count to three after you swallow, you’ll begin to notice a nice warm feeling in your throat. This is especially great after you get done skiing at Silverton Mountain and stop by Montanya’s tasting room for a nice rum drink. Because of the flavor and smooth finish, this is definitely a rum to enjoy on the rocks. Of course when you are thinking of mixed drinks, you always want high quality spirits and this fits that role perfectly.

Montanya’s Platino rum is a great discovery and the folks running the distillery could not be nicer. I would encourage you to seek out their product through your local liquor stores or to stop by their tasting room in Silverton, CO. If you are going to stop by, make sure you can get a hotel room or ride the train back to Durango, because their rum is great and their mixed drinks they serve are even better. To find out more about Montanya and their products, visit them online at www.montanyadistillers.com