Ron Pampero - "El Caballito Frenao"

Venezuala's national rum brand, Pampero was established in 1938 with its main production plant located at a 19th century family owned estate in the Venezualan state of Miranda. Its largest markets are Italy, Spain and of course Venezuela, where it is so popular that it's nickname which refers to the red logo of the the rearing horse, "Caballito Frenao," is synonomous with rum.

They produce several bottlings but I most love the special edition they produce. On the 25th anniversary in 1963 a special commerative bottling of aged rum was created called "Pampero Aniversario." It comes in a squat bottle shipped in a unique leather pouch and is sipped like a fine brandy. To me this is the epitome of sipping rum, it has a rich mahogany color with aromas of carmel, baking spices, dried fruit and oak with a rich mouthfeel and flavors that follow the aromas plus some cocoa dust, nut and fig flavors that linger. It is a blend of rums aged 4 to 6 years in used Bourbon cask and bottled at 80 proof.  Perfect by itself and complements cigars very well.

I couldn't find a the definitive origin for the name "Pampero." One source refers to the violent squalls that sweep the plains of Venezuela known as a "pampero." Pampero also means "of the Pampas" and may refer to the rider astride the horse in the logo reminiscent of an Argentine gaucho though Venezuela is a long way from Argentina and I'm not sure why they would have an Argentine reference in the name. I'm also not sure why squalls on the plains of Venezuela would be named after the plains of Argentina. It's something to ponder over a glass of good rum.