Tonight’s a special occasion. No, it’s not a holiday…Nope, not a birthday. What’s happening? I just opened up a bottle of El Dorado 21 Year Old Special Reserve Rum. What’s a more special occasion than that? Not much in my opinion. So, here we go.

While it looks almost the exact same as the 12 and 15 year old rums from El Dorado, this one is just ever so slightly different with a 21 on the front. Oh those folks in marketing and branding spent weeks on this detail.

The El Dorado 21 is from Guyana and uses a special recipe blend of hand selected rums, oak aged for AT LEAST 21 years in bourbon barrels and distilled from fermented molasses.

Opening the bottle, plastic cap with a cork stopper, you could smell summer. Pouring it into the snifter hints of vanilla, oak and brown spices hit the air as the deep copper/bronze colored liquid hits the glass. Now, time for the real test… the taste. Mmmmm. Ok, let’s give a little better description, how’s this? Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! OK, just playing with you. I really do like it a lot though. Silky and velvety. Smells sweet like vanilla and cream with a tad of spice but truthfully, there is a lot of complexity that just can not be described, at least not by me. The flavor is strong yet very smooth with a caramel/oak taste. At first you get a little burn but you don’t mind, it’s a good burn that you kinda feel bad for liking but you do anyway. It finishes smoothly with a hint of citrus and smokiness. Nice!

I’ve always been happy with El Dorado’s 15 year old rum, now, I have to spend a little more for the 21 year old. The price in the Nashville area was around $50 but I have seen it elsewhere for as high as $100 which makes me feel good about being in Nashville. If you see it out, grab one, it’s worth the price!

Tried it before? What did you think?

Instructions:
Pour cranberry rum into a collins glass, fill with ginger beer, stir and garnish with lime wedge and cranberries.

Instructions:
Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime and enjoy your favorite vampire movie or show.

Instructions:
Muddle cilantro, ginger root and simple syrup in glass. mix all ingredients except ginger ale in a Boston shaker. Strain into an old fashioned glass and top with ginger ale and garnish with a lime wedge.

Instructions:
In a tall glass muddle cilantro, lime and simple syrup. Mix all ingredients except the beer in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in glass and top with beer.

Instructions:
Muddle kiwi, cilantro and mint together. Add rum and ice then fill with club soda. Garnish with lime.

Instructions:
Muddle mango, chili pepper, cilantro and lime together then add tequila. Shake and serve with a lime garnish.

Cocktail Ingredients:
2 oz. Irish Whiskey
3 lime wedges
3 oz. Ginger Beer

Instructions:
In a highball glass pour Irish Whiskey over ice, squeeze lime and top with ginger beer.

Instructions:
Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh apple slice.

Instructions:
Pour all of the alcohol in a mug and top with hot chocolate. Add whipped cream to the top and garnish with the Hershey’s Kiss