Yes, you read that correctly: in association with Diplomático rum, we’re offering you the chance to win a bottle of Diplomático Ambassador. If you’re as excited about this as we are, scroll on to find out how to win. If you need a bit more convincing, the (quite frankly gorgeous) paragraph below should do the trick…
Diplomático Ambassador is the jewel in the crown of the Diplomático rum family and, with only five thousand bottles in production, it’s hugely exclusive too. Created by award-winning Master Blender Tito Cordero, the exquisite Ambassador is crafted from the distillery's finest rums and is testament to Tito's skill, hard work and lifelong dedication to the art of rum-making. Aged for a minimum of 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels, the blend is then rested for an additional two years in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, adding further aromas and rich flavours of dried fruit, cigars and chocolate.
Diplomático rum is delighted to offer Square Meal readers the opportunity to win a bottle of Diplomático Ambassador, worth £200. Read on for more information on Diplomático rum and then answer the question at the end.
The art of rum
Discover true craftsmanship with Diplomático and find out just how versatile rum can be…
Evocative as a good rum is of an exotic sun-soaked break, to confine it to your holiday cocktails would be to do this unique spirit a disservice. Now, as more and more drinkers catch on to the versatility of a drink bursting with character and complexities, top quality producers with experience and skill are ever more in demand. That’s where Diplomático comes in.
Diplomático, produced by Destilerías Unidas in Venezuela, focuses on excellence, using a variety of distillation methods and relying on master blender – or ‘maestro ronero’ – Tito Cordero to work his magic in the blending room. Nowhere is this expertise more in evidence than in Diplomático’s award-winning Reserva Exclusiva, a dark golden gem aged for up to 12 years, and made almost exclusively from sugar cane honey. Comprising 80% heavy and 20% light rums, this is an exquisite sipping spirit, and it almost goes without saying that its abundance of complex, sweet characteristics brings rich cocktails to life. However, it’s precisely this versatility that ensures that where Reserva Exclusiva really shines is in food pairings that perfectly showcase its deep, complex elements.
A sweet match
Initial aromas of fruit cake, cocoa, cinnamon and clove develop into baked bananas and fudge sauce, while on the palate it evokes rich, liquid chocolate and sweet toffee fudge with expressive tropical fruit, before revealing a distinct character reminiscent of Terry’s Dark Chocolate Orange over vanilla ice cream. Of course, these indulgent notes mean banoffee pie is a match made in heaven for Reserva Exclusiva, although a soft, creamy dessert such as vanilla cheesecake is also unbeatable: the 12-year ageing in small oak casks imparts a caramel flavour and rounded mouthfeel that marry effortlessly with the texture and flavour of the dish. The oak influence also helps deliver another layer of sweet spice and vanilla to complement the flavours and ensure a long, lingering finish.
However, indulgent as Reserva Exclusiva with sweet treats is, that’s not to say it doesn’t stand up to a more savoury end to a meal, testament to just how complex and special a rum this is. Its wide spectrum of aromas and flavours means a salty blue cheese such as Roquefort is wonderfully balanced with those sweet toffee fudge hints, while soft, mellow goats’ cheese works beautifully with warm, sweet spices and dried fruit notes.
The success of Diplomático’s Reserva Exclusiva is little surprise for a family-run business that had an eye on quality from the very start. In 1959, Diplomático carefully sited its distillery in the foothills of the Andes for optimum production, purposefully close to the Terepaima National Park to take advantage of the pure water found there and the proximity of the main sugar production site, where it sources the all-important sugar cane molasses and honey used in its rums.
The high humidity of the area influences both sugar cane growth and the ageing process. A mix of bourbon and malt whisky barrels are used, with a smaller selection of Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks for the Single Vintage and Ambassador rums. Once filled, sealed and placed in the warehouse, the barrels are not touched until they reach bottling maturity. And that’s when the talent of maestro ronero Cordero comes into play. With such skill and complexity in this many-layered spirit, isn’t it time you tried Diplomático?
Meet Diplomatico’s maestro ronero
Tito Cordero knows good rum. The Venezuelan-born maestro has worked in the industry for almost three decades, bringing a passion for the spirit and a nose for excellence to his work at Diplomático. In the past five years, he has been named Master Distiller of the Year at the Golden Rum Barrel Awards not once, but twice, making him one of the world’s most respected master blenders. Together with his team, Cordero combines matured spirits to create unique and complex rums, capturing the best balance and roundness of flavours and aromas possible. Take, for example, the deliciously full-flavoured Reserva Exclusiva and the limited edition Ambassador: rich, powerful rums that serve as testament to an expertise and skill in blending that have been fine-tuned with years of experience.
And if you want to DIY…
Cocktails & cheese
The Shrub and Shutter in Brixton is one restaurant pioneering after-dinner cocktails and cheese pairings. It has created Sticky Fingers, a twist on a Manhattan, to complement Stichleton blue cheese. The initial sweetness of dried fruits, plum and quince lead to a dry finish, which is beautifully rounded off by the salty and creamy cheese. Here’s how to make it at home…
Sticky Fingers
45ml plum-infused Diplomático
12.5ml Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
10ml quince liqueur
10ml Noilly Prat
2 drops Angostura Bitters
2 drops plum bitters
Glass: a small wine glass
Method: Combine all the ingredients in a mixing jar, add ice cubes and stir for 15 seconds. Strain into a frozen glass.
Serve with: Stichleton blue cheese, rum and plum jam, homemade crackers
For a chance to win a bottle of Diplomático Amabassador, send your answer to this question to diplomaticoambassador@squaremeal.co.uk by 27 November 2015:
What is the name of Diplomático’s Master Distiller?
Terms and conditions:
• This competition is being promoted on behalf of Speciality Brands and Diplomático rum
• Open to all residents of mainland United Kingdom aged 18 or over except employees of the Promoter, their families and anyone professionally involved with this promotion
• Closing date for entries is 27 November
• Winner will be selected at random and no further correspondence will be entered into
• Diplomático Rum supports responsible drinking and the offer is strictly as detailed above – no claim or entitlement to additional drinks may be inferred
• The promoter reserves the right to withdraw, amend or temporarily suspend the competition provided it does not exercise this right unreasonably
• Promoter cannot accept responsibility for the acts or omissions of third parties
This article was modified 12 November 2015