Introducing La Gloria - Venezuela's Smooth, Oak-Aged Rum

Introducing La Gloria Rum

Ron La Gloria is an exciting new rum brand that is quickly making a name for itself. Produced in Venezuela, this super premium rum offers smooth taste and intriguing flavors that have captivated rum enthusiasts around the world. In this article, we'll explore the story behind La Gloria Rum, examine what makes it so special, and provide tasting notes and cocktail recipes to help you enjoy this spirit at its finest.

The Origins of La Gloria Rum

La Gloria Rum was founded by the Reyes family in Venezuela in 2005. Using generations of rum-making expertise passed down over the years, the Reyes craft an ultra-smooth spirit that balances depth of flavor with subtle sweetness. They named their rum "La Gloria" meaning "The Glory," aiming to create a brand that encapsulates the glory of Venezuela's rich rum and cocktail culture.

The rums that make up La Gloria's core range are carefully distilled, blended, and aged at the Reyes' distillery in Venezuela. Their distillery benefits from easy access to fresh sugarcane juice straight from the fields, which they ferment and distill. The rums then age for years in American oak casks, allowing them to develop complex and intriguing flavors.

What Makes La Gloria Rum Special

There are several key factors that set La Gloria Rum apart from other rum brands:

• Made from fresh, locally-grown sugarcane juice
• Double distilled for purity and smoothness
• Aged for 8-12 years in American oak casks
• Complex and balanced flavors
• Bottled at 43% ABV with no added sugar
• Sustainably produced with environmental responsibility

It's this combination of local sugarcane, expert distilling practices, and extensive oak aging that gives La Gloria rum its distinctively smooth yet flavorful profile. The rums offer tasting notes of vanilla, caramel, spice, dried fruits, and cocoa depending on the expression.

Tasting Notes and Cocktail Recipes

Let's explore some specific La Gloria rums along with recommended cocktail recipes:

La Gloria Reserva Especial

The La Gloria Reserva Especial is aged for 8 years in American white oak casks. On the nose, you'll detect aromas of vanilla, roasted nuts, and a touch of maple syrup. Take a sip and taste molasses cookies, baking spices, toasted oak, and raisins. The finish is long and smooth with absolutely no harshness.

Try the Reserva Especial in this classic Daiquiri cocktail:

• 2 oz La Gloria Reserva Especial Rum
• 1 oz Fresh lime juice
• .75 oz Simple syrup

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker over ice and shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass to serve.

La Gloria Gran Reserva

As the name suggests, the Gran Reserva is La Gloria's premium aged expression. It matures for a minimum of 10 years in charred American oak barrels. You'll notice intense aromas of dark chocolate, coffee beans, sweet spices, and a hint of orange peel. Take a luxurious sip and let the flavors of molasses, vanilla custard, baking spices, espresso, and toasted cedar wash over your palate. Despite its age, it retains a wonderfully smooth finish.

For an indulgent after-dinner cocktail, try the Gran Reserva in this Espresso Rum Old Fashioned:

• 2 oz La Gloria Gran Reserva Rum
• .5 oz Rich simple syrup
• 2 Dashes chocolate bitters
• 1 Freshly-brewed espresso shot

Combine the rum, simple syrup and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into an old fashioned glass over a large ice cube. Top with fresh espresso and garnish with an orange twist.

¡Salud!

Enjoying La Gloria Rum

With its smooth yet complex taste profile and intriguing backstory, La Gloria Rum makes for an exciting spirit to sip on its own or craft into creative cocktails. We've only just scratched the surface of the delicious drinks you can make with it.

You'll find La Gloria's complete portfolio also includes a crystal-clear Puro Rum and limited edition barrel-finished expressions. Take some time to sample different releases and see which ones inspire your taste buds most. The Reserva Especial and Gran Reserva make for especially luxurious sipping rums as digestifs or in spirit-forward cocktails.

As you begin blending La Gloria Rum into drinks, don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. Its baking spice notes pair wonderfully with chocolate, coffee, and fall baking flavors. Let the wood-aged complexity shine through citrusy or tropical fruit pairings. Splash it into an Old Fashioned style base for a decadent dessert drink. The possibilities are just “glorious.” ¡Salud!

Where to Buy La Gloria Rum

At the time of writing, La Gloria Rum is an up-and-coming premium brand with somewhat limited availability. Your best bets for finding La Gloria include quality liquor stores, wine merchants, and online rum specialists. With its growing reputation for smoothness and flavor, expect to see more bottles showing up on local shelves across the US and Europe soon!

Many online rum retailers carry the core La Gloria range and occasionally have special single-barrel or limited edition releases. Check out sites like Flaviar, Rum Exchange, and Caskers to source these limited offerings.

You can also follow La Gloria (@LaGloriaRum) on Instagram for availability updates, cocktail inspiration, and stunning photography that will have you craving a taste of this glorious Venezuelan rum.

FAQs

What is La Gloria Rum's signature flavor profile?

La Gloria's aged rums are known for their smooth, complex flavor with notes of vanilla, nuts, spices, chocolate, coffee, dried fruit, and oak from its aging process. The rums balance richness with subtle sweetness.

What's special about how La Gloria Rum is produced?

La Gloria uses fresh-pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses. The rum is distilled twice in copper pot stills then aged for 8-12 years in American oak barrels, which impart flavor complexity and smoothness.

Where can I buy La Gloria Rum?

La Gloria Rum currently has limited availability at quality liquor/wine stores and through online rum retailers. Check sites like Flaviar, Rum Exchange, and Caskers. Production is ramping up, so expect more stores to carry it.

Which La Gloria rum works best in cocktails?

The Reserva Especial with its notes of vanilla, nuts, and maple makes an excellent daiquiri. The Gran Reserva's rich chocolate and coffee flavors shine in an Old Fashioned or sipper.

How do I drink La Gloria Rum on its own?

Sipped neat at room temperature or over ice, La Gloria's aged expressions like the Reserva Especial and Gran Reserva open up beautifully on the palate. Slowly savor each lush flavor.