Santa Teresa Bicentenario

[Fabio]

I was lucky this year to obtain some bottles of Santa Teresa most aged rum: Bicentenario. This is not a commercial rum and production is limited to 1000 bottles per year. They claim this is a blend of very old rums (up to 80 y.o.) and then the blend is aged during 15 years. I have tasted and is excellent. Color is particular: quite dark (more brown than yellow) with body. For those that know Venezuelan rums I could describe Santa Teresa Bicentenario something between Cacique Antiguo (strong) and Diplomatico (sweety). I tasted while cooking (bad idea because place was quite hot) but will taste again and will try to describe it much better. I forgot to mention something: even though Bicentenario is great the bottle and presentation is not at the level of the content. I really love this Rum but I believe that this should be a holistic experience and when talking about aged and dark rums I believe most of the people expects a nice and distinctive bottle. One I love is Pampro Aniversario that came in a leather sac but Santa Teresa Bicentenario is a very simple bottle (maybe because it is not a commercial execution). Anyway I like it a lot.

[Edward Hamilton]

I'm leaving tomorrow for Venezuela and the Santa Teresa distillery and will certainly look forward to trying some of the Bicentenario, if there is any left.

I appreciate that many connoisseurs expect, or even demand, that special spirits come in special bottles. For myself, I would much rather have a good spirit than a fancy bottle. I much prefer to collect fine spirits instead of fancy bottles.

Along those lines some of the best spirits I've tasted came in what Madison Ave marketers would call bland and boring. On the other hand, truly small production products don't need fancy bottles to sell them as the quantity available is small and fancy bottles in small quantities cost a lot of money. The question that always comes to my mind is whether the distiller is trying to sell this particular bottle or are they trying to raise the awareness of their brand and sell me their other products which are in mass supply?

[Fabio]

Edward,
I agree with you regarding the fact that small production + fancy bottle might be expensive. In fact, I waited 2 years to get this product just becasue it is distributed among a reduced database of people.

I am glad you are coming to Caracas. I need to program a visit Santa Teresa distillery in El Consejo.

I have attached a pic of the Bicentenario...hope you can taste it.

Best regards, Fabio.

[angelsword]

How much bribery and/or trade will it take to get me a bottle of this?

[Hank Koestner]

I'm with Angelsword................

[Count Silvio]

Is it really worth the price? I can only imagine how costly it is. Would be awesome to get to review that one.

[Dood]

I can't seem to think of a way to "accidentally" end up in Venezuela to find some of this. I keep playing the scenario through in my head, and I just think the wife would figure out that we weren't really going to the grocery store after an hour or two.

[Edward Hamilton]

While I was in Venezuela, I was fortunate enough to try some of this great rum and while it is special, though like some other rums the fact that you can't actually buy a few bottles of this rum makes it even more special.

[Fabio]

While I was in Venezuela, I was fortunate enough to try some of this great rum and while it is special, though like some other rums the fact that you can't actually buy a few bottles of this rum makes it even more special.

Great!!!...I' m still having one new bottle :-) . The other special fact is that Santa Teresa only sells it by cases (6 bottles). I was sure you would find this Rum very special... They should finished a new blend lot around Oct 07...I will found out :-).

Regards, Fabio.

[Count Silvio]

I can't seem to think of a way to "accidentally" end up in Venezuela to find some of this. I keep playing the scenario through in my head, and I just think the wife would figure out that we weren't really going to the grocery store after an hour or two. You find yourself at sea and you only have fuel to last till Venezuela.

[Fabio]

You find yourself at sea and you only have fuel to last till Venezuela.

I am still having a bottle of this great rum....I am close to open...should some one wants to buy it?...;-)

[Count Silvio]

Depends on how much you are willing to sell it for.

[gatomalo]

I just went to my local pub for a couple of pints of ale, and what do I see behind the bar? A bottle of Santa Teresa Bicentenario!

To say I was surprised would be an understatement.

There are probably fewer than a dozen bottles of this rum in the whole of the UK, yet there it was sitting on the bar waiting to be tasted. At GBP 14 per glass it was easily the most expensive glass of alcohol I've ever bought in a pub, but it was bloody fantastic. Now the question is, do I go and have another one tomorrow?

[Jamie76]

So I found this rum. It's selling for approximately $370 American. That really isn't a bad price considering Appleton 30 YO is selling in the same range.

Found another site that is selling it for around $190, so quite the difference in prices.

[Calgaryx]

Santa Teresa Bicentario is now available in Calgary. I have my name on one of the bottles as they would not sell it to me today because the store did not yet have the price. I am looking forward to tasting it this weekend.

[Calgaryx]

With tax this rum in Alberta is $335.00. that is 5 dollars more than the Appleton 30. I will post my thoughts after I taste it later this weekend.

[Jamie76]

With tax this rum in Alberta is $335.00. that is 5 dollars more than the Appleton 30. I will post my thoughts after I taste it later this weekend.

Lucky you. Sure wish this was available in the US. I'll be interested to hear what your thoughts are on this.

[Fabio]

Quite expensive in the US :(. I have a new bottle in my bar waiting for some special moment to be enjoyed. I used to buy 12 bottles like 3 years ago at very decent price. I will get local and actual price in Caracas in BsF and let you know guys. Cheers glass.gif.

Fabio.

[RonJames]

gracias fabio, very interesting rum. But its got to be for that price...

[Fabio]

Hello.
I got updated price this week for Bicentenario and it is around 1500 Bsf the bottle of 0.7L (348 USD at official exchange rate). Minimum buy is 6 bottles (box) directly with Santa Teresa.

Regards, Fabio.

[lesist]

Seems like the stocks of the Bicentenario run empty here in germany.
But I found a site still having this one. It sells for 150€...
I'm getting nervous :) Shall I buy it?!?!?

:confused:

[Fabio]

Buy it !!!. very special Rum, no doubts. Represents 200 years of cummulative mastery of one of the best Rum makers in Venezuela. Very good. Rgds, Fabio.

Seems like the stocks of the Bicentenario run empty here in germany.
But I found a site still having this one. It sells for 150€...
I'm getting nervous :) Shall I buy it?!?!?

:confused:[/QUOTE]

[Ruminsky Van Drunkenberg]

I've got a line on one here for $315, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to spend that much for a rum I know nothing about...any thoughts out there on what it's like?

[gatomalo]

I've got a line on one here for $315, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to spend that much for a rum I know nothing about...any thoughts out there on what it's like?

RVD, I've had it and I can confirm that it is a truly beautiful rum. Only you can decide, however, whether or not it is worth the outlay.

[Ruminsky Van Drunkenberg]

Oh damn....the wife's going to kill me
drooling2.gif

[Calgaryx]

You will not go wrong with it. My wife thought the bottle was nice. She likes the outside while I get to enjoy the inside.

[Fabio]

I have enjoyed 6 bottles of this Rum over the past years and it is very special, rare and distintive. I am venezuelan (from italian origin), I was born in Venezuela. I know Santa Teresa factory and it is one of the best Rum makers in my country.

I am not in agreement with the price but with the spirit inside the bottle I am 100% satisfied.

Good luck, hope you decide to buy it and then provide opinion in this forum. I will be very happy to see a positive comments on this rum. I have not doubt this is one of the best Rums in the caribbean...

Thanks, Fabio.

[Fabio]

Hei,
Let me correct my last post after tasting the last bottle of ST Bicentenario I had in my bar: this is one of the most rare rums I have tasted. Very interesting. Let me see if I can provide an opinion later...

[Rumaficionado]

Hei,
Let me correct my last post after tasting the last bottle of ST Bicentenario I had in my bar: this is one of the most rare rums I have tasted. Very interesting. Let me see if I can provide an opinion later...

i agree Btmup.gif