As ever, this Pacto Navio rum review is completely unbiased as I bought it myself. If I was being gifted all these different spirits instead, I’d probably feel bad giving some of these bottles the savaging that I do.
Pacto Navio Rum Review
We’re back in Havana Club territory!
Whilst we’re all familiar with Havana Club’s solid 7 year old and its patchier Especial bottles, this more premium and experimental rum is a fair bit harder to find.
Pacto Navio‘s experimental nature lies in its maturation in sauternes wine barrels. For the uninitiated, sauternes is a sweet, almost dessert-style wine from France. The story goes that a historic peace treaty named ‘el pacto’, allowed for the trading via navio ships of French wines to Cuba, and rum finished in the same casks back to France.
How Much is Pacto Navio Rum?
Almost exclusively £32. I bought my bottle from Waitrose, and have only seen it stocked by a couple of online sellers, but each time it’s almost always £32 or thereabouts.
On the Nose
Brandy. That sauternes finishing has really given it a sweet grape edge.
Is Pacto Navio Suitable for Sipping Neat?
Definitely. It’s a very smooth-drinking rum, and the maturation in sauternes barrels is there for all to taste. It’s definitely on the sweeter end of aged rum, but thankfully not in a synthetic way like some.
If you’re familiar with Havana Club’s 7 year old rum, you’ll unsurprisingly find echos of their signature Cuban rum style here too. The dusty and almost petrol-like taste I equate with Cuban rums though is lightened and softened by the influence of the sauternes.
Is Pacto Navio Rum Suitable for Mixing?
I see no reason why not. In fact, I’d wager that it would make for a cracking daiquiri.
Pacto Navio Rum Review – Verdict
I enjoyed my bottle but have yet to buy another. I guess that once a rum breaches that £30 barrier, then there’s a lot of other bottles to explore. It takes something exceptional to keep coming back to something in that price range when there’s able everyday sippers such as Havana Club’s own 7 year old selling for £10 less. It’s a nice rum at a reasonable price though, and one that I’d be happy to find in my glass again some time in the future 7/10.
You’ll Probably like Pacto Navio Rum if You Already Like…
Other Cuban rums such as Havana Club 7 year old or the sorta-Cuban Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 year old.
At a similar price, Ron Matusalem 15 offers a slightly spicier and less fruity finish.
After a cheaper, no-frills version of a sweet Cuban rum? Havana Club Especial’s your bottle.
A bit more expensive and a bit sweeter too is Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva rum.
In this price range, you might want to check out Hattiers Egremont. You can thank me later.