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Subject: Re: Matusalem Rum - Solera...
From: Adam Elmegirab
Posted: Wed Nov 29. 2006, 13:48 UTC
Followup to: "Matusalem Rum - Solera..."  by Bongo_Dave  (Wed Nov 29. 2006, 13:08 UTC)
> So i was sitting in on a training session for one of our sister bars 
> down the road when the fella doing the training stated that the 
> matusalem platinum was not infact a white rum, but it was classed as 
> a solera rum.

I'm 99.9% positive that statement is wrong. Matusalem Platino (white rum), is 
not made using the 'solera' aging process. 

Whilst I can see what the guy as saying, I have never heard of a rum 
classified as a 'solera' rum. If there was a classification as such, then 
Matusalem Clasico/Gran Reserva would be 'solera' rum, as they use the 'solera' 
system (which was traditionally used for sherry, muscat, balsamic vinegar, 
etc.), but the Platino would not.

The Matusalem range is :-

Platino - White Rum
Clasico - Golden Rum, 10 solera
Gran Reserva - Dark/Golden Rum, 15 solera

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the belief that the 'Solera' system 
is a clever alternative to aging, so instead of the whisky/rum in the bottle 
being 15 years old, it contains liquor that is an AVERAGE of 15 years old. 
Hence why it says 15 Solera on the bottle, and not 15 Year Old.

Glenfiddich also use it for there 15 Solera, a malt I highly recommend.

http://uk.glenfiddich.com/enjoy/range/solera_res.html

"The Glenfiddich Solera system is unique amongst Scotch whisky distillers. 
Fifteen-year-old Glenfiddich from three types of casks – traditional American 
bourbon, Spanish sherry and new oak – is married in a large Solera vat, made 
of Oregon pine. The vat is always kept at least half full, ensuring a 
consistent quality of whisky is maintained whenever it is topped up. Then this 
beautifully balanced single malt is left to settle in a small Solera tun 
before bottling."

http://www.matusalem.com/faq_3.html

"The Solera aging system, is a process blending rums of different ages into 
one. Stored in oak casks, the aged rum is split by three levels. The oldest 
distilled rum is housed on the lowest floor. Newer rums are put into casks on 
successively higher floors, so that the youngest is on top. As the rum is 
pulled from the lowest Solera barrels for bottling, it is replaced with rum 
from the row just above. This process is repeated with the remaining rows, 
though no more than one-third of each cask can be drawn off every three 
months. 

This marrying of old and new softens the fiery younger rum and provides it 
with a refined smoothness and flavor not found in ordinary rums. A 15-year 
Solera or a 10-year Solera is an average of the blended years."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solera

I think the guy that was hosting the training didn't really know what he was 
talking about with regards to the solera system...

> He said it was a normal golden rum then it was filtered to give a 
> clear rum. He didnt know why it was filtered and actually asked me, 
> but i didn't know. Before now i had thought it was a normal white 
> rum. 

Whether Matusalem take gold rum and filter it to make white rum, I aint sure! 
Its a difficult brand to find info about...

> I have looked on the matusalem website and have learnt the 'Solera' 
> is a process of Blending Different aged rums together but it doesnt 
> mention anything about why the blends are then filtered to give the 
> platinum rum, it also doesnt give any idea as to how much of what age 
> rums are blended together before it's filtered so i might get an idea 
> of what length of aging the flavour comes from.

Platino = I don't know the 'age' if it has one?!? It doesn't say it is made 
using the solera system.

Clasico 10 solera = Average of 10 year old rums

Gran Reserva 15 solera = Average of 15 year old rums

> I was wondering if anyone else would be able to help....

Hope this is of some help to you. I think that your trainer was talking 
nonsense...

S'laters,

Adam

-- 
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