Flor de Caña Selected by La Maison Du Whisky 1997

Review by cigares

Most helpful positive review

cigares

Sep 20241,175 reviewsSwitzerland

8.2/10

A beautiful nose where the wood is most noticeable in the beautiful vanilla, no marked bitterness here, despite long tropical aging. The finish in cognac casks adds elegance. Some fruit, but rather dry, and caramel. The palate is marked by alcohol, though not dominant. Here too, cognac adds interesting aromas. The finish is moderately long, with lovely, gently fading aromas. The best Flor de Cana I've ever had in my glass, but not, for my taste, worth the price it's sold for.

Review by TheRhumhoe

Most helpful mixed review

TheRhumhoe

Oct 20241,076 reviews

7.4/10

Flor de Caña doesn't have the best image, and this old vintage tries to change that. The nose remains fairly conventional, with caramel, woody notes crossed with light spices, slightly roasted and chocolatey notes, and a slightly Cognac-like edge that tugs at the raisin. A slightly drier profile than usual, but quite simple. On the palate, there's brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, chocolate and toasty oak. The syrupy texture accentuates this gourmand side and the feeling of having a ron in the glass. Cognac and dried fruit are still present. The profile is not bad, but remains fairly flat despite the cognac twist. The alcohol is well integrated. The finish is where the shortcomings are most apparent: short, thin and timid, the aromas struggle to go beyond caramel, vanilla spices, wood and dried fruit (which are barely recognizable). We have every right to expect much more from this cuvée, especially for its exorbitant price.

Review by TheJona'Spirits

TheJona'Spirits

Dec 2025387 reviewsFrance

7.5/10

Discovered at the VIP area of the Limoges Spirits Festival 2025. 👃 Unsurprising combination of vanilla, caramel, chocolate, mild spices, in a toasted woodiness that lacks depth. A grape eau-de-vie side like Cognac but more like commercial products such as Martel or Hennessy, which are far from good representatives of the appellation. A primarily classic, soft, and quite dry profile. The alcohol is quite present for the ABV. 😋 Still that impression of commercial Cognacs which are not my cup of tea. Dried fruits with alcohol, vanilla caramel, chocolate, toasted woodiness. Soft, syrupy, and light. Certainly, the 47% is better integrated than on the nose but it sorely lacks intensity. ⛳ Light flavors and very thin intensity for the announced 25 years of aging. We find soft caramel, gentle vanilla, light dried fruits, toasted woodiness. 💡 For the indicated price, you can get much better. A surprising selection from LMDW and way too expensive. Yet there are some very good Nicaragua selections made by IBs. Ricci family with their Dantes for bar 1802 and also the collab with the Bear's bar. Rums often need high proofs to be interesting.