Transcontinental Rum Line Panama 2015 6 Year Old Rum 43% 700ml

Panama 2015  -  6 Years Old  -  Transcontinental Rum Line by La Maison du Whisky

Here's one that doesn't shout - it smoulders. The Panama 6 Year Old 2015, newly landed under the Transcontinental Rum Line banner, is a rum of quiet confidence. No fireworks, no fanfare - just slow-aged elegance from a country that knows how to take its time. It's a sip that leans into the softer side of the rum world, but with enough backbone to keep things interesting. Think velvet glove, iron grip.

Panama isn't always the loudest voice in the room when it comes to rum, but it should never be underestimated. Rums from this region often come with Spanish colonial DNA - molasses-based, column-distilled, typically aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and crafted with a delicate touch. In many ways, they echo the style of their cousins from Venezuela or Nicaragua - smooth, round, easy-drinking. But under the right conditions - and in the right hands - they can become so much more.

Enter La Maison du Whisky, who once again flex their curatorial muscle here. With the Transcontinental Rum Line, they specialise in finding overlooked gems, bottling them with minimal interference, and giving them room to speak. This Panama expression spent its early years under tropical heat before crossing oceans to complete its maturation in Europe. That dual ageing brings the best of both worlds: tropical intensity with continental finesse.

The result? A rum that's golden and glowing in the glass, like late afternoon sunlight on a colonial balcony. On the nose, expect soft toffee, golden raisin, vanilla pod, and a dusting of nutmeg. There's a trace of oak, but it whispers rather than growls. The palate is silky, with caramelised banana, light tobacco, toasted almond, and a subtle hint of leather. It's dry-ish - no syrupy sweetness here - but wonderfully rounded. A soft spice hums on the finish, just enough to keep you coming back.

This is the kind of bottle that thrives in classic cocktails. Try it in a Rum Old Fashioned with a dash of chocolate bitters. Or mix up a Presidente - white vermouth, orange liqueur, and this rum over block ice - and let its elegance shine. It'll also charm a neat pour, especially after dinner, maybe alongside a square of dark chocolate or a mild cigar.

For those looking to graduate from overly sweet rums - maybe you've outgrown Diplomatico and want something drier, more nuanced - this Panama 6 Year Old is a smart next step. It's approachable, but far from boring. A quiet achiever. A diplomat with edge.

This isn't a bottle that needs a spotlight - it is the spotlight, for those who know what they're looking at. Add it to your collection if you like your rum smooth but not soft, stylish but not showy. It's not just a good sipper - it's a great lesson in the art of restraint.