Ron Anejo Carupano Reserva Exclusiva 18 Year Rum
Ron Anejo Carupano Reserva Exclusiva 18 Year Rum is eighteen years of sealed-barrel patience — an 80 proof (40% ABV) 750mL Venezuelan rum aged up to eighteen years in ex-bourbon American oak at Hacienda Altamira. European importers sell this exact rum as "Reserva Limitada 18"; same datasheet, same notes, one rum with two names. Where the 12 runs dark on maple and prune, the 18 turns golden: candied fruits, almonds, honey, and a long figs-and-chocolate finish. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV) — 750mL
- Age: reserves aged up to 18 years
- Cask: ex-bourbon American oak, sealed — no angel's-share replacement
- Origin: Hacienda Altamira, Macarapana-Carupano Valley, Venezuela; founded 1762
- Naming: sold in Europe as "Reserva Limitada 18" — the same expression
The Eighteen That Travels Under Two Names
Shop the European import lists and you will find "Reserva Limitada 18" with this rum's exact profile; shop the American shelf and it is the Reserva Exclusiva 18. Importer datasheets match line for line — ex-bourbon oak, up to eighteen years, the candied-fruit and honey signature — so there is no second rum to hunt down. What there is, is eighteen years of the Macarapana Valley microclimate working sealed oak: the age where Carupano's rums turn from dark and brooding to golden and expansive. Shop more rum or the full Ron Anejo Carupano collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Brand notes: beautiful amber with golden bright sparkles; a delicate nose of candied fruits, moderate wood, almonds, and honey; a palate that opens vigorously with firm, balanced body; and a prolonged finish of figs and chocolate.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a single large cube — the honeyed profile opens beautifully with a touch of dilution. This is a dessert-course rum: serve it where the port would go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as Reserva Limitada 18?
Yes — European importers list the same expression under that name; the datasheet and tasting notes are identical.
How does it compare to the 12?
Six more years in ex-bourbon oak shifts the profile: the 18 is golden and honeyed (candied fruit, almonds, figs, chocolate) where the 12 is darker (maple, prune, red flowers).
Is 18 an age statement?
The distillery states "reserves of up to 18 years" — an age ceiling on the blend's oldest components.
Eighteen years, one rum, two continents' worth of names — order the Carupano 18 from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.