Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva 18 Year Old Rum
Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva 18 Year Old Rum is the Dominican distillery's flagship solera-aged rum — Caribbean molasses spirit cascaded through casks in the sherry-house style so no barrel is ever fully drained, for an average of 18 years of age, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). The result is the rum that earned the brand its nickname: the "Cognac of Rums" — refined, layered, warming and built for slow sipping. You can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 18 years — solera system, average age
- Base: Caribbean molasses
- Origin: Dominican Republic (Cuban recipe, est. Santiago de Cuba 1872)
- Character: caramel, vanilla, oak, baking spice, tobacco, dried fruit
The Cognac of Rums
Brothers Benjamin and Eduardo Camp left Spain for Santiago de Cuba in 1872 with a Spanish approach to rum — solera blending from sherry houses and the distillation discipline of Cognac. Their rum became Cuba's Golden Age favorite; after the 1959 revolution the family carried the 1872 recipe to the Dominican Republic and has blended it the same way ever since. Named for the biblical Methuselah — 969 years of patient aging — Gran Reserva 18 is Matusalem's argument that rum deserves the same reverence as cognac: solera-aged, silky, and, at around $40, one of the great values in aged spirits. Browse Ron Matusalem, explore the store's rum selection, or see cognac to compare what "Cognac of Rums" really means.
Tasting Notes
Nose: caramel, vanilla and oak, followed by baking spices, nuts and tobacco. Palate: sweet and medium-bodied — vanilla, pepper, nutmeg, dried fruits and citrus peel with a silky, rich texture. Finish: drying and lightly sweet, with baking spices, citrus, walnuts and coconut.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a snifter, or over a single large cube — the Caribbean Journal calls it "exquisite" served straight. It also elevates a rum Old Fashioned or a premium daiquiri. Pairs with dark chocolate, roasted nuts and a good cigar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is solera aging?
A fractional-blending system from sherry production: younger rums top up older casks in a cascade, so the average age rises while no barrel is ever fully emptied — building smoothness and complexity.
Where is Ron Matusalem made now?
The Dominican Republic, where the Camp family relocated after fleeing Cuba's 1959 revolution; the recipe dates to 1872 Santiago de Cuba.
Why is it called the "Cognac of Rums"?
For its refined, Cognac-like character — solera aging, silky texture and layered dried-fruit and spice notes — a nickname earned in Cuba's Golden Age.
One of the finest values in aged rum — Gran Reserva 18 is available online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.