Angostura 1919 Rum
Angostura 1919 Rum is a second chance at a legendary accident — 750mL at 40% ABV (80 proof), a minimum-8-year blend of Trinidadian rums matured in charred ex-bourbon barrels with no added caramel — and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: Blend of rums aged a MINIMUM of 8 years in charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels ("Deluxe Aged Blend")
- Distillate: Molasses-based blend of light and heavy rums from Angostura's multi-column continuous stills
- Signature: No added caramel coloring — the golden hue comes entirely from barrel maturation
- Origin: Trinidad and Tobago — distilled by Angostura Limited in Laventille
Born in a 1932 Fire
In 1932, a fire destroyed the Government Rum Bond in Trinidad. Master blender J.B. Fernandes of Fernandes Distillers bought the charred casks salvaged from the blaze — and discovered they had been filled in 1919. The rum inside had survived, beautifully aged and transformed by years in those charred barrels. Fernandes blended it and named it "1919 Aged Rum," and the House of Angostura has spent generations recreating that accidental find — shipping it to Trinidadian troops in WWII as "the spirit of Trinidad." Shop the rum collection at Del Mesa Liquor, compare other aged rums, or explore the Angostura house.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate and cocoa over sweet fruitcake, stone fruits and baking spice. The palate is creamy and mellow, mid-bodied — vanilla, butterscotch, allspice, molasses, baked peach pie, cinnamon, fennel and pineapple-upside-down cake. The finish is round, sweet and spicy, lingering on vanilla and oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over a large cube to appreciate the full complexity — a splash of still water opens up the vanilla and fruit. It also builds a premium Rum Old Fashioned or Dark 'n Stormy, and pairs beautifully with dark chocolate or pecan pie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called 1919?
The name commemorates the fill year of the charred casks salvaged from the 1932 Government Rum Bond fire — rum filled in 1919, discovered aged and extraordinary.
Who makes Angostura 1919?
Angostura Limited in Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago — the House of Angostura, also the home of the world's most famous bitters.
Why is it golden if there's no added caramel?
The color comes entirely from eight-plus years in charred ex-bourbon barrels — no caramel coloring is added, a genuine differentiator.
Has it won awards?
Category winner at the 2017 World Rum Awards (independently verifiable), plus retailer-cited Golds at the SFWSC (2015), World Spirit Awards (2016) and 95 points at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
A fire, a find, and a century of blending — get Angostura 1919 online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.