Reviewer: Tashtego
Distillery: Legado
Origin: Arroyos y Esteros, Paraguay
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Bottle Count: Unstated
ABV: 60%
Distilled: Unstated
Base Material: Cane juice
Still: Pot still
Aging specs: Aged 22 months in French oak Argentinian malbec casks
Bottled: Unstated, purchased 2025
Nose: Bitter orange, sugar cane, barrel, white grape
Palate: Caramel, orchard fruits, tobacco, red wine, citrus, custard
Finish: Toffee
Following up on my review of the Pampas Zorro, here we have the aged version of that same rum. This one is put out under the Rolling Fork brand, and it’s been aged in Paraguay for nearly 2 years in an ex-malbec wine cask and bottled at 60%. As a nod to the Pampas Zorro name, Rolling Fork put the Pampas Fox on this label as well. I really enjoyed the unaged version, so let’s see how it does with some age on it.
Nosing the glass, this has certainly been tamed by the time in the wine casks. It’s lost that bright tropical character but gained some sophistication and new fruit notes. No doubt this is still a cane juice rum (similar nose to a élevé sous bois), but you can also get some bitter orange and white grape notes. On the palate, the fruit is still there but complemented by some sweet caramel flavor that calls to mind some custardy desserts. Additional layers of tobacco and the red wine from the casks add some depth. It’s a sweet toffee finish. Similar to the Pampas Zorro, this is pretty drinkable at 60%.
Overall, this bottle loses a lot of what I liked about the Pampas Zorro, but it’s still an interesting study in the effects of aging. This is a completely different spirit from its unaged form. There’s plenty to like, but it’s not as interesting a sipping experience as, say, an aged cane juice rum from Alambique Serrano. On Taste, I’ll give this a strong 2, and on Haste I’ll rate it a 3. For $30, just $5 more than the Pampas Zorro (with almost 2 years of aging at origin), that’s not a bad price at all. Worth a pick-up if you’re in the market to try some unique South American rums.
Taste/Haste Scale: 2 / 3
