Santos Dumont XO

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes

Special Features:

Santos Dumont XO brings together two distinct sugarcane traditions in a rum-based spirit: slowly fermented molasses distillates from the West Indies and Central America are blended with Brazilian sugarcane juice distillates. The distillates mature for years in previously used casks. These include former bourbon barrels, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and port wine casks.

This amber-coloured spirit has a fruit-led profile and a notably smooth mouthfeel. Each bottle is individually numbered and carries an additional cask or batch reference. Bottled at 40% alcohol, the 0.7-litre bottle comes in black gift packaging with gold-coloured accents.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, banana and coconut mingle with ripe fruit and a note reminiscent of apricot kernels.
• Palate: The XO is soft, rich and warm on the palate. Ripe fruit and honey meet gentle tannins and pronounced ester notes. Its viscous texture leaves a buttery mouthfeel.
• Finish: The finish is velvety and delicately sweet. Vanilla and coconut linger alongside honey and notes of fermented fruit.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Santos Dumont brand belongs to the spirits house A.H. Riise Spirits. Its concept combines Brazilian sugarcane juice distillates with molasses rums from the West Indies and Central America. For the XO, the slowly fermented molasses distillates are brought together with the Brazilian component in a single blend.

The brand takes its name from Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont, who lived from 1873 to 1932. He came from a wealthy family of coffee and sugarcane producers whose plantation also produced sugarcane distillates. His fascination with machinery led him to aviation: in 1901, he circled the Eiffel Tower in an airship. His portrait and historical imagery on the packaging reflect this life story.

Facts: