Flor De Cana 18 Year Rum

Flor de Caña 18 Year Rum. Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua, Chichigalpa, Nicaragua — an 18-year ultra-premium rum aged at the base of an active volcano without added sugar, artificial additives, accelerants, or coloring, certified Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade, from a fifth-generation family estate that has been distilling since 1890.

The San Cristóbal Volcano looms over the Ingenio San Antonio sugar estate in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua — still active, still fertile, still providing the volcanic soil and minerally groundwater that have defined Flor de Caña's character since 1890. The distillery has been owned and operated by the Pellas family for five generations, making them one of the longest continuously operating family rum producers in the Americas.

What makes Flor de Caña unusual among premium aged rums is its commitment to what it won't add rather than what it will. The rum is naturally aged in small American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, sealed with plantain leaves in the traditional Nicaraguan method. No sugar is added. No artificial color. No flavor accelerants or additives of any kind. The 18-year age statement is genuine and verified. The distillery runs on 100% renewable energy and holds Carbon Neutral certification from the Carbon Trust and Fair Trade certification — recognizing both its environmental practices and its commitment to the communities around the estate. Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rich oak spice, zesty orange peel, dark brown sugars, and dark caramel toffee. Nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and anise develop with time. Nuts and caramel are the most persistent notes.
• Palate: Full-bodied and dry with layers of toffee, dark chocolate, cocoa, and spice. A strong oak presence deepens after the initial hit. Dried fig, raisins, toasted nuts, citrus, and allspice. Bold and smooth simultaneously.
• Finish: Long, smooth, and clean. Walnut and dark chocolate. Oaky and leathery with a lingering warm spice. Exceptionally long-lasting for the style.

Specs

• Distillery: Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua, Chichigalpa (est. 1890, Pellas family, 5th generation)
• Style: Premium Aged Nicaraguan Rum
• Aging: 18 years in small American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, sealed with plantain leaves
• No added sugar, no artificial color, no additives or accelerants
• Certifications: Carbon Neutral (Carbon Trust); Fair Trade; Kosher; 100% renewable energy
• Awards: Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021; Gold, John Barleycorn Awards 2019
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse our full selection of rum at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Flor de Caña 18 Year taste like? Rich oak spice, orange peel, dark caramel toffee, and nutmeg on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate with toffee, dark chocolate, cocoa, dried fig, raisins, and toasted nuts. The finish is long, smooth, and dry with walnut and dark chocolate lingering.
• Does Flor de Caña 18 Year have added sugar? No — zero added sugar, artificial color, or additives of any kind. The sweetness and color come entirely from 18 years of natural oak aging.
• What does Carbon Neutral certification mean? Flor de Caña is certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust, meaning the distillery measures, reduces, and offsets its total carbon emissions. The entire operation runs on 100% renewable energy. It is also Fair Trade certified for its labor and community practices.
• How should I serve Flor de Caña 18 Year? Best neat in a snifter or on a single squared ice cube with an orange peel twist — the official serve from the distillery. Let it breathe for a few minutes before the first sip to open the aromatics fully.
• How does the 18 Year compare to the 12 Year? The 18 Year is significantly richer, darker, and more oak-forward — six additional years at the base of an active volcano adds substantial wood depth, spice, and complexity. Where the 12 Year is approachable and fruit-forward, the 18 Year is a serious sipping rum with a long, dry, deeply complex finish.