Don Papa Baroko

Don Papa owes its unusual name to a prominent Filipino figure: Dionisio Magbuelas, better known as Papa Isio, was an influential freedom fighter in the Philippine Revolution, which sought independence from Spain. Exactly 100 years after his death in 1911, Englishman Stephen Carroll founded the Bleeding Heart Rum Company. In honor of Magbuelas, the first rum creation was named Don Papa. A large part of Don Papa Baroko's flavor comes from its seven years of aging in American oak barrels. Similar to whisky aging, this imparts a pronounced vanilla note. This complements the distinctly sweet taste of dried fruit beautifully. The Baroko is exceptionally smooth and almost viscous on the tongue, with a lingering banana aroma. It is well-suited for sipping neat, optionally over ice. Don Papa Baroko also makes an excellent base spirit for cocktails. "Baroko means 'exuberance' (in Tagalog, the language spoken on the island of Negros)."