Royal Centenario: A Costa Rican Rum for Whisky Lovers

2026.10.05

In short: Royal Centenario (Centenario Real) is a Costa Rican rum aged in ex-Scotch whisky casks, matured slowly in the cool highlands at about 1,200 m and blended with a solera system — which is why whisky lovers enjoy it. Official notes: cigar, coffee, bitter chocolate, clove, leather and black grape skins. From Bar Little Happiness in Hiroshima.

A rum I especially want whisky lovers to try.

“Royal Centenario” (Centenario Real) from Costa Rica 🥃

Its biggest feature is that it is aged in empty “Scotch whisky” casks.

Highland, Lowland, Speyside…

Now let’s go a step further into its “maturation.”

When it comes to ageing rum, Costa Rica is a slightly special place.

While many rums mature “roughly but quickly” in the tropical lowlands, Centenario takes its time slowly in the cool highlands, at about 1,200 m above sea level.

This is where the “solera system” comes in.

It is a traditional technique of continually topping up with spirits of different ages, always keeping the flavour in harmony.

Slow maturation in the highlands, and complex blending through the solera.

This combination is the key: it keeps the components from the whisky casks from turning into “harshness,” and refines them into the “elegance of black grape skins” described in the official notes.

── Official Tasting Notes ──

Fine sweetness, plus the complexity of cigar, coffee beans and bitter chocolate.

A spicy finish of clove, cinnamon and leather.

And an elegance like the skins of black grapes…

---

Every encounter is meant to be. Welcome to the world of Rum&Whisky.

“Both whisky and rum taste even better when you touch the feelings of the people who make them.”