As with most celebrity food endorsements, I was initially skeptical of
the Atlantico Reserva rum that showed up on my desk one day. Its
spokesperson is Enrique Iglesias, and while I like his stuff
(especially his performance on Howard Stern's show years ago where
Iglesias proved his soaring voice was his and his alone–Baba
Booey), que
chingada would a pop
star from Spain with a huge fan base in Mexico know about rum from
the Dominican Republic?
But,
like with most booze that's within my reach, I eventually succumbed
to temptation and took a shot. Man, I hope Iglesias endorses a mezcal
next because the cabrón
has good taste in alcohol.
]
This is a very sweet, almost syrup rum, with notes of caramel, oak–and is that maple lurking at the end? Nothing harsh about it other than the alcohol part, which will make the eyes of novices water but will prove a wonderful kick to the experienced–no burn, just puro desmadre. I drank it straight, and loved it, but putting it on the rocks opens up the Atlantico, cools down its sugary rage into a suave, debonair treat, like Iglesias at his best. I wouldn't want to waste this rum on a cocktail, although it can theoretically make a killer daiquiri. And, yes: it is a religious experience (if you're bilingual, you'll get that this is a pun and not an overwrought description; if you only habla English, get with the program and learn Spanish, already!)
