Ron Matusalem was born in Cuba and, like several rum companies, migrated to the Dominican Republic last century.

It’s of course named for the biblical Methuselah, who lived longer than any other man — and that’s reflected in the company’s rums, most of which have some serious age on them.

Last year, we tried the Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 — an excellent rum from what has become one of the top producers in the Dominican Republic.

So we thought we’d try the next level up — the Gran Reserva 18, a solera-style rum with rums as much as as 18 years old.

The Gran Reserva 18 has a deep amber colour, with an aroma of candied fruits and the slightest whisper of orange peel.

The flavour profile is marked by dried fruits, citrus peel, oak and the slightly nutty quality that characterizes most high-end rums from the Dominican Republic.

The Gran Reserva 18 is almost perfectly balanced; it’s a bit sweeter than the 15 year, surprisingly, and the finish is velvety smooth.

The verdict? Exquisite.

And, while it’s only available in the United States, the 18 is, like much of the company’s rums, a tremendous value. You can find it retailing for around $35, which, for a rum like this, is almost unheard of.

We recommend it neat.

— CJ