Fortuna is the Roman goddess of good luck, which is appropriate because when I sat down to write this review, the first thought that ran through my mind is, “I’m sure lucky to be tasting this.” Fortuna Rum is a new import to the United States, and this eight-year-old rum from Nicaragua is already winning praise from rum enthusiasts and competitions alike. In fact, Fortuna has won gold from the Beverage Tasting Institute and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out more well-known brands.

Fortuna isn’t a mixing rum. While you definitely could mix this rum, you’d be doing yourself a disservice as this is one of the better sipping rums on the market. With its complex flavors and smooth, rich notes, this is a rum to sit and to savor.

Nicaragua makes some of the world’s finest rums. Fortuna and Flor De Cana both make excellent rums, and this tiny country, located in Central America between Honduras and Costa Rica, finally has a stable economic and political situation to allow it to thrive after years of Sandinista rule.

Fortuna eight-year rum starts with sugar cane grown in some of the richest land in the world. This tropical climate and rich soil creates perfect growing conditions for farmers. Sugar cane is used for the production of sugar, and it is the byproduct, molasses, that is used for distilling rum. Fortuna distills their rum five times in column stills before putting their rum in American oak barrels to mature. The barrel houses are located on the same land as the cane fields, allowing the rum to mature in the same environment for a minimum of eight and for as much as ten years. Then the Master Blender hand selects the barrels that will be blended together to create Fortuna rum.

The result is one of the most elegant rums I’ve tasted. On the nose, Fortuna offers exotic fruits, banana, honey, and vanilla, and this continues on to the palate. More fruits (think apricots, bananas, and mangoes) appear on the tongue along with caramel, demerara sugar, and honey. On the finish, Fortuna is a delight with demerara sugar, banana, and crème brulee notes gliding across the palate.

Overall, this is a truly impressive rum. I wanted to book the next flight to Nicaragua as soon as I tasted it. Instead, I think most of us will have to settle for sipping Fortuna at home or at our local watering hole. If you are a rum enthusiast, pick up Fortuna, and you’ll be smiling with good luck. If you’ve never tried a great sipping rum, Fortuna is definitely one to look for. Highly recommended.