A leading Venezuelan composer has transformed the tasting notes of a new ultra-precious rum into an original musical composition, creating a world-first piece designed to enhance the way the rum is experienced.
Internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Clara Rodriguez has created the four minute piece to enhance the taste profile of Diplomático’s Chancellor – a new rum reserved for the world’s most discerning spirits connoisseurs, with only 900 individually numbered bottles being released globally.
The track follows the spirit’s butterscotch, vanilla and warming spice notes with accompanying aural textures that scientifically match the evolving tastes.
Developed in collaboration with Oxford University experimental psychologist and sonic seasoning authority Professor Charles Spence, the piece applies cutting-edge research into how sound influences flavour perception. Studies show specific pitches, tempos and tonal qualities can amplify sweetness, warmth and richness, turning a glass of rum into a fully immersive, multi-sensory experience.
Sonic seasoning research has revealed how sound can enhance the way our tastebuds perceive flavours – giving birth to a multisensory phenomenon where the brain links different audio frequencies to taste profiles.
Sonic seasoning expert, Charles Spence, said: “Flavour is never just on the tongue, and the right notes can transform how these are perceived by our brains. In this piece of Venezuelan music, we translated the rum’s tasting notes into sound, so when people listen while they taste, the music gently nudges perception, making the rum feel richer, warmer, and more expressive.”
Rooted in the heritage shared by Rodriguez and Diplomático, the new piece is a classical spin on Venezuelan folk music, connecting the origins behind the rum with rhythms and textures that allow the spirit of Venezuela to shine through.
The track, titled ‘The Chancellor’s Treasured Notes’, uses specific musical techniques to accentuate the nose, taste and finish of the Chancellor rum. The piece starts with longer, sustained tones by the piano to accentuate the butterscotch while the bass brings lower notes to compliment the tobacco aromas, as it has been found within sensory studies that lower pitched sounds accentuate bitterness. The cuatro and maracas are reminiscent of wind rustling through sugar cane plantations, establishing an evocative and sensory soundscape.
The piece unfolds as a Venezuelan waltz, utilising a ¾ tempo to accompany the vanilla sweetness of the first taste, accompanied by playful syncopated and high-pitched melodies to bring through the citrus notes.
