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Clément Cuvée Homere Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 92
The initial nosing yields virtually no astringency. There is a leather note along with a bit of smoke and tobacco. A grassy sweetness is suggested, as is dried fruit and spices including black pepper, anise and allspice. As the rum enters your palate it is coated with oak as the spices move to mid-palate. There is a bit of cane syrup along with orange marmalade, dried figs, dried apricots and dates here now. In contrast to the sweet imagery, however, the rhum is ultimately very dry. Digging deeper, the smoke and tobacco notes pervade. The finish is dominated by a symphony of licorice/anise/fennel notes.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Clément XO Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 95
The aromas open with leather and licorice, toffee and tobacco. A secondary set of aromas quickly appear represented by coffee, sugar cookies, and candied fruit. The rhum enters with a sublime balance of sweet and smoky oak, black pepper, licorice, and cane syrup. The oaky tannins coat the tongue and despite the perceived sweetness, the silky mouthfeel rapidly dries out completely. Subsequent sips continue to provide anise and licorice notes, as well as saddle leather, rich cigar-tobacco and a hint of grapefruit. Complex and sublime, this rhum is typically well-received by lovers of brandy and whisk(e)y. Not to be missed.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Capovilla Liberation PMG RHUM
Distiller Score 98
The nose is a hypnotic confluence of unrefined sugar, copper pennies, almonds and orange peel coupled with freshly cut sugarcane, coconut flesh, and coffee. If the aromas aren’t enough to cast a spell, the palate will certainly win you over. Fruity flavors of peach skin, pineapple, passion fruit; spicy and rich flavors of clove, anise, and tobacco; and pungent, strange (put not oft-putting) flavors like rubber, petrol, iodine, and Magic Marker. This is a spectacular rhum that slithers seductively along the palate like a serpent.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Caroni 16 Year Cask Collection (A.D. Rattray)
Distiller Score 93
This is a no holds barred, heavyweight rum. The color is a deep amber, and the nose is redolent of leather, tobacco, and a sweet, diesel-like funk similar to St. Lucian rums. It’s hard to believe this came from a column-still. The first sip explodes with full-bodied, oily, smoky flavor-- the rum equivalent of a super-peaty Scotch. There’s no middle ground – you’ll either love or hate this rum. The finish is ridiculously long-- several orders of magnitude longer than your average spirit.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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St Lucia Rum 11 Year (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
Distiller Score 86
Strong, surprising, and complex aromas of Key lime, spearmint, and menthol. In the glass, there's a blast of more cool mint and eucalyptus. Additional sips reveal some subtle citrus fruit juices, particularly lemon and lime. The finish is long and cool, with some sweet apple and more menthol. A rum for those seeking a spirit completely out of the ordinary.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Appleton Estate 21 Year Limited Edition
Distiller Score 95
The nose yields a heavy dose of oak that blends effortlessly with caramel, melted brown sugar, vanilla and Appleton's signature flamed orange note. There is virtually no astringency. The rum enters with moderate heat, and as the oaky base coats the tongue, an undercurrent of sweetness comes in to round things out. Another sip and the oak is still persistent, but now there is also milk chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, and allspice. Woven throughout the spices and treats from the bakery is a hint of citrus, dark cherries, and a bit of almond and walnut. The finish is long and complex with oaky tannins lingering as the fruity esters fade.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Lost Spirits Colonial-American Inspired Rum
Distiller Score 89
Despite the absence of artificial coloring, the Colonial American Inspired is an intense, dark copper tone. The nose brings to mind butterscotch, backed by a bit of smoke. Taste-wise, it’s unlike any rum you’ve ever had. At full strength, the initial entry burn is momentarily challenging but quickly segues into lush candied plum rolled in cocoa powder. It’s not sweet, despite the mid-palate stone fruit. The finish brings to mind the last smoky, burning embers of a campfire. A bit of water to drop it to 100 proof tames the initial burn and accentuates the smoky, roasted finish. If you must mix this, a properly made Old-Fashioned (spirit, sugar, bitters, ice) will let this rum shine.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum
Distiller Score 91
On the nose, the Family Reserve offers molasses, tobacco, oak and hints of orange peel. The velvety palate continues with molasses and oak, as well as holiday spice notes of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. The warm finish is long and dry, with further smoky and spicy notes of oak and tobacco, cloves and dried fruit.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Don Pancho Origenes 18 Year
Distiller Score 87
The aromas begin with clean honey, excellently extracted tea, soft/ripe tree fruit and interesting spices playing in the background. The palate entry is sweet and supple starting at vanilla, building to brown spice, caramel, and roasted nuts. The finish is long, rich and layered. The sumptuous depth and inviting complexly make this a lovely rum.
Reviewed by Forrest Cokely
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Stone Pine Barrique Rum
Distiller Score 88
Sweet resin assaults the senses, deepening to a roast of herbal wood spruced with rosemary and thyme. Molasses gives a dry tingle that runs starkly through. An incredibly wood-spiced palate, paving a way for prickly herbs. The finish stains the mouth, the rum numbing your palate.
Reviewed by Marcus Parmenter
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Ron Zacapa XO Rum
Distiller Score 86
This is a quiet one in the glass. It takes a minute for the rum to open up after pouring. Given a bit of time, you'll get marshmallows, baking spices, and a light woody smoke. The rum is not rich and creamy, but more like the body of a cola. There's a taste of one too; a flat, generic one. There's a little savory and sweet smoke that's pleasant, but the joy from drinking this is not as grand as the fancy bottle and packaging may lead you to believe. The aroma has more going on than the taste. As a sipping rum, the finish just isn't very complex or long so points lost there. If gifted a bottle or glass, however, by all means, drink up.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Mount Gay 1703 Master Select Rum
Distiller Score 95
This complex rum provides three distinct layers with its flavor profile. The top layer provides the caramelized banana and char notes from the aroma transmuting into a banana foster flavor. This smokey sweet flavor swirls with the mid-line notes of honeyed pineapple, dried apricot, clove, cocoa, and cinnamon. Lastly, the foundation of the rum is grounded in earthy mineral notes, black pepper, tobacco, and just a hint of dried leather.
Reviewed by Paul Senft