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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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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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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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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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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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Grenada Rum 13 Year (Berry Bros & Rudd)
Distiller Score 83
The mostly muted nose shows a bit of light caramel, but not much else. This sip has the zesty candied orange peel note, along with some light roast coffee. The finish is a little hot but not too much to throw things out of whack. There's some lingering clove, subtle pineapple, and light cream present as well.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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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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Barbados Rum 11 Year (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
Distiller Score 88
A fascinating and inviting aroma of tropical fruits open this spirit, giving way to secondary notes of vanilla and nutmeg. The palate is more fresh fruits: papaya, mango, and fresh pineapple. Once the fruit flavors pass, there's tons of mature, savory balancing flavors like tobacco, leather, and oak. The alcohol is totally in check and the finish is long with lots of baking spice.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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English Harbour Reserve 10 Year Rum
Distiller Score 92
The nose offers tropical fruit, coconut and allspice as well as molasses and caramelized sugar. On the viscous palate, there are notes of vanilla, baked apple, citrus, coffee and oak. The warm and spicy finish offers caramel, cinnamon, honey and charred oak with hints of tobacco notes.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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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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Flor de Caña Centenario 25 Rum
Distiller Score 81
This rum shows a deep amber color in the glass. The aroma has a backbone of menthol that carries notes of vanilla and toasted wood. There's a fairly strong black cherry cough syrup flavor underneath the considerable and typical oak influenced flavors. The finish is long, but not as complex as one would hope, considering the price.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Ron Abuelo Centuria
Distiller Score 94
The immensely appealing nose combines vanilla and molasses with chocolate and coffee. The palate, rich with syrupy cane, avoids any cloying aspects by virtue of its lively, berry-like fruit, mulled cider, baked pear and tobacco notes--many of which continue into a lingering, smoldering finish.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol