-
Plantation Barbados 5 Year Rum
Distiller Score 91
Upfront, the nose immediately offers butterscotch, as well as caramel and toffee. There are additional tropical notes of pineapple, banana and coconut. The palate is reminiscent of crème brûlée - sweet, creamy with notes of caramelized sugar, vanilla and other baking spices. More tropical fruit on the medium finish, with hints of orange peel and oak.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
-
Havana Club Añejo Reserva Rum
Distiller Score 85
The nose is overtly fruity, showing bitter orange and lemon custard above rum-soaked raisins and dates. The rum enters with a noticeable smoothness that borders on watery, but there is enough pepper and cinnamon to keep things interesting. Subsequent sips provide more spice along with ample vanilla and a bit of toffee, coffee, and a bit of tobacco. There is an implied sweetness, but the finish is extremely dry with a woody note that manages to coat the palate after several sips. Balanced and approachable, Havana Club Añejo Reserva is an excellent value that could easily find a home in most bars.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
-
The Real McCoy 5 Year Rum
Distiller Score 90
The golden rum provides a host of pleasant aromas including ripe fruit and freshly baked sweets. The fruits include banana, mango and kiwi, and the sweets are represented by cream puffs and toffee candies. Also here is a dose of spice including mixed pepper and cardamom. The rum enters with a nearly simultaneous presentation of fruit, spice and sweets. The mid-palate is hit with the oaky tannins and the sweetness, while the upper palate receives the spice and bright fruits. The kiwi and mango noted upon nosing are here, and are now amped up even further by a melange of citrus zests--principally lemon and orange. Subsequent sips provide more oak and vanilla with caramel and the toffee. There is the slightest bit of leather and tobacco as well, and as the long finish fades, the tannins and sweetness fall away gracefully. A delightful rum with complexity beyond its years.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
-
Ron Abuelo 7 Años
Distiller Score 86
The 7 Años opens with a slight sweetness on the nose, followed by light aromas that conjure white flowers and dry grass. Aromatic hints of coconut and hazelnut announce a palate that starts with some heat and evolves into a blend of caramel and vanilla. The medium-long finish introduces some cedar and spice before tapering off into burnished leather.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
-
El Dorado 8 Year Rum
Distiller Score 89
Quite a few things are happening in this rum like apple juice, cigar ash, orange peel, and a moderate dose of funk. There's a slight metallic note as well. The rum is of average body and has some burnt sugar, and barrel spices along with what you found on the nose. If you're just getting into rum, this is a good one to start with to get an understanding of what this funk or "hogo" you see cropping up when people talk about rum. It's a good value as well.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Ron Abuelo Añejo
Distiller Score 80
The añejo opens with moderate heat (think cinnamon) and a touch of wood, accented by vanilla and toasty coconut. Heat lingers on the palate, as do spice and wood. A less-than-subtle, but nevertheless appealing, combination of woody vegetal and herbal notes evolves with time. Heat and spice return with gusto on the medium-long finish.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
-
Hamilton Guyana Rum
Distiller Score 83
In the glass, this rum is a dark copper, partially the result of added spirit caramel. The nose is molasses, with more subtle traces of leather and tobacco. The initial entry surprises with a sweet fruit, but which quickly transforms into the molasses and tobacco tones picked up from the nose, along with some mild spice. The finish is dry and earthy, with the tobacco fading out last with a slight amount of burn. This is a robust spirit that has no designs on being a fancy sherry-casked sipping rum. Not an ideal gateway rum for someone new to the category, it’s worthwhile to pull out when demonstrating the diversity of styles. Also ideal for cocktails which call for a non-overproof demerara-style rum, where it competes in the same space as the El Dorado 5 and El Dorado 8.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
-
Don Q Añejo Rum
Distiller Score 83
The nose offers vanilla, molasses, allspice and leather, with hints of straw, tobacco and oak. On the sweet and dry palate there’s more vanilla and molasses, along with citrus, dried fruit and floral notes. The medium finish is warm and spicy, with oak, tobacco and citrus peel.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
-
Brugal Extra Viejo Rum
Distiller Score 80
The nose offers a rich sweetness, with dark brown sugar and molasses, along with lighter sweet notes honey, and vanilla, and faint touches of smoke. The palate is dry and wood dominant, with heaps of oak, and a chewy mouthfeel. There's also some smoke and cinnamon, but surprisingly after the nose, it offers little in the way of sweetness. Find a long spicy finish to bring things home.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Doorly's XO Rum
Distiller Score 88
The aroma of the rum is lush with notes of caramel, banana, sherried oak, and a light hint of apricot. The palate initially reveals a pleasant wash of caramel, followed by cinnamon, roasted walnut, banana, and citrus peel. As the fruit flavors fade there is a pop of black pepper, tobacco, and smoky oak tannins. The oak notes carry into the finish providing a light bitter finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
-
Plantation Isle of Fiji
Distiller Score 85
The cognac comes through on the nose most notably rather than the taste. The rum feels warming on the palate with a molasses flavor coupled with tropical fruits and baking spices. There's a coppery tinge to the taste. The rum is medium sweet and has an average length for the finish. Would use in a punch or in cocktails
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Ron Barceló Gran Añejo
Distiller Score 82
The nose offers dried fruits, grass, sugar cane, butterscotch and brown sugar, with fainter hints of smoke and tobacco. The palate moves into heavier earthy flavors, with more sugar cane alongside palm sugar, and vegetal and hogo flavors. A short, funky finish closes out with molasses, roast, toffee and brown sugar.
Reviewed by Jake Emen