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Goslings Black Seal Rum
Distiller Score 87
Goslings Black Seal Rum offers a sweet nose of allspice, caramel, dried fruit and molasses. The palate is rich and creamy, opening with more caramel and molasses, then segueing to notes of butterscotch, vanilla and cinnamon. The warm and spicy finish lingers with caramelized brown sugar, baked fruit and herbs.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Siesta Key Toasted Coconut
Distiller Score 90
The aroma of the rum is that of freshly-cut coconut cream pie. As this fades, slight honey-vanilla and spice notes linger. The flavor of the rum is dominated by the rich toasted coconut notes. Vanilla, baking spices, and honey augment the finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Plantation 3 Stars White Rum
Distiller Score 87
The nose introduces the three “stars” with ripe banana, tropical fruit, brown sugar and subtle coffee notes. The palate continues with more fruit, vanilla, orange zest, and a touch of hogo with a bit of viscosity. The floral finish offers more vanilla, sugarcane and spice notes.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Mount Gay Rum Sugar Cane Brandy
Distiller Score 92
The "brandy" has a shiny copper color in the glass. The aroma is filled with fruit notes and spices nipping around the edges. The spice notes manifest as cinnamon and nutmeg on the palate interweaving with banana, pear, and apricot fruit notes before fading into a short, dry, smoky finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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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
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Santa Teresa Añejo Gran Reserva Rum
Distiller Score 88
Moderately sweet and overall very easy on the palate this rum simply put over-delivers. The nose presents Santa Teresa's tell-tale orange zest aromas along with peach, licorice root and a hint of vanilla. These flavors continue on the palate with Demerara sugar, honeysuckle and five-spice powder. This soft and easy rum just might take over your home bar!
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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The Real McCoy 3 Year Rum
Distiller Score 91
The perfectly clear rum bursts forth from the glass with aromas of fresh and candied fruit including banana, mango and raspberry. Beyond the fruit is a bit of vanilla and floral notes. The rum enters with a pleasant mix of the aforementioned sweet fruit backed by vanilla and cream, and balanced by a good amount of spice in the form of black pepper and nutmeg, with a hint of cardamom. Subsequent sips yield more Chantilly cream and even more fruit including a bit of strawberry. The finish is quite long and despite a bit of saccharin on the finish, is delightful. A fine white rum suitable for sipping over ice.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Siesta Key Spiced
Distiller Score 88
Vanilla forms the base of the aroma, followed up by ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, honey, and allspice. The flavors of the rum are a swirl of honey, vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Bayou Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 87
Not much spice emanates from the glass, though there is an inviting aroma of butterscotch and root beer. The spices enter the picture on the palate, though, with a subtle blend of baking spice, sassafras, birch, pine cone and more savory flavors such as bayleaf, thyme and rosemary. Though this rum is intended as a mixer, the overall effect is elegant enough that it could be sipped neat or with just a splash of tonic or cola.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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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
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Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 85
In the glass, the Chairman’s Reserve Spiced is a medium red amber. The nose is a mild mix of cinnamon, coconut and vanilla. Sipping initially reveals a quick initial burst of vanilla that rapidly fades to drier cinnamon and clove in the mid-palate. The finish teases, with intermingling hints of the coconut and orange peel. At 80 proof, there’s no burn to speak of. It’s hard to take just one sip of this rum – as soon it fades you’re anticipating the next sip. Spiced rums have a bad rap as overwhelmingly sweet vanilla bombs. The Chairman’s Reserve Spiced, from the well-regarded St. Lucia Distillers, is notably more refined.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Plantation Original Dark Rum
Distiller Score 89
Light smoke on the nose, with banana, orange peel and allspice. The secondary aging in cognac barrels imparts a touch of hogo, or “funk” that’s noticeable on the rich and velvety palate, along with dried fruit, vanilla and clove. The finish lingers with more hints of smoke, candied fruit and holiday spices.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang