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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
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Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry
Distiller Score 88
The nose on Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry greets you with an intense mix of both sweet and savory--almost animal--aroma. There's a coppery backnote along with toasted sugar, coconut, and orange peel. The amber rum feels medium full on your palate and shows a bit more fruit like banana along with a gentle smoke note in addition to aroma notes. There is some funk to be found but isn't quite a George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic level rum. The price is right for cocktails, but don't be afraid to just add a few (good) ice cubes to your glass and call it a day. Rum heads should run to their local liquor stores to snag a bottle for their home bars. And if you're new to the category and think all rums taste sweet, think again.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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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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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
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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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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
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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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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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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
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J. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum
Distiller Score 89
Wray & Nephew displays rich aromas of overripe bananas, molasses, walnuts, and white cake, with a notable signature funk that rum aficionados refer to as “hogo”.Considering that Wray is 126 proof, it is not advisable to drink this straight, though many are not deterred. After adding a dash of water, bold flavors of clove, caramelized bananas, candied walnuts, grilled pineapple, and hogo dominate your palate and transport you to the islands of Jamaica. The finish is warm and lingering with lots of rich overripe fruit, (and perhaps, if you’ve been, memories of long and wild nights on holiday to the islands).
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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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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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