-
Ron Abuelo 12 Años
Distiller Score 92
This is a rich and toasty rum, with butterscotch, vanilla, mango and banana flavors. It's a super smooth sipper that finishes with a creamy brown sugar sweetness and a hint of herbaceousness. It's delicious neat, doesn't even need an ice cube or water to open up, but it would also make an incredible dark and stirred cocktail such as an Old Fashioned.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Papa's Pilar Marquesas Blend Rum
Distiller Score 90
On the nose, this richly hued rum has aromas of wood chips, sweet orange and a twinge of spearmint. It has lovely flavors of maple, vanilla, cocoa and candied orange peel. This would make a fantastic Old Fashioned sweetened with a touch of maple syrup, and it's also a great sip on its own.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
-
Brugal XV Rum
Distiller Score 86
The nose offers citrus, including orange peel, along with a honey sweetness, a rich molasses, and hints of chocolate and coffee. There’s some spice and oak on the palate but it’s not overpowering. It's rounded, also offering sherry notes, red fruits, and an overall richness. Finish is warming, but as intended, quick and doesn't linger long. Drink neat or mix fresh tropical juice for a refreshing beverage.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Kaniché XO Rum
Distiller Score 70
The nose is filled with aromas from a tropical bakery: coconut, cocoa, vanilla, caramel, toffee and coffee. There is also fruit including green mango and ripe papaya. The astringency that suggests a somewhat young distillate dissipates after a few minutes of breathing. The rum washes over the palate with more strong suggestions of tropical flavors--the coconut is almost overwhelming at this point. Combined with the ample cocoa and coffee, one might imagine some sort of island Tiramisu. Subsequent sips reveal some Sherry and loads of sugar and caramel. The brightness of the spirit appears to be the only component on the other side of the ledger, but further investigation reveals some cardamom and anise. The coconut finish is somewhat bitter and impossibly sweet (a hydrometer reading confirmed the inclusion of added sugar to the tune of 24 grams per liter). This one is more like a bottled cocktail than an aged rum.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
-
Mezan Panama Rum 2006
Distiller Score 87
This dark and concentrated rum has a soft, sugary sweetness that dials up on the palate into the burnt caramel realm. Roasted toffee and coffee flavors are tempered by sage and rosemary. Further sips reveal tangy apricot, papaya, and tart orange mixing with the sweet and savory notes.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Angostura Cask Collection No. 1 Rum
Distiller Score 92
This is a very balanced rum with tart mango, red apple and pear giving way to brown sugar and vanilla. A delicious cocoa note appears after a couple of sips, with some toasted grain flavors. This is a terrific sipping rum that's dangerously easy to drink. Would be a shame to waste it in a cocktail.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Santa Teresa 1796 Speyside Whiskey Cask Finish
Distiller Score 88
The nose is a like an espresso that's been sweetened with a salted caramel and dried fruit syrup. The palate has a strong sticky toffee pudding vibe, dripping with salted butter caramel, dried fruits, sweet spices, and a hint of coffee. The roasty finish has just enough earthiness and a subtle briny note to balance out some of the sweetness, though this is definitely a dessert-like rum.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum
Distiller Score 92
This is a very aromatic rum; a bit of funky molasses, orange peel, caramelized bananas, and loads of brown sugar fill your senses. There's a slightly burnt wood aroma found as well, though this is all pleasurable. Fairly full on your palate, the rum is actually not as sweet as the aroma leads you to believe. The funk is still there joined with barrel spices and coffee with cream. The finish is slightly bitter and burnt.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Ron Caribe Rum 5 Year
Distiller Score 87
There is a brilliant, toasted almond color to the rum with a luscious and rich nose of vanilla, creme brûlée, toffee and apple flesh along with hints of flan and honey. It is rich but not oily, and lighter weight than expected. More vanilla and lots of that creme brûlée crunchy topping on the palate. Just the right amount of heat and finishes quite dry. Enjoy in a daiquiri or snifter.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
-
Roulaison Barrel Aged Reserve Rum
Distiller Score 88
A rich, sweet nose pulls you in with candied pecans, caramel and crème brûlée, as well as raw honey and maple syrup. The palate continues on the same track, showcasing medjool dates, syrupy candied fruits, molasses, and baking spices. A pleasing, medium length finish offers oak, earthy leather, tingly black pepper, dark brown sugar, and blackstrap. (Review: Batch #3).
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
El Dorado 12 Year Rum
Distiller Score 88
The nose is redolent of caramel and molasses. Tasting it reveals a fairly sweet rum with chocolate and port wine notes battling it out, making the El Dorado 12 a very popular “gateway rum” for introducing people to “sipping rum.” The mouthfeel is thick and lush, mainly from sugar added post-distillation. It finishes with a bit of menthol that fades into cocoa. The El Dorado 12 is a greater whole than the sum of its three component rums, a testament to the master blender.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
-
Pacific Rum
Distiller Score 89
A very sweet nose starts things off, with brown sugar, vanilla and chocolate with a hint of salted caramel and freshly baked coconut bars. On the palate, the coconut takes on more of a confectionary note, think Almond Joy candy bars with chocolate and a bit of almond as well. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, and hints of vanilla, orange marmalade and a bit of pepper also appear.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff