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Papa's Pilar Sherry Finish Dark Rum
Distiller Score 92
This indulgent rum has intoxicating aromas of creme brûlée, burnt mandarin peel, and heady oak vanillins. The palate is equally explosive and fills the mouth with lush flavors of toffee and vanilla cake that are enlivened by a constant impression of citrus oil. The sweetness richness makes this the perfect compliment to a cigar or a contemplative digestive.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Beach House Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 88
More fruity than spicy, this rum is what it must be like to sip Carmen Miranda's hat, sort of an all-in-one bottled punch. Intense fruitiness cha-chas onto the palate with mango, apricot, peach, passion-fruit, papaya, banana and a note of bubblegum. There is a strong orange element - with both blood orange and navel orange added to the mix, as well as the zest. Hints of cinnamon and allspice come in only at the finish. For those who aren't typically fans of spiced rums, this might finally be one to make peace with. Best served on the rocks.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Canerock Jamaican Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 85
Vanilla beans, buttercream and sherry combine in an almost spiked eggnog fashion on the nose. The palate is sweet and rich, with coconut cream and shavings emerging strongest towards the back and finish. Closing notes also include the appearance of the rum backbone, with molasses, oak tannins, and spice. Altogether, almost drinks like a bottled tropical rum Old Fashioned.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Pink Pigeon Vanilla Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 92
This rum is high on the sweet scale with heaps of vanilla extract, marshmallows, and cookie dough. Rich and oily on your palate, the flavors are the same as what you find on the nose. The finish ends ever so slightly spicy so as not to make the rum completely unctuous. You're going to want to mix this one to cut the sweet, preferably with some citrus.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Backwards Distilling Company Sword Swallower Rum
Distiller Score 89
It's fun to sip something that tastes so very tropical that's made in the heart of Wyoming. Banana, mango, pineapple, papaya and vanilla take on some acidity with a little lemon. A pleasant twang of funky herbal notes like sage and mint cut through the fruitiness, and it finishes clean and sugary with just a touch of smoke.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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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
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Yaguara Cachaça Ouro
Distiller Score 88
Roasted nuts, caramel, cinnamon and fresh fruits leap right out of the glass. The palate is rich with bananas, brown sugar, mango, papaya, roasted coconut and pineapple sprinkled with nutmeg. More Christmas-y flavors emerge with tart apples, Chamomile tea and a flash of alcohol heat. Overall, very easy to sip if a tad on the sweet side.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Ron Diplomático Planas Rum
Distiller Score 91
There is an extremely slight golden tint to this rum, a hint at its years spent in barrel. The nose reveals the unmistakable aroma of oily lemon rind and a bit of heat, thanks to its slightly higher proof. It has some nice texture to it, with flavor notes of slightly sweet coconut and citrus, along with a touch of rich espresso. Very pleasant all around.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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Novo Fogo Barrel-Aged Cachaça
Distiller Score 92
This is a rich style of cachaça with toasted notes of caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and baking spices. The tropical character of the distillate still shines through with banana, pineapple, and ginger, and of herbal notes of mint and chive. A pleasant bitterness akin to walnuts (hence why so many say this tastes of "banana bread") brings it into the smooth, sippable finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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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
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Avuá Tapinhoã Cachaça
Distiller Score 92
The aroma provides notes of honeyed banana, caramel, fresh cane, sweet grass, and lilies with a touch of spicy wood. The cachaça hits the tongue with a balance of spicy wood notes and tropical fruit notes of toasted coconut and banana. The Tapinhoã' wood dominates as notes of spearmint, peppercorn, and dried leather enter the profile and linger in a long sweet alcohol-laden fade.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Twenty Boat Cape Cod Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 90
The full bouquet of spices immediately show on the nose. Most predominately, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and chai. The palate has a more, and much heavier, welcoming spice. It is finished with a hint of black pepper that invites another sip. The spice blend was clearly meticulously selected, because everything is in harmony here. Thankfully, there's not a bit of cloying sweetness. Skip the rum and Coke and sip this one neat or with a bit of ice and a lime wedge.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti