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Denizen Merchant's Reserve 8 Year Rum
Distiller Score 90
At the risk of not being considered a “crowd pleaser”, Merchant's Reserve pulls no punches. Pronounced notes of petrol, iodine, cinnamon, pear, and a hint of grass and fresh herbs. The taste is equally earthy and intense with flavors like leather, tobacco, sweet potato, and smoke. There is nothing boring or mediocre about this rum, it is a must have for top quality cocktails.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Ron Centenario 20 Fundación
Distiller Score 85
The aroma has a strong caramel aroma with notes of oak, vanilla, and black pepper along with a hint of cinnamon. The first sip reveals the caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon found in the aroma along with rich cocoa and toffee. Additional sips reveal toasted almonds and soft mineral notes as the rum settles in a light sweet finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum
Distiller Score 82
The nose is heavy with vanilla-extract followed by caramel, toffee, and butterscotch. After the hard-candy aromas come dried fruits like plum, fig, and a hint of banana. On the palate, there is notable dusty oak, followed by a hint of orange peel with a medium-long finish of baking spices like cinnamon, cardamom pod, and a wee bit of clove, but it’s the vanilla that lingers the longest.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum
Distiller Score 88
There are significant notes of earthy coffee and deep molasses on the nose. The initial palate is so smooth, it's almost cool, until a blast of spicy, steeped cinnamon hits and takes over for the long, complex finish. There's lots of well integrated barrel spice to harmonize with the savory, earthy flavors.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Hamilton Saint Lucian Pot Still Rum 2006
Distiller Score 94
The aroma of the rum begins with a strong molasses funk that dominates until the glass is allowed to breathe and release the vapors. After this happens you'll notice sweetgrass, vanilla bean, fresh-cut banana, and smoky oak. Sipping the rum delivers an oak tannin forward profile with initial notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried tobacco leaf. As these notes subside, there is a light orange acidic note, with sugary pears, and apple pie flavors that swirl before transitioning into a mineral rich finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Doorly's 12 Year Rum
Distiller Score 90
In the bottle, the Doorly’s 12 has an inviting dark mahogany hue. The nose is subtle, primarily vanilla and oak. Much like the first sip of a fine Scotch, the Doorly’s 12 immediately lets you know you’re tasting something exceptional. Oak, vanilla, fruit, and spice are in ideal harmony -- all present but none dominating, and the finish lingers for quite a while. The finish is pleasing, dry and free of any sugar like you may find in many “premium” rums at a much higher price. The flavors continue to evolve the longer it spends breathing, so take your time with it. This is a rum that you’ll want to enjoy neat while pondering how you might sneak it into a fancy whiskey tasting lineup to see who you can fool. The only “complaint” is that this should be at a slightly higher proof.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Lost Spirits Polynesian-Inspired Rum
Distiller Score 84
There is an unmistakable presence of smoke and charred notes on this rum. A bit like sticking your head into a freshly charred barrel. While smoke might be the most pervasive note, there are a lot of other things going on with this rum. With bit of water and time, on the nose you’ll get the aromas of a grass, toasted marshmallow, candied orange, candy corn, and campfire. Other flavors that come out on the palate are dunder, cane sugar, mint, allspice, dried fruit, lemon rind, and tobacco. Notes of iodine, over-ripe bananas and raisins linger on through the very end.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Westerhall 10XO Rum
Distiller Score 90
The nose on this rum delivers notes of caramel, smoky oak and spices. On the palate, the rum delivers dark caramel and charred oak forming the base, while notes of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cocoa mingle across the tongue. As the rum transitions to the finish dark coffee and clove notes manifest in a long dry finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Distiller Score 83
At first the oak is pretty noticeable on the nose with aromas of toffee, vanilla, baker’s cocoa, raw walnuts, and delicate dried figs. Upon first sip, big wood, vanilla, and cocoa are dominate with other delicate flavors of sweet buttery cakes, cooked nuts, and old leather in the background. The finish is round with supple candied sugar notes, delicate wood and a rich oily mouthfeel that is slow to depart.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Prichard's Private Stock Rum
Distiller Score 86
The aroma provides strong notes of charred oak and sweet molasses with a strong bite of alcohol vapor. On the palate, after the strong punch of the rum relents, notes of toffee, char, apple appear with a rough and tumble oak finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Angostura 1919 Rum
Distiller Score 83
1919 offers a rich complex nose of vanilla, toasted oak, sweet fruitcake, stone fruits, and delicate baking spices. With a single sip baked-peach-pie, cinnamon, vanilla, toasted oak and allspice reveal themselves to be driving flavors with subtle undertones of fennel, pineapple-upside-down-cake, and pecans. The finish on this rum is round, sweet and spicy with just enough complexity to keep you coming back.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Cacique Ron Extra Añejo 500 Rum
Distiller Score 85
Pouring the rum revealed a strong salty-caramel aroma followed by brown sugar and charred oak. On the palate the rum revealed the salty-caramel note balanced by sweet vanilla, followed by charred oak, nutmeg, and ginger.
Reviewed by Paul Senft