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Ron Diplomático Ambassador Rum
Distiller Score 97
There’s a lot going on here. There’s fruit (lemon, apricot, orange), herbs (sage, thyme), woodsy botanicals (cedar, birch beer), spice (allspice, clove, ginger, black pepper), strong coffee and a sage-y herbal funk. A fun rancio effect seems to have been imparted from the PX casks (new band name - Rancio Effect) and it finishes long and pretty. A slight tobacco smoke to tie it all together makes you understand why sipping rum and cigar smoking are an age old tradition.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Plantation Extrême No. 3 Jamaica ITP 1996
Distiller Score 94
French oak, berries, and blossoming flowers combine for a nose at first reminiscent of a cognac, shifting into the sweltering esters and ripe fruits you'd expect from this type of rum. A booming palate follows, fiery and bold with every flavor resonating: cinnamon, baking spices, oak, molasses, a smorgasbord of tropical fruits. A long finish is replete with rich, syrupy berries, cane sugar, incense, and a lovely, lingering full-body warmth.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Ord River Spike's Reserve Rum
Distiller Score 91
Heavy and biting on the nose, seemingly not as thick as you would expect. Mineral wood and sweet spices open to a vanilla bean and honey base, with small hogo molasses. Over time, the spices open and start to move, turning lightly smoky and wooded. On the palate, the rum warms with spiced vanilla and is quite sweet with a back burn of small herbs, moving more towards tart in the end. Dark fruits, plums and cherries sit atop slightly roasted raisin toast with a dusting of cocoa then lightly smeared with golden syrup. The oak barrels have buttered the rum, giving it a drying finish of vanilla spices, wooded minerals and caramel fudge.
Reviewed by Marcus Parmenter
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Clément XO Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 95
The aromas open with leather and licorice, toffee and tobacco. A secondary set of aromas quickly appear represented by coffee, sugar cookies, and candied fruit. The rhum enters with a sublime balance of sweet and smoky oak, black pepper, licorice, and cane syrup. The oaky tannins coat the tongue and despite the perceived sweetness, the silky mouthfeel rapidly dries out completely. Subsequent sips continue to provide anise and licorice notes, as well as saddle leather, rich cigar-tobacco and a hint of grapefruit. Complex and sublime, this rhum is typically well-received by lovers of brandy and whisk(e)y. Not to be missed.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Capovilla Liberation PMG RHUM
Distiller Score 98
The nose is a hypnotic confluence of unrefined sugar, copper pennies, almonds and orange peel coupled with freshly cut sugarcane, coconut flesh, and coffee. If the aromas aren’t enough to cast a spell, the palate will certainly win you over. Fruity flavors of peach skin, pineapple, passion fruit; spicy and rich flavors of clove, anise, and tobacco; and pungent, strange (put not oft-putting) flavors like rubber, petrol, iodine, and Magic Marker. This is a spectacular rhum that slithers seductively along the palate like a serpent.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend
Distiller Score 96
The huge nose bursts with rum raisin backed by tropical funk, with flambéed bananas, citrus zest, orange peel, and brown butter. Palate offers vanilla bean and tropical fruits, with rich molasses, dry oak, allspice, and cloves. Long, smooth finish offers some black pepper and oak, with an emphasis on more molasses with brown sugar. Luscious.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Charbay Double Aged Rum
Distiller Score 92
Bright gold in color it has a hot, intense nose of cinnamon, buttercream, and butterscotch, with hints of clove, cinnamon, and fruitcake. Voluptuous but not cloying on the palate, hot vanilla, and images of sugar cane fields quickly flash by. Not for the faint of heart, this is a fantastic journey for those who dare to take it straight on. For everyone else enjoy with a splash of water and a giant ice cube to extend the experience as long as possible.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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Mount Gay Single Estate Series 23_01
Distiller Score 91
There's a hearty aroma of dark vanilla, molasses, dried fruits, and a bit of an herbal/grassy top note along with a gentle char smoke. A little wax is present as well. The body is medium weight and sweet on the tongue. It's a tangy rum with some prickly barrel spices at the finish. As you exhale the mix of dried fruits and herbal notes come back to stay awhile. There's a depth to this rum without being rich and creamy. Would recommend drinking neat. Adding water enhances the brassy and waxy notes.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Brugal Papá Andrés 2015 Alegría Edition Rum
Distiller Score 98
A deep, resonating nose captures your attention immediately, with raisins, candied fruits, brown sugar, and caramel. Find a luscious, velvety mouthfeel with a complex but balanced palate, offering oak, sherry, dried fruit and a light caramel and molasses. The finish starts slow then builds to a pleasant, lingering warming, with closing notes of spice, wood and sherry.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Don Pancho Origenes 30 Year
Distiller Score 88
Aromas of praline, tobacco, dried fruit, honey, vanilla and caramel with hints of clove, cinnamon, and anise popping up for intrigue. The flavors are carried in an oaky richness that slips across your palate with oily deliciousness delivered over and over. The finish hangs and surprises with its depth, clarity, and beauty. This rum is to be savored, enjoyed and shared in moments of triumph.
Reviewed by Forrest Cokely
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El Dorado 25 Year Rum
Distiller Score 96
Of course a demerara style rum of this age is going to be heavy and rich. However, there's an impressive finesse to it. Dark, roasty chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, caramel and espresso are cut with earthy walnut and bitter, smoky tobacco. This possesses more spice than the other expressions -with sprinklings of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove. If you're lucky enough to sip this, you're definitely doing something right in your life.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Mount Gay Madeira Cask Expression
Distiller Score 91
The nose features buttery pie crust with cinnamon and brown sugar, along with dates and tropical fruit including papayas and grilled pineapples. A big palate showcases rum raisin ice cream and a sugar-mint combination a la the base of a mojito, as well as cacao nibs, cocoa powder, roasted peanuts, and treacle. The finish is lengthy and shows some heat with its strength, offering coffee grounds, molasses, banana bread, and musty oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen