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Arcane Extraroma Amber Rum
Distiller Score 90
A whiff and taste of this rum will instantly bring back sweet childhood memories of biting into Juicy Fruit gum. Sweet and fruity papaya, mango, pineapple, banana, coconut and lychee dominate the palate over notes of lilac, sage, thyme, and malted milk chocolate. The slightest zing of orange zest and lemongrass provide some herbal refreshment to this rich, lush and highly unusual style.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Rhum J.M XO
Distiller Score 92
Rhum J.M XO, a complex, medium-weight rhum, reminds one of a boozy Christmas cake topped with butterscotch sauce. That might sound overly rich and sweet, however, a jolt of bright acidity enters the palate, balanced with mouthwatering, tart apricot, mango, guava and pineapple. Sweet spices mix with sage and a hint of fresh mint, ending in a golden caramel finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Saint James Vieux Réserve Privée 12 Year
Distiller Score 86
The aroma of the rhum delivers bold oak notes with hints of spices, roasted nuts, dried fruit, and vanilla. On the palate the rhum delivers spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweet vanilla. As the vanilla note wanes there is a pop of prunes as the oak tannins take over with a coffee and leather finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Clément 10 Year Grande Reserve
Distiller Score 91
The aroma reveals cocoa, grilled fruit (pineapple & plantain), spice, toasted coconut, and nuts. Tea, oak, vanilla, and dried tropical fruit are also found. The flavors reiterate the scents with a focus on the tea, wood, nuts, and spice. The finish lingers with finespun evidence of the flavors in a chewy, intricate structure. A constantly fascinating rhum.
Reviewed by Forrest Cokely
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Clément Single Cask Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 87
A medicinal (the kind of medicine you want to take) aroma wafts out of the glass mixed with pinecone and cedar. On the palate, the telltale Clément fruity grape notes mix with sage, basil and oregano. Vanilla, espresso, bittersweet chocolate and a good rancio funk carry it into the slightly hot finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Clément 6 Year Grande Reserve Rhum
Distiller Score 92
A beguiling swirl of flavors enters the palate at once - sweet, smoky, tart and earthy. Dark caramel envelops golden apples, pear and banana with a drop of tart lemon acidity. Intense, swamp-like mossy notes add some character mixed with dried pine needle, pine cone, sage and rosemary. There's a bit of heat in the finish, but these wild and funky flavors keep the party going on the palate.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Maison La Mauny V.S.O.P.
Distiller Score 94
The rhum’s color is surprisingly dark and inviting. Nosing it is a joy, with aromas rarely found in non-agricole rums. The French oak impact here is strong, making for an experience quite different from an unaged agricole. The palate is a dancing, constantly changing blend of tart fruits, wood, spices, and a hint of musty barn. A wonderful, relatively inexpensive rum for savoring neat, worlds different from the classic pot-stilled English-style rums aged in American oak.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Saint James Cuvée 1765 Rhum Vieux
Distiller Score 90
This is a very atypical style and flavor of rhum agricole, with more of the tart and coffee roast flavors taking center stage. A faint butterscotch sweetness comes in at the mid-palate then fades into a long, smooth and dry finish. A touch of tobacco smoke and herbaceousness hits with additional sips of this clean, elegant rum.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Trois Rivières 8 Year Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 82
The aroma shows a fine blend of barrel spices, grassy sweet sugarcane, and a touch of copper. The rum is tangy and leans heavily on the bittersweet side with a moderately light body. This would really show better mixed rather than drunk neat, but if you are into the bitter, by all means, sip away. The other elements in the rum adds depth and dimension, but not much sweet.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Neisson Rhum Agricole Reserve Speciale
Distiller Score 89
The complex nose is filled with a host of aromatically serious compounds including leather, tobacco, fennel, and a bit of ketones. There is also a hint of butter and orange marmalade. The rhum enters assertively, and it's the tobacco that wins the initial flavor-war, followed closely by leather, black pepper and licorice. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but the lack of viscosity is balanced by the foundation of spice and earth. Subsequent sips find ample phenols, with grass in the distance; the notion of Scotch whisky eventually moves to the fore. The finish reinforces the whisky notion, leaving the imbiber thinking of tobacco and saddle leather with a palate coated in dusky bitterness. While Neisson Reserve Speciale is undoubtedly a fine example of aged rhum agricole, it can be polarizing: a great sipper for those who enjoy the style, toxic to those who don't (especially at this price point).
Reviewed by Josh Miller