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Foursquare Zinfandel Cask Blend
Distiller Score 89
The aroma delivers notes of creme brulee, roasted almonds, vanilla, black pepper, oak, and spices. The palate provides a myriad of flavors including brown sugar, toffee, dried fruits (apricots, raisins) and spices, particularly ginger, black pepper, and clove. Toasted coconut and strawberries are also present.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Ten to One Five Origin Select
Distiller Score 94
Tropical esters load up a nose filled with papaya, overripe bananas, and flambeed bananas with an enticing funk undertone. On the palate, find salted caramel, grape jelly, cane juice, dark chocolate, lemon zest, pistachio shells, and white pepper. The finish is lengthy and layered, with swirls of butterscotch, molasses, tannic oak, and apples.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Ron Abuelo XV Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish
Distiller Score 89
Of the three finishes, this one has the sweetest, most honeyed textures up front. Baked apple with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove enter the mid-palate with more spiciness in the slightly woodsy finish that is somehow sweet without feeling too heavy and rich.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Ron Abuelo XV Tawny Port Cask Finish
Distiller Score 87
On first sip, there's a Dr. Pepper/Cherry Coke type flavor entering the nose and palate. Additional tastes give way to brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cola spices with some thyme and mint in the jammy finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Ron Malecon Reserva Imperial 25 Year
Distiller Score 94
In the glass, the color is a dark, lustrous copper hue. It looks like a 25-year rum should. The nose carries enticing aromas of stone fruit, oak, and just a hint of glue. Imagine a fresh-baked fruit pie in the hold of a wooden ship. It enters the palate luxuriously, an absolute flavor bomb of fruit. The mouthfeel and finish are crisp in the style of Cuban rums, with a dash of eucalyptus if you look for it. A complete joy to sip.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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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
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Ron Abuelo XV Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish
Distiller Score 92
Dried dates, figs and prunes welcome the nose and palate along with a creamy, crème brulée (vanilla and burnt sugar) sweetness. The jamminess gets pumped up with notes of clove, nutmeg and hints of herb lead by basil and and thyme. A salty, earthy tobacco and espresso finish makes this an ideal sipper with a cigar and/or paired with dark chocolate squares.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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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
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Foursquare 2004
Distiller Score 96
The aroma of the rum delivers notes of alcohol and dark vanilla, fresh-cut apples, pears, charred oak, and toasted nuts. The first sip of the rum delivers a punch of ethanol in a swirl of vanilla, and oak tannins. This conditions the tongue of the imbiber to enjoy the complexity of the rum. Additional sips reveal notes of cocoa, more fresh-cut apples with a hint of pears, leather, raisins, dried apricots, pepper and dark toffee. As the rum begins to fade notes of toasted walnuts and tobacco leaf linger and balance in a nice long finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Ron Izalco 10 Year
Distiller Score 87
This rum shows lovely sweet caramel and orange blossom honey aromas. On the palate, it's bursting with spicy chili flavor that fades into sweet caramelized banana. The influence of ex-bourbon barrels lends to its richness. Look for sweet lemon on the finish.
Reviewed by Anna Archibald
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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
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Ron Abuelo XII Two Oaks
Distiller Score 88
Sometimes there's nothing like an afternoon espresso with a little extra sugar and some orange peel, and this is what this rum initially tastes like. Further sips reveal herbal notes of thyme, oregano, black pepper and sarsaparilla. It's still very much on the sweet side, but pleasant to sip, especially if you enjoy a sweet, roasty coffee with a citrus peel!
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster