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Balcones Rumble
Distiller Score 91
The aroma is full of tangerines, leather, pit fruits and flower beds. As you taste, you will find garden herbs, green tea, sugar, and bitter citrus fruits. The finish is of average length and keeps with the herb garden theme with a touch of leather.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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Maggie's Farm Queen's Share Unaged Rum
Distiller Score 88
The smell of the rum delivers a good amount of aromatic heat with notes of buttery vanilla, sweet grass, and a lovely citrus undertone. On the palate the rum enters with a rush of pepper-laden alcohol countered and balanced by the sweet/buttery vanilla from the aroma. As the rum shifts and begins to fade the lemon citrus notes become more pronounced punctuated by raw minerals and ethyl-alcohol in a long bittersweet finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Rum
Distiller Score 93
On the nose, the Extra Old offers vanilla, butterscotch, banana, coconut, and oak. The rich and creamy palate starts with ample baking spices - nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar, followed by caramel, citrus, and oak. The long, buttery finish offers more spice and oak, as well as notes of orange peel, coffee, and chocolate.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Dictador 20 Year Solera System Rum
Distiller Score 86
Although a little hot, there is a lovely density to the nose. It exudes fresh-cut sugarcane, roasted carrots, amontillado sherry and a mild and well-integrated note of chlorine. The palate feels a little lighter but not too much, with fresh apple, toffee, coffee and fruit cake.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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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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Twenty Boat Cape Cod Amber Rum
Distiller Score 91
There's a soft, buttery aroma not unlike an oaky chardonnay, along with savory notes and light truffle oil. The palate is no less complex and offers lots of fresh citrus, vanilla bean, white raisin, and butterscotch. The long finish shows a bit of mild pipe tobacco and a deep earthiness. The mouthfeel of this rum could not be creamier.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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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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Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera Rum
Distiller Score 92
Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera Rum is enduringly one of the most pleasurable dark rums to sip neat. At first the sweet notes of roasted coffee, butterscotch, vanilla and dark chocolate appear, then some fresh citrus and apricot refresh the palate with green herbal accents, nutmeg and ginger. The long finish includes flavors of caramel, pipe tobacco, cedar and roasted nuts.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Mezan Panama Rum 1999
Distiller Score 95
The first few sips of the Panama 1999 give just a hint of wood--nowhere near as much as you might expect after spending a decade or more in a barrel. As it opens up in the glass, it transforms into something spectacular, honey and peaches dancing on the tongue. The body is light with no added sugar, letting you sip this rum repeatedly without getting sugar fatigue. The finish is relatively short and returns to just a hint of wood. Enjoy this rum neat -- you won’t be disappointed!
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Bristol Black Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 90
Unlike many spiced rums targeted at the shot-loving crowd, the Bristol Black is neither a vanilla bomb nor overpoweringly sweet. In the glass, it’s an almost impenetrable deep mahogany color. The nose is deceptively delicate, but take a sip and experience an explosion of fruitcake, mince, and tea. It finishes with a delightful tobacco note. At 82 proof, it’s easily sipped neat but could easily withstand a touch more ABV. An ideal rum for sipping by a roaring fire while it snows outside.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
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Kirk and Sweeney 23 Year Rum
Distiller Score 92
Fantastic aged rum, everything that you'd expect. The nose shows caramel, vanilla, baking spice, dried fruit, chocolate, honey and toffee weave into a harmonious balance. The elegant mouthfeel gracefully displays these flavors in a quiet reveal and build into richer tones of leather and baked fruit. The finish is a simple fade of the flavors with coffee notes that linger with the baking spice.
Reviewed by Forrest Cokely
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Panamá-Pacific Rum 23-Year
Distiller Score 96
On the nose, there are initial notes of vanilla, molasses and caramel, along with pineapple and oak. The velvety palate offers caramelized sugar, butterscotch, milk chocolate, molasses and tropical fruit, giving way to softer notes of oak, tobacco and subtle hogo. The finish is long and dry, offering vanilla, molasses, oak and orange zest. This is a sublime rum that’s well worth seeking out.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang