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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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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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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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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 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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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 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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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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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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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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Beenleigh Port Barrel Infused Rum
Distiller Score 80
Wood, vanilla and harsh dark plums make-up the nose of this rum. A haze of rich fruits wavers before the nose, before being over taken by floral oak resin and acetone. The palate is mostly a harsh tang, with light fruit notes of plum and cherry showing the port influence we have been waiting for. The drink carries incredibly dry, rich tones, turning tart as it sits on the tongue. The finish is long and with a prickly mouth feel. All in all, the tastes of port, rum and American oak simply strike against another as opposed to working in harmony.
Reviewed by Marcus Parmenter
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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