-
Clairin Sajous Rhum Blanc
Distiller Score 95
Simply uncorking the bottle releases a flood of aromas from the brilliantly silver liquid. The nose is overwhelmingly grassy at first, then turns to black olives with a hint of leather. At 107 proof, the entry hits hard in a tsunami of flavor. Mid-palate it turns to berries and spices, fighting with the ethanol burn. The finish is long and ends with a delightful spiciness. A beast of a rum, this isn’t for the timid. Fans of high-proof agricole should snap this up by any means necessary.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
-
Renegade Rum Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin: Nursery (Upper La Calome/Yellow Lady)
Distiller Score 90
There's some pot still funk on the nose, and a big dose of tropical fruit esters, including mangoes, papayas, and overripe bananas. The palate is highly mineral, with wet stones and clay-rich soil, along with dark chocolate, berries, lemon zest, and fresh cane juice. The finish is spicy, grassy, and herbal, with black and white pepper, cassia bark, cedar, and coriander.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
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
-
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
-
Kirk and Sweeney 18 Year Rum
Distiller Score 89
This exemplifies well-aged rum. The nose shows brown sugar, vanilla, baking chocolate, coffee and integrated baking spice. The full body mouthfeel carries those flavors in deliberate segments adding 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
-
Avuá Amburana Cachaça
Distiller Score 92
The unique nose offers baking spices like cardamom, anise and allspice, with subtle vegetal notes and a light, distinctive woodiness that is noticeably different than oak. Nutmeg and hay are front and center on the herbaceous palate, with crème brûlée and citrus peel on the back end. The finish is warm and earthy, with more anise, spice and wood notes.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
-
Renegade Rum Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin: Lake Antoine (Upper Crater Lake South/Purple Tallboy)
Distiller Score 93
The aroma grabs you from the instant you open the bottle before you've even poured a drop. Intense fresh sugarcane aroma with the grassy/herbal profile immediately calls to mind the tropics. There's a bit of a stony/mineral quality here as well. As you taste you'll find a soft profile and a gentle natural sweetness initially that then turns to a spicy peppery bite with the proof kicking in. Further nosings bring out a mild funk along with some nut milk. Grab yourself a glass, sugar and lime and make yourself a Ti' Punch, with or without ice.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum
Distiller Score 91
On the nose, the Family Reserve offers molasses, tobacco, oak and hints of orange peel. The velvety palate continues with molasses and oak, as well as holiday spice notes of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. The warm finish is long and dry, with further smoky and spicy notes of oak and tobacco, cloves and dried fruit.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
-
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
-
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
-
Privateer The Queen's Share Rum
Distiller Score 91
The liquid in the glass is a medium gold hue. The nose is wood forward and dry, bringing to mind a custard-filled doughnut. Once the initial ethanol heat passes, the flavors are challenging to pull apart as there’s a lot going on here. Caramel and dried fruits dominate, with a pleasingly rich, viscous mouthfeel. Since this is aged in new American oak, it’s vanilla forward, similar to a bourbon. This is a rum you’ll want to add a wee bit of water to and take your time to ponder what you’re tasting. Massachusetts-based Privateer may be small in scale, but they’re proof that in the right hands, New England rum can go head-to-head with renowned Caribbean producers when it comes to big, bold rums.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
-
Leblon Reserva Especial Cachaça
Distiller Score 91
The time spent maturing in French oak has softened and rounded this aged cachaça, which opens with vanilla, brown sugar and orange peel on the nose. The rich palate offers crème brûlée, honey, pine nuts and oak, with the familiar funky, vegetal character of cachaça in the background. The warm finish offers more honey and pine nuts, with hints of baking spices.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang