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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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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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
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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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Yongehurst Distillery Harbour Rum
Distiller Score 90
This rum has fortitude yanking some terrific vegetal and earthy flavors from the still. A citrus brightness teeter-totters over the initial cachaça character. It’s hot on the palate with marshmallow, candy floss, and a pleasant apple sweetness for balance. The vegetal tone returns in the popping finish. This rum is bound to get your shaker arm a workout punching up any citrus-based rum cocktail.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Ron Cartavio XO Rum
Distiller Score 91
Sweet but not cloying aromas of butterscotch and Bananas Foster, all dusted with traces of baking spice, characterize the seductive nose. Raisins and dried apricots join the parade on the palate, along with additional brown sugar, hazelnuts, vanilla bean and a hint of mocha. Some spicy wood emerges on the gratifyingly long finish.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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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