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Revelation Rum
Distiller Score 90
There tons of complexity on the nose: charred wood, demerara sugar, citrus, and a faint vegetal note. The initial palate is hot but the burn dissipates quickly to reveal citrus and dried fruits along with some barrel and baking spice The weight on the palate is lithe and leads to a long finish of vanilla, milk chocolate, plum, passionfruit, and guava. This almost brandy-like rum begs to be paired with a fine cigar.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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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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Don Pancho Origenes 18 Year
Distiller Score 87
The aromas begin with clean honey, excellently extracted tea, soft/ripe tree fruit and interesting spices playing in the background. The palate entry is sweet and supple starting at vanilla, building to brown spice, caramel, and roasted nuts. The finish is long, rich and layered. The sumptuous depth and inviting complexly make this a lovely rum.
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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Barbados Rum 11 Year (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
Distiller Score 88
A fascinating and inviting aroma of tropical fruits open this spirit, giving way to secondary notes of vanilla and nutmeg. The palate is more fresh fruits: papaya, mango, and fresh pineapple. Once the fruit flavors pass, there's tons of mature, savory balancing flavors like tobacco, leather, and oak. The alcohol is totally in check and the finish is long with lots of baking spice.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Brugal 1888 Rum
Distiller Score 85
The nose is heavily influenced from the oloroso sherry cask. Find a complex and highly aromatic bouquet with red fruits, coffee, tobacco, candied fruits, nutmeg and cloves. On the palate, find a spice-dominant profile with rich sherry notes, and a woody, oaky and earthy background. A long, warm finish follows. The palate is just a touch one note after the tantalizing, dynamic nose. Would be well enjoyed as a post-dinner sipper.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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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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Foursquare Criterion
Distiller Score 94
The aroma of the rum is a complex swirl of fruit and spices with notes of baked cinnamon apples, ripe bananas, ginger, honey dipped pineapple, nutmeg and lemon zest. Lite notes of smokey oak and deeper char notes with a nip of alcohol punctuate the experience. On the palate the spicy apple and banana notes from the aroma are front and center with a bite of citrus taking the high notes. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, tobacco leaf, and charred oak form the baseline while notes of dark caramel, toffee, nutmeg, menthol, old leather form the middle. As the rum begins to fade the bitter sweet notes of smokey oak tannins, cooked apples, boosted by a hit of alcohol linger in a long mineral rich finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
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Don Q Gran Añejo Rum
Distiller Score 84
The aroma of this rum is distinctly reminiscent of lemon olive oil cake as well as some vanilla crème brûlée. The mouthfeel is lean and light and so are the flavors: light brown sugar, mild tobacco, pink and white peppercorns. It finishes dry and invites another sip.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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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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Angostura 1824 Rum
Distiller Score 78
Angostura 1824 offers a rich aroma of vanilla bean with big toasted oak, thick molasses, dark toffee and delicate hints of tobacco and caramelized bananas. The flavor presents a bold display of the time in wood with lots of oak, vanilla and baking spice characteristics with rich creamy vanilla bean crème brûlée and a hint of saw dust. This 12 year old rum has a finish that lingers with sweet vanilla, light citrus and potentially too much oak.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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St. Lucia Distillers 1931 (3rd Edition)
Distiller Score 93
In the glass, the rum displays a dark chestnut hue. The aroma races ahead of the glass as you nose it, a wonderful symphony of pot-still smells. Oily, without veering into outboard motor territory. Linger a bit longer and you’ll pick up orange peel and clove. It explodes on your tongue, first with the heavier, oily notes that segue into a burst of sweet fruit. The finish is robust and long lasting with eucalyptus and suggestions of mint. The mouthfeel suggests a moderate amount of added sugar. A thoroughly enjoyable rum for sipping.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek