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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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Fijian Rum 9 Year (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
Distiller Score 88
There's a savory, earthy nose on this rum that is reminiscent of aged leather and mild tobacco. The weight on the palate is surprisingly light considering the aggressive and masculine flavors. There's burnt wood, steak sauce, and sautéed mushrooms all showing up. The catch is how everything stays in balance with a subtle red berry note that carries through the long finish.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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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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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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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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Canefire Back Burn Rum
Distiller Score 90
Heavy and harsh, this rum begins on the nose with a smoky haze of sugars and wooded spices. Roasted minerals mingle through the nose with oil and vanilla beans, back by flowers through the experience. Burnt flavors comes lightly in the front of the palate, soon quelled by a whip of spices and vanilla roasted over wood resin. Caramel fudge settles into place with rich honey and sweet cinnamon taking in a sudden swipe with a cocoa paw. Prickly spices tease the tongue and plays lazily with the sinuses and a smoky haze gradually lifts in a fruity finish.
Reviewed by Marcus Parmenter
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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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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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Clément 6 Year Grande Reserve Rhum
Distiller Score 92
A beguiling swirl of flavors enters the palate at once - sweet, smoky, tart and earthy. Dark caramel envelops golden apples, pear and banana with a drop of tart lemon acidity. Intense, swamp-like mossy notes add some character mixed with dried pine needle, pine cone, sage and rosemary. There's a bit of heat in the finish, but these wild and funky flavors keep the party going on the palate.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster