ContemplativeFox
El Dorado 8 Year Rum
Aged Rum — Guyana
Reviewed
July 21, 2021 (edited August 7, 2022)
Rating: 14/23
I have Bacardi 8 and I have El Dorado 8. Seem's like I ought to try them together.
N: Quite sweet, but also funky. There's a definite tartness here that makes me think of bit of oloroso casks. Also some nuttiness and savoriness. The scents are a bit rough. I do get a little molasses in here as well. Barrel notes are faint and burnt sugar stands out a bit more.
P: Sweet with blackstrap molasses entering the questionable caramel territory with burnt sugar, sharp orange zest, some maple at points, a kind of almond paste and peanut nuttiness. There's some spice in the clove and black pepper realm too.
This is an aggressive palate that is rough around the edges. There's a decent number of edgy flavors, but the overall complexity and balance could use some work.
F: A bit of that sharpness from the warring flavors remains. I get orange, lemon, and lime on the fruit side. Burnt sugar at points. Some sort of ambiguous wood. Suggestions of blackstrap molasses.
- Conclusion -
This is super rich and full, but it could really use some refinement. It's edgy approaching the way that Plantation Xaymaca is. The Plantation strikes me as more complex, but this strikes me as richer like Pusser's Gunpowder Proof. I would probably not have guessed that this was only 40% ABV, though I wouldn't have put it above 50% either.
What about that Bacardi though? This is richer and fuller, but I feel like the Bacardi 8 is a better executed product. Between the two, I'd take it by a nose. Or maybe not. Honestly, I could go either way with these two. That has to mean that this is also a 14.
Thanks for the sample @ctbeck11 !
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@ContemplativeFox Never tried the older expressions from either. Maybe I’ll pick one up sometime, or preferably order at a restaurant, to test them out.
@ctbeck11 What I find really interesting is just how much better the 21 YO is - absolutely blew me away. This seemed about on par with Bacardi 8 to me, so now I'm wondering if I can find 21 (or similar) YO Bacardi to compare as well
Agreed. Another one I bought for mixing and am now trying to find ways to finish the bottle.