ContemplativeFox
Doorly's 12 Year Rum
Aged Rum — Barbados
Reviewed
October 15, 2021 (edited October 10, 2022)
Rating: 17/23
N: I get some mellow but not musty wood from the barrel mixed with tropical fruits. Banana, pineapple, some orange, possibly mango. Some spices come out from the barrel as well. There's a richness that's somewhere between caramel and molasses. It's a solidly complex and very balanced and paradigmatic rum nose.
P: Wow, this is smooth with some nice richness that reminds me of Plantation Trinidad! It's tasty with lots of vanilla and age and complex rum flavors like fireworks that aren't overstated and some cinnamon, pepper, and ginger. Plantation Xamaca is much fruitier and more interesting in a rougish, rebellious high-schooler manner than this is, but I still get the tropical fruits from the nose, with just a dash of added tropical tartness like maybe some lemon or lime. In comparison, Plantation Xamaca is endearing, but harsh, sort of like Dalwhinnie 15. I also did a side-by-side with Appleton Estate 12 and the Appleton Estate tastes more aged with more of those standard woody flavors with some floral vanilla and spice, but it's also surprisingly harsher and less balanced and rounded. The Appleton might have more complexity, but I'm not actually sure it does. It's like the Appleton is a Japanese whisky to Doorly's scotch.
F: Some lingering wood and fruit, along with vanilla and a pervading spicy burn that isn't harsh. A nice finish that continues with the tale weaved by the nose and palate.
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Wow. This has to be at least a 16. I can even imagine a 17 or 18. For a $25 spirit, that's amazing! With most spirits, 40% ABV seems like a cop out, but in this case the balance, complexity, and smoothness come out beautifully.
It's about as smooth as Appleton Estate 12 is, but I prefer the more fun, balanced profile of Doorly's 12 perhaps just a tad. It's definitely a step up from the XO, which is also quite good. The Appleton and Plantation Xaymaca have been growing on me, but I still think I like this Doorly's the best. It's damn fine stuff. I'll give it a 17 this time.
Sadly, it is far from the greatness of Plantation Trinidad 2003, but for less than half the price (and as something that can actually be found), this is a fantastic choice.
26.0
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@Benji-Robert the irony is that I thought I'd posted this tasting over a year ago 😂 But actually, yeah. I can't find JD SiB BP or WT RB around here anymore and I'm wondering to what extent that's because of all of the time I've spent raving about them...
shhhhhh don't let everybody know, at least until I stash a case. rl Seale 10yr is next on my "to try" list