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Aged Rum 2011
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Best Aged Rum 2011

The Tasting: At Riverpark in NYC, 21 journalists, bartenders and aficionados tasted 26 premium aged rums. The products were served "blindly", without distractions of brand names. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Strict tasting rules were applied. Each of the rums were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and immediately served at room temperature. Ice water and plain hard rolls were available to cleanse the palate. Food was served during a break.
The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges.
The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices may vary by state and do not include sales tax.
TASTING RESULTS:

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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
1. Vizcaya VXOP - (Dominican Republic) $40
Nose: Floral, toffee, caramel, vanilla, molasses, dried fruit, nutmeg. Palate: Creamy, buttery, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, spice, chocolate, biscuit, sherry, woody, light oak, rich, sweet, robust, lovely, classy, flavorful, delicious, amazing, round, well-balanced, smooth. Finish: Burnt sugar, caramel, sweet, clean, lingering.
Double Gold Medal

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2. Two-Way Tie - Ron Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva - (Venezuela) $30
Nose: Burnt sugar, light caramel, ginger, cinnamon, almond, sugar cane, chocolate, spearmint candy. Palate: Vanilla, cream, butterscotch, caramel, toffee, treacle, banana, apple, malty, clove, floral, nutty, spice, sweet, smooth, well-balanced, nice, awesome. Finish: Smooth, oaky, coffee/toffee, botanical, great, lingering.
Double Gold Medal

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Tortuga 12 yr. - (Cayman Islands)
Nose: Cane sugar, butterscotch, cocoa, coconut, nutmeg, caramel, vanilla, toffee, maple syrup. Palate: Vanilla, molasses, toffee, honey, sweet, buttery, creamy, butterscotch, cantaloupe, banana, hazelnut, cinnamon, ginger, clove, pepper, spice, woody, medium bodied, mellow, well-balanced. Finish: Sweet sherry, brown sugar, spicy, velvety, smooth, short.
Double Gold Medal

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3. Zaya 12 yr. - (Trinidad & Tobago) $42
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, buttery, almond, marzipan, nutmeg, spice, black tea. Palate: Butterscotch, cream, hot butter, rich caramel, vanilla, honey, maple syrup, toffee, cocoa, cinnamon, coconut, hazelnut, almond, nutty, licorice, smooth, round, robust, well-balanced, excellent. Finish: Soft, light, sweet, smooth.
Double Gold Medal
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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Dos Maderas PX 5+5 - (Guyana/Barbados) $46
Nose: Fresh, sweet, faint oak, blossoms, lightly floral, fruity, butterscotch, molasses, cocoa, vanilla. Palate: Honey, butterscotch, caramel, banana, apple, biscuit, nutmeg, cinnamon, hazelnut, toasted almond, vanilla, oak, smooth, soft, sweet, very smooth, even, well-balanced, excellent, inviting. Finish: Creamy, slightly spicy, gentle, big.
Gold Medal

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Zacapa Solera Grand Reserve 23 yr. - (Guatemala) $49
Nose: Brown sugar, coffee, toast, lime, floral, oak, faint nutmeg. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, honey, creamy, fruity, pear, sweet malt, buttery cinnamon, nutmeg, tobacco, cola essence, sherry, oak, woody, menthol, round, balanced, very smooth, lovely, excellent. Finish: Smooth, round, even roasted, lingering.
Gold Medal

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Zacapa XO Centenario Solera - (Guatemala) $95
Nose: Cinnamon, honey, caramel, toffee, light toast, apple, green tea leaves, mint. Palate: Creamy, vanilla, fudge, toffee, molasses, sherry, sugar cane, sweet, dried fruit, plum, citrus, coffee, nutmeg, floral, ginger, spicy, smoky, robust, very smooth, excellent, yum. Finish: Slight spice, molasses, pepper.
Gold Medal

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Tortuga 5 yr. - (Cayman Islands)
Nose: Vanilla, caramel, buttery, cane sugar, demerara, molasses, nutty, floral, rich. Palate: Toffee, butterscotch, honey, buttery, vanilla, strawberry, dates, coffee, mocha, spice, creamy, smooth, sweet, well-balanced. Light bodied. Finish: Oak, soft, smooth.
Gold Medal
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Old Monk 7 yr. - (India) $20
Nose: Buttery, floral, vanilla, maple, butterscotch, sweet, toffee, oak, nutty. Palate: Butterscotch, caramel, toffee, creamy vanilla, molasses, dates, mango, sugar cane, sherry, toasted walnuts, almonds, nutmeg, floral, cloves, allspice, tobacco, woody, pine, oak notes, pepper spice, smooth, different, nice, mellow. Finish: Floral, caramel, slightly sweet, soft, a touch of spice, long.
Gold Medal

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Botran Reserva - (Guatemala) $26
Nose: Vanilla, nutmeg, caramel, orange peel, spice, grassy, floral. Palate: Sweet spice, honey, caramel, molasses, butterscotch, creamy, vanilla, apricot, pineapple, raisins, marzipan, maple, nutty, slight woody character, medium bodied, soft, very smooth, well-balanced, rounded. Finish: Light, buttery, floral, peppery, hints of leather, lingers nicely.
Gold Medal

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Gosling’s Old Rum - (Bermuda) $60
Nose: Caramel, fudge, cola, chocolate, toffee, cream, dried fruit, cinnamon, nutty, rich. Palate: Honey, vanilla, caramel, sugar cane, molasses, fudge, toffee, butterscotch, cola, apple, banana, lemon, sultana, marmalade, hazelnut, cinnamon, clove, nutty, oak, sherry, woody, leather, pepper, spicy, smooth, well-balanced. Finish: Dates, nutty, long.
Gold Medal

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Botran Solera 1893 - (Guatemala) $45
Nose: Vanilla, maple, heavy cream, molasses, coffee, apricots, floral. Palate: Vanilla, sultana, dried fruit, hazelnut, anise, mint, cinnamon, cotton candy, not too sweet, spicy, woody, complex, smooth, balanced. Finish: Hot, toasty, soft, fading.
Gold Medal

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Plantation Grande Reserve 5 yr. - (Barbados) $23
Nose: Buttery, butterscotch, caramel, toffee, apricot, toasty, nutty. Palate: Spicy vanilla, creamy, toffee, citrus, tropical fruit, mango, raisins, hay, sweet pepper, butternut, almond, ginger, cloves, spicy, floral, sweet, balanced. Finish: Caramel, gentle.
Gold Medal

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Ron Barceló Imperial - (Dominican Republic) $30
Nose: Vanilla, nutmeg, maple, citrus elements, lightly spicy, aromatic. Palate: Creamy, vanilla, honey, caramel, sweet, treacle, toast, allspice, nutmeg, almond, pepper, coffee, tobacco, floral, grassy, woody, sherry, eucalyptus, well-balanced, robust, tasty, buttery smooth. Finish: Sharp, spicy, leather.
Gold Medal

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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:
Brugal 1888 Gran Reserva Familiar - (Dominican Republic) $54
Nose: Floral, cut grass, marzipan, molasses, sugar cane. Palate: Buttery, nutmeg, cinnamon, bananas, coconut, sweet, honey, creamy, vanilla, hazelnut, nutty, cereal, cloves, licorice, eucalyptus, pepper, spicy, robust, very smooth. Finish: Peppery, woody.
Silver Medal

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Cockspur 12 yr. - (Barbados) $34
Nose: Sweet, honey, molasses, lightly floral, nutmeg, citrus, pineapple, licorice, mint, toasty. Palate: Caramel, raisin, buttery, toast, treacle, citrus, orange notes, fruity, apricot, dates, fudge, hazelnut, almond, cane sugar, floral, minty, eucalyptus, leather, pepper, cloves, light, sweet, crisp, robust, well-balanced. Finish: Oak, vanilla, slightly spicy, late peppery bite.
Silver Medal

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Plantation Old Reserve 2000 - (Jamaica) $36
Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, honey, molasses, apples, honeydew, orange peel, lightly floral, nutmeg, clove. Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, bright citrus, marmalade, molasses, dates, ginger, pear, nutty, oak, woody, spicy, mint, medicinal, alcohol, full-bodied, intense, complex, balanced, round, mellow. Finish: Nutmeg, smooth.
Silver Medal

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Zafra 21 yr. - (Panama) $49
Nose: Hazelnut, chocolate, pepper, bananas, guava, marmalade, a touch floral. Palate: Walnut, nutmeg, biscuit, butterscotch, honey, butter, creamy, caramel, white chocolate, fudge, toffee, almond, tropical fruit, toasted hazelnut, elderflower, grass, spicy, smoky, woody, fiery, robust, sharp, medicinal, authentic, well-balanced. Finish: Dry, smooth, strong, long.
Silver Medal

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Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. - (Martinique) $40
Nose: Lightly fruity, apple, banana, cherry, floral, grassy. Palate: Toffee, butterscotch, honey, buttery, vanilla, strawberry, dates, coffee, mocha, spice, creamy, smooth, sweet, well-balanced. Finish: Oak, soft, smooth.
Silver Medal

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Prichard’s Private Stock - (U.S.A.) $79
Nose: Aromatic, lightly floral, pear, apple, dried fruit, dates, treacle, maple, nuts. Palate: Fruity start, raisins, sultana, orange, citrus, vanilla, molasses, sherry, oaky, woody, smoky, pine, clove, peppery, spice, fiery, sharp, robust, well-balanced, smooth. Finish: Hot, harsh, strong, lingering.
Silver Medal

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Rhum Barbancourt Estate Reserve 15 yr. - (Haiti) $42
Nose: Dried fruit, grassy, toffee, bright vanilla, elderflower, orange blossom, cinnamon, nutmeg. Palate: Dark muscovado, butterscotch, honey, treacle, vanilla, piney, ginger, pepper, eucalyptus, licorice, straw, oak, woody, medicinal, strong, complex. Finish: Salty, peppery, soft, creamy, smooth, lingering.
Silver Medal

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Appleton Estate Reserve - (Jamaica) $29
Nose: Vanilla, dried fruit, citrus, hazelnut, woodsy. Palate: Marmalade, caramel, treacle, fig, dates, coffee, sweet, spicy punch, clove, hints of oak, woody, leather, minty, smooth. Finish: Light, dry, buttery fade.
Silver Medal

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Plantation 73% Overproof - (Trinidad & Tobago) $32
Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, orange blossom, dried papaya, almond, hazelnut, tobacco. Palate: Light vanilla, toffee, treacle, butterscotch, cherry, orange, citrus. dried fruit, blitzkreig spiciness, salty, woody, grassy, pine, sour, medicinal, harsh, sharp, distinct. Finish: Smooth, strong, long.
Silver Medal

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BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS:
Rhum J.M Vintage 1997 - (Martinique) $95
Nose: Sweet, honey, tropical fruit, apricot, banana, vanilla, cereal, woody. Palate: Honey, caramel, butterscotch, maple, cane sugar, apple, banana, leather, woody, pepper, spicy, hot, harsh, mellow. Finish: Smooth, short.
Bronze Medal

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Rhum J.M V.S.O.P. - (Martinique) $60
Nose: Vanilla, maple, butterscotch, coconut, sweet citrus, toast, licorice, tobacco, oaky, light, floral, ethereal. Palate: Minty, licorice, cereal, tapioca, nuts, sour fruit, apple, spice, pepper, sweet, sherry, some wood, musty, earthy, medicinal, robust. Finish: Sweet, citrusy, eucalyptus, smoky, strong, smooth.
Bronze Medal

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Dos Maderas 5+3 - (Guyana/Barbados)
Nose: Briny, salty, cane sugar. Palate: Oak, nutty, leather, tea leaves, some fruit, toffee, licorice, pine, musty, oily, salty, briny, peat, medicinal, dry, harsh, smooth, light. Finish: Menthol, lingering.
Bronze Medal

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