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Aged Rum 2013
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Best Aged Rum 2013

The Tasting: The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 24 premium aged rums with 18 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the aged rums were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water and neutral unsalted chips and crackers were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through 3 flights of 7 rums each and 1 flight of three rums.
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 and Silver medals were awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no Bronze medals awarded in this tasting.
The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The countries of origin are identified for each brand.
AGED RUM TASTING RESULTS:

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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Zaya 12 yr. (Trinidad & Tobago)
Nose: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, honey, cake icing, milk chocolate bar, brownie, fudge, maple syrup, citrus. Palate: Butter, caramel, toffee, cocoa, milk chocolate, creamy, honeycomb, raisin, fig, pineapple, coconut, walnuts, coffee, spicy, balanced. Finish: Nutmeg, clove, hazelnut, clean, fresh, smooth.
Double Gold Medal

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Cubaney Centenario 25 (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Subtle, floral, grain. Palate: Pineapple, dried apple, banana, creamy, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, maple, ginger, spicy, oak, distinctive. Finish: Treacle, hazelnut, marzipan, decadent, brilliant.
Double Gold Medal

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Presidente 23 (Dominican Republic)
Nose:Banana, apricot, dark fruit, butterscotch, brown sugar, caramelized sugar, Port barrel, toast, light cinnamon. Palate: Black strap molasses, brown sugar, butterscotch, toffee, caramel, vanilla, banana, dark fruit, marzipan, nutmeg, hazelnut, cinnamon, perfect. Finish: Molasses, spicy, excellent.
Double Gold Medal

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Opthimus 25 (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Toffee, molasses, cane, brown sugar, caramel, honey, vanilla, plum, nutmeg. Palate: Toffee, maple, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, cocoa, butter, caramel, milk chocolate, fudge, raisins, cinnamon, coffee. Finish: Vanilla cream, buttery, builds to candied finish, smooth.
Double Gold Medal

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Ron Millonario 15 yr Solera (Peru)
Nose: Tropical fruits, banana, caramel, molasses, cola, hay. Palate: Banana, pear, coconut, raisin, dark fruit, cherry coke, honey, black strap molasses, caramel, cocoa, maple. Finish: Buttery, sherry, smooth, mellow.
Double Gold Medal

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Ron Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela)
Nose: Soft fruit, pineapple, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, cinnamon, toast, subtle vegetal notes, smoky. Palate: Molasses, sugar cane, honey, salted caramel, vanilla, banana, spicy plum, marzipan, hazelnut, peanut butter, cola, coffee upfront, balanced, ultra-smooth, delicious. Finish: Cola, honey, brown sugar, nutty, smooth, gentle, fantastic.
Double Gold Medal

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Debonaire 21 yr. (Panama)
Nose: Subtle caramel, hints of vanilla, toffee notes, toasted sugar, honey, faint cinnamon, citrus. Palate: Orange, banana, dried fruit, coconut, cane sugar, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, caramel, nutmeg, spice, nice balance of flavors. Finish: Coffee, spicy, cinnamon, toasty notes.
Double Gold Medal

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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Dos Maderas PX 5+5 (Blend of Barbados & Guyana, bottled in Spain)
Nose: Banana, butterscotch, molasses, Port barrel, dry Oloroso, sherry. Palate: Molasses, dark butterscotch, honeycomb, maple syrup, chocolate, figs, dates, raisin, cinnamon, walnut, cashew, nutmeg, sour apple, sherry. Finish: Molasses, stroope honey, prunes.
Gold Medal

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Bacardi 8 yr. (Puerto Rico)
Nose: Caramel, honey, cocoa, cashew, hazelnut, coffee, cinnamon, tea leaves. Palate: Orange marmalade, orange, plum, tropical fruit, hints of mango & pineapple, butterscotch, caramel, honey, brown sugar, toast, bread, spicy, oaky. Finish: Marzipan, sweet, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Don Q Gran Añejo (Puerto Rico)
Nose: Blossoms, fruity, green apple, apricot, coconut, vanilla, sugar cane, brown sugar, spicy, peanut oil. Palate: Brown sugar, molasses, caramel, toffee, vanilla, honey, honeycomb, buttered popcorn, banana, spice, sherry barrel, spicy upfront. Finish: Sherry cask, creamy coconut, herbal, smooth, great, elegant.
Gold Medal
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John Watling's Buena Vista 5 yr. (Bahamas)
Nose: Dried fruit, raisin, prune, banana, sweet tea, cherry coke, cola, burnt caramel, molasses, mint, smoky. Palate: Mango, cherry, plum, prune, dates, coffee, hickory, herbal, spice, allspice, hint of smoke, well-balanced. Finish: Cola, cinnamon, nutmeg, eucalyptus.
Gold Medal

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Don Reyes 2 yr. (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Cotton candy, cream soda, cane, sweet ice cream cone, vanilla, toffee, coconut, fruity, floral. Palate: Sugar cane, strong vanilla, caramel ice cream, white chocolate, creamy, coconut, biscuit, light oak. Finish: Coconut, sweet, mellow, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Debonaire 15 yr. (Panama)
Nose: Green leaves, vanilla, subtle honey & brown sugar, sandalwood. Palate: Molasses, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, orange, banana, coconut flakes, dried apricot, cola, maple, butter pecan ice cream, honey tea, licorice. Finish: Vanilla, cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea leaves, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Debonaire 8 yr. (Panama)
Nose: Faint sherry notes, subtle vanilla, oak. Palate: Pineapple, dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, cocoa, grassy, spicy citrus, clove, vague oak, balanced. Finish: Almond, pine resin, clean, smooth, outstanding.
Gold Medal

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Pyrat XO Reserve (Various Caribbean Islands)
Nose: Banana, orange, candied orange, citrus, cherry, vanilla, toffee. Palate: Floral, elderflower, orange peel, orange, pineapple, mango, butter, cinnamon, spice. Finish: Elderflower, orange, honey, minty, spice.
Gold Medal

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Pusser’s 15 y.o. (Tortola, B.V.I.)
Nose: Tropical fruit, dark fruit, orange peel, citrus, vanilla. Palate: Ripe banana, dark fruit, raisin, chocolate covered cherries, sherry, walnuts, almond, nutmeg, spearmint, spicy, woodsy, flavorful, wow. Finish: Black cherry, spicy, well-balanced, superb.
Gold Medal

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Cockspur 12 (Bsrbados)
Nose: Honey, honeycomb, caramel, treacle, brown sugar, sugar cane, banana peel, toast, coffee bean, herbal, grassy, sherry barrel. Palate: Vanilla, cherry, cola, maple, sherry & bourbon barrel, brandy, roasted coffee beans, oaky, hint of robust spice. Finish: Apricot, citrus, coconut, vanilla, nutty, spicy, smooth.
Gold Medal

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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:
English Harbour 5 year old (Antigua)
Nose: Green tea, citrus, vanilla bean, nutmeg, delicate. Palate: Banana, butterscotch, honey, vanilla, custard, faint caramel, dark chocolate, roasted caramel, grassy, late spice. Finish: Vanilla, woody, spicy, light.
Silver Medal

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Pusser’s 3+ yrs (Tortola, B.V.I.)
Nose: Tropical fruit, dark fruit, raisin, dates, banana, coconut, butterscotch, honey, vanilla. Palate: Coconut, apricot, apple, orange peel, marmalade, mango chutney, honey, caramel, cinnamon, intense spice, eucalyptus, unique, elegant. Finish: Soft, spicy, woodsy notes, smooth.
Silver Medal

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Bermudez Añejo (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Subtle caramel, light vanilla, pine notes, vague clove. Palate: Papaya, prune, cherry, rum raisin, vanilla, butter, walnut, cashew, vegetal, grassy, spicy. Finish: Spice, pepper, smooth.
Silver Medal

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Ron de Jeremy (Panama)
Nose: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, honey, cake icing, milk chocolate bar, brownie, fudge, maple syrup, citrus. Palate: Butter, caramel, toffee, cocoa, milk chocolate, creamy, syrup, honeycomb, raisin, fig, pineapple, coconut, walnuts, coffee, spicy, balanced. Finish: Nutmeg, clove, hazelnut, clean, fresh, smooth.
Silver Medal

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Debonaire 5 yr. (Panama)
Nose: Faint vanilla, sugar, light. Palate: Creamy vanilla, crème brûlée, custard, white chocolate, coconut, marmalade, dried fruit, almond, anise. Finish: Toast, smooth, mellow.
Silver Medal

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Dos Maderas 5 + 3 (Blend of Barbados & Guyana, bottled in Spain)
Nose: Chocolate, raisin, dried fruits, coconut, ginger root, toasted bread, hay, leather. Palate: Apricot, apples, toffee, burnt caramel, chocolate, coconut, buttered toast, tobacco, spice, woody, subtle smoke. Finish: Creamy, toasted barrel, cinnamon, spicy, licorice.
Silver Medal

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English Harbour 10 year old (Antigua)
Nose: Citrus, fruity, caramel, brown sugar, faint vanilla, honey, cinnamon, spice, minty. Palate: Coconut, crème brûlée, caramel, toffee, cinnamon, eucalyptus, hot pepper, oaky, smooth. Finish: Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, spicy.
Silver Medal

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