Aged Rum 2015
 

Best Aged Rum - 2015

 

The Fifty Best Aged Rum Tasting 2015


The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 30 aged rums and dark rums with a panel of 15 judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. The rums were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Each of the rums were judged and scored separately. Only ice water, neutral unflavored crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

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 are awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no bronze medals awarded for 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.



DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Zaya
Gran Riserva 12 yo

(Trinidad & Tobago)

Nose: Vanilla, molasses, caramel, butterscotch, brown sugar, milk chocolate, cola, whipped cream, creamy, popcorn, coconut, hazelnut.
Palate: Toffee, fudge, chocolate, dark molasses, treacle, maple, butterscotch, caramel, cane sugar, creamy, vanilla, dates, dark raisins, ripe fruit, citrus peels, light citrus, elderflower, violets, cinnamon, hazelnut, oak, delicate.
Finish: Toffee, maple syrup, dark fruit cake, clove, coconut, prune, dried fruit, hibiscus, amazing, wonderful.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



   Zaya Gran Riserva 12 yo Rum



Ron Cartavio
XO 18 yo Solera

(Peru)

Nose: Vanilla, molasses, caramel, tropical fruit, raisins, sherry, nutmeg, spice, pretzel.
Palate: Toffee, butterscotch, maple syrup, molasses, demerara, honey, vanilla, cherry, peach, orange peel, tropical fruit, chocolate, buttery, pastry, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, sweet tea, agave, creamy texture.
Finish: Caramel, vanilla, butter, spicy, nutty, soft, smooth, layered, outstanding, perfect.


Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



Ron Cartavio XO 18 yo Solera



Papa's Pilar
Dark Solera 24 yr.

(Florida)

Nose: Molasses, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, maple, honey, vanilla, dried fruits, walnut, nutty, cereal, herbal, cinnamon, sherry.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, dates, raisins, dried cherry, pear, fruity, lemon, orange peel, peppermint, herbal candy, hot toddy, mint, anise, nutty, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, oak, wood, wonderfully layered.
Finish: Vanilla, dark sugar, caramel, toffee, raisins, toast, nutty, marzipan, anise, hint of mint, great.


Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



Papa's Pilar Dark Solera 24 yr. Rum



Rumson's
Grand Reserve

(Trinidad)

Nose: Molasses, sugar cane, maple, caramel, smoky toffee, nougat, buttery, vanilla, honey, ripe banana, mango, ripe fruit, fragrant flowers, soft.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, treacle, sugar cane, light brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, buttery, creamy, fruity, smooth, extremely well balanced.
Finish: Cola, smooth, soft, amazing sweetness, classic, perfect.

Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



Rumson's Grand Reserve Rum



1 Barrel
(Belize)

Nose: Chocolate, butterscotch, brown sugar, maple syrup, French toast, honey, banana, pineapple, almond, cinnamon, coffee, leather notes, oak.
Palate: Honey, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, fudge, apricot, orange, banana, pecans in dark brown sugar syrup, French toast, dark chocolate, sherry, coffee, oak.
Finish: Sweet notes, honey notes, dark chocolate, a little cinnamon, coffee, nutty, leather, smooth.

Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



1 Barrel Rum



Ron Viejo de Caldas
Gran Reserva Aged 8 yrs

(Colombia)

Nose: Caramel, chocolate, candied sugar, vanilla, creamy, ripe banana, apple, cherry twizzlers, bright acidity, coffee, oak.
Palate: Toffee, honey, chocolate, creamy, hazelnut, banana, orange, dried tropical fruit, raisins, black licorice, coffee, oak, slight pine, smooth, balanced.
Finish: Clove, hint of allspice, spice, grapefruit peel, walnut, apple pie, creamy, smooth, refined, wonderful, amazing.

Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



Ron Viejo de Caldas Gran Reserva Aged 8 yrs



Ron Diplomático
Reserva Exclusiva

(Venezuela)

Nose: Caramel, molasses, toffee, chocolate, maple sap, cane sugar, butter, banana, pear, cherry, berries, toast, floral, oak.
Palate: Vanilla, dates, raisins, prune, cherry, strawberry, pear, banana, pineapple, lemon, sweet tea, sherry, cookies, hazelnut, biscuit, toast, spicy.
Finish: Dried fruit, raisins, dates, biscotti, creamy vanilla, maple syrup, nutty, salty, very clean, gentle.


Double Gold Medal
   Double Gold medal



Ron Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Mutineers
Gold XO Special Reserve

(St. Vincent & The Grenadines)

Nose: Molasses, brown sugar, maple, toffee, light caramel, vanilla, cream, coconut, dried green apple, dried fruit, cinnamon.
Palate: Fudge, molasses, honey, creamy, banana, coconut, apple, apricot, prune, sherry, cereal, clove, spices, peppery, oak, smooth, well balanced.
Finish: Creamy, coconut, prune, dates, leather, nice, perfect, wonderful.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Mutineers Gold XO Special Reserve Rum



Rumson's
Super Premium

(Trinidad)

Nose: Dark sugar, gorgeous demarara, molasses, toffee, maple syrup. honey, vanilla, ripe tropical fruit, pineapple, black cherry, nutmeg.
Palate: Buttery, molasses, burnt caramel. sugar cane, cola, papaya, guava, peach, clove, pine.
Finish: Honey, peach, subtle pine notes, balanced, smooth, nice.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Rumson's Super Premium Aged Rum



Pyrat
XO Reserve

(Anguilla & various Caribbean Isles)

Nose: Chocolate covered orange peels, orange peel, pear, banana, watermelon, sour candy, rose, floral, pine.
Palate: Orange peel, orange, orange marmalade, grapefruit, lemon, citrus, pineapple, melon, coconut. vanilla, marzipan, tea leaves, cinnamon, smoky.
Finish: Honey, orange, lemon rind, lemon marmalade, coffee, salty, light spice, herbs, soft.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



 Pyrat XO Reserve Rum



Angostura
1919 Aged 8-10 yrs

(Trinidad & Tobago)

Nose: Dried fruit, coconut, dark sugar, toffee, caramel, vanilla, clotted cream, cream, buttery, baked goods, nutmeg, spice, herbal, sherry, leather, pine.
Palate: Molasses, caramel, butterscotch, maple, chocolate, coconut, fruit cake, golden raisins, pear, lemon, citrus, herbs, nutmeg, great vegetal spice, smooth.
Finish: Honey, maple, citrus, tea, spicy, pleasant, exceptionally smooth, unmistakable, excellent.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Angostura 1919 Aged 8-10 yrs Rum



Sparrow's
Premium Aged Rum

(St. Vincent & The Grenadines)

Nose: Cocoa, Earl Grey tea, bergamot, apples, banana, pancakes, dough, allspice, clove, cinnamon, sherry, herbal, summer meadow.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, cocoa, vanilla, honey, buttery, creamy, whipped cream, dried fruit, tropical fruit, lemon, orange, banana nut bread, ginger, Caribbean spices, allspice, nutmeg, pepper, light pine, oak.
Finish: Honey, maple, cinnamon, mint, oak, smooth.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Sparrow's Premium Aged Rum



Dos Maderas
P.X. 5+5

(Spain)

Nose: Toffee, caramel, dark muscavado, brown sugar, buttery, maple, bitter chocolate, coffee beans, cola, rose, hay, leather, oak.
Palate: Molasses, caramel, milk chocolate, raisins, hint of banana, apricot, orange, rose, nutmeg, clove, muscato, sherry, tea, leather, tobacco.
Finish: Butterscotch, nougat, light chocolate, almond, nutty, cereal.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Dos Maderas P.X. 5+5 Rum



Brugal
1888 Gran Reserva Familiar

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Tropical fruit, dried fruit, coconut, citrus, baked apple, molasses, jelly, sherry, clove, rosemary, leather, oak.
Palate: Dark sugar, molasses, butterscotch. honey, dried fruit, apricot. citrus, green apple, rose, cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg, spiced bread, nutty, pepper, mint, sherry cask, oak, very nice texture.
Finish: Toffee, sweet, citrus, spicy, pepper, oak, wood notes, nice, gentle, elegant.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Brugal 1888 Gran Reserva Familiar



Jav's
Aged 12 yrs

(Mexico)

Nose: Orange peel, citrus peel, citrus, honey, butterscotch, caramel, nougat, vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, maple, tea.
Palate: Vanilla, butter, caramel, cream, banana, coconut, strawberry, pear, fig, sherry, maple syrup, nutty, cinnamon, allspice, clove, peppercorn, interestingly peaty.
Finish: Candied, vanilla, raisins, sherry, pepper, cinnamon, sweet, smooth.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Jav's Rum Aged 12 yrs



Travellers 5 Barrel
(Belize)

Nose: Molasses, honey, creme caramel, maple, maple syrup, mango, berries, honeysuckle, herbs, vegetal, grassy, tree bark, tobacco.
Palate: Honey, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, molasses, maple syrup, apricot, orange, lemon zest, coconut, tobacco, oak, smooth, balanced.
Finish: Vanilla, clove, pimento, spicy, smoky, earthy, oak.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Travellers 5 Barrel Rum



Ron Cartavio
Solera 12 years

(Peru)

Nose: Banana, tropical fruit, vanilla, brown sugar, sugar cane, molasses, caramel, maple, pecan, oak, wood.
Palate: Toffee, molasses, vanilla bean, clotted cream, fruity, guava, berries, raisins, port, spicy, cinnamon, walnut, leather, tobacco, smooth, balanced.
Finish: Marzipan, butter, honey, dark sugar, sweet, spicy, wood, oak, smooth, nice.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Ron Cartavio Solera 12 years





Tiburon
(Belize)

Nose: Banana, tropical fruit, banana bread, honey, buttery, caramel, hint of vanilla, macadamia nut, toasted almond, nutmeg, sherry, grass.
Palate: Butterscotch, buttery, pineapple, guava, pear, apple peel, grass, elderflower, baking spice, nutty, mahogany, balanced.
Finish: Fruity, banana, buttery, spicy, oak, smooth, very balanced.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Tiburon Aged Rum





Cockspur
Old Gold Special Reserve

(Barbados)

Nose: Molasses, honey, pollen, caramel, buttery, creamy, crème brûlée, tropical fruit, nutmeg, oaky.
Palate: Molasses, caramel, creamy, maple, honey, strawberry, pineapple, citrus, coconut, marzipan, pecans, mint, lightly floral, biscuit, oaky, balanced.
Finish: Vanilla, molasses, sweet, spicy, peppery, touch of tobacco, flavorful, well balanced, nice, gentle, classic.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Cockspur Old Gold Special Reserve





Angostura
1824 12 yr Dark Rum

(Trinidad & Tobago)

Nose: Tropical fruit, coconut, cane sugar, brown sugar, treacle, chocolate, almond, nutty, tobacco, woody, leather.
Palate: Orange, orange peel, green apple, ripe fruit, dried fruit, light coconut, honey, molasses, gingerbread, sherry, herbal, mint, licorice, nuts, leather, tobacco, wood, pine, oak.
Finish: Caramel, light cherry, spicy, tobacco, wood, balanced.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Angostura 1824 12 yr Dark Rum



Six Saints
(Grenada)

Nose: Molasses, vanilla, lemonade, apple, pear, ripe banana, dried fruit, vegetal, grassy, pine, jasmine.
Palate: Molasses, caramel, maple, pear, stone fruit, cherry, mango, tropical fruit, dried fruit, marmalade, rose, elderflower, floral, jasmine, spicy, balanced.
Finish: Honey, rose, lemon, spicy, pepper, leather, gentle.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Six Saints Rum



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Sam Smith's Boatyard Rum
Aged 2 yrs

(New York)

Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, toasted sugar, maple syrup, citrus, apple, bourbon, herbal, hint of grass.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, butterscotch, some vanilla, touch of cream, maple syrup, pear, coconut, sherry, hay, almond, nutty, oak, very smooth.
Finish: Hint of caramel, light, cedar, woody, silky.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Sam Smith's Boatyard Rum





Canne Royale
Extra Old Rum

(Grenada)

Nose: Vanilla, cream, buttery, honey, sugar cane, brown sugar, toffee, treacle, subtle tropical fruits, pear, apple, citrus.
Palate: Vanilla, honey, molasses, caramel, butterscotch, butter, coconut, guava, banana, banana bread, apple pie, citrus, grass, eucalyptus, wormwood, oak, smooth, well balanced.
Finish: Apple peel, citrus, dark sugar, molasses, treacle, chocolate, coffee, leather, toasted bourbon barrel, soft.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Canne Royale Extra Old Rum



3 Howls
90 proof Rum

(Washington)

Nose: Caramel, toffee, butter, cane sugar, dried fruit, licorice, herbs, floral, grassy, earthy.
Palate: Butterscotch, molasses, dried tropical fruit, papaya, cherry, sherry, marzipan, grain, floral, hint of mint, peppery, vegetal, roots, earthy, tree bark, woody, oak.
Finish: Caramel, toffee, sweet, citrus, cinnamon, spicy, oak.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



3 Howls 90 proof Rum



Old Man Guavaberry Republic
5 Yr Rum

(Sint Maarten)

Nose: Toffee, caramel, light brown sugar, maple, honey, stone fruit.
Palate: Cane sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, vanilla, coconut, maple, bananas foster, apricot, sultana, cherry, red currant note, citrus, allspice, clove, hazelnut, creamy, sherry.
Finish: Pear, chocolate, spice, leather, well balanced, smooth, easy, elegant.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Old Man Guavaberry Republic 5 Yr Rum





Pierre's Texas Rum
(Texas)

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, molasses, honey, cherry, citrus, quince, grass, agave, tea leaves, saline, earthy, smoky, heavy oak.
Palate: Vanilla, dark sugar, treacle, molasses, honey, fruity, pineapple, apricot, peach, citrus, quince, almond, cinnamon, eucalyptus, spices, pepper, oak.
Finish: Molasses, banana, tropical fruit, slight spice, clove, leather, exceptionally smooth.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Pierre's Texas Rum





Ron Viejo de Caldas
Aged 3 yrs

(Colombia)

Nose: Almond, honey, banana, pineapple, citrus, bubble gum, butterscotch, caramel, molasses, hay, nutmeg.
Palate: Coconut, banana, banana taffy, banana pudding, banana, pear, apple, orange, citrus, tropical fruit, gummy fruit, sherry, pepper, smooth, well balanced.
Finish: Maple, burnt sugar, vanilla notes, nutmeg, spicy, nice, smooth.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Ron Viejo de Caldas Aged 3 yrs





Dunc's Mill
Backwoods Reserve Batch #4 Rum 92 proof

(Vermont)

Nose: Green apple, melon, floral, agave, vegetal, herbal, eucalyptus, hay, peat, saline, brine, leather, cedar.
Palate: Banana, pineapple, pear, orange zest, citrus, honey, sherry, scotch-like, herbs, mint, peppermint, eucalyptus, mineral notes, spice, pepper, pine, oak.
Finish: Citrus, pepper, clove, hay, oak, woody.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Dunc's Mill Backwoods Reserve Batch #4 Rum



Mezan XO
(Jamaica)

Nose: Green fruit, quince, green leaves, grassy, vegetal, leather, hay, balsa wood, caramelized wood, oak sap, woody.
Palate: Cane sugar, ginger, dates, quince, cherry, herbal, sherry, pepper, dry grass, biscuit, tobacco.
Finish: Citrus, peppery, light wood.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Mezan XO Rum





Dunc's Mill
Backwoods Reserve Rum 125 proof

(Vermont)

Nose: Molasses, treacle, toffee, honey, vanilla, cream, custard, crème brûlée, bourbon barrel, cinnamon, ginger, jasmine.
Palate: Coconut, molasses, honey, Golden Grahams, eucalyptus, spice, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, bacon, leather, tobacco, woody.
Finish: Fruity, sweet, cinnamon, spicy.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Dunc's Mill Backwoods Reserve Rum 125 proof

 

 

 

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