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White Rum 2013
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Best White Rum 2013

The Tasting: The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 22 premium white rums from 11 countries with 17 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the white rums were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at room temperature. Only ice water, unflavored rice crackers and bar snacks were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through three flights of seven white rums each, plus one at the end.
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 according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges.
The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions. The countries and states of origin are identified for each brand.
WHITE RUM TASTING RESULTS:

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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Bermudez Ron Viejo Blanco (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Vanilla, fig, pear, coconut, buttery, toffee, floral, subtle. Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, light coconut, dried fruit, grainy, cereal, clove, soft. Finish: Smooth, gentle, lingering.
Double Gold Medal

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Debonaire 5 yr. (Louisiana, US)
Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla notes, pear, grapes. mocha, oak, light, subtle. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, crème brûlée, brown sugar, sugar cane, creamy, custard, peach, coconut, cinnamon, mocha, coffee, hazelnut, pepper, well-balanced, rich, medium-bodied. Finish: Smooth, medium.
Double Gold Medal

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Vizcaya Cristal White (Dominican Republic)
Nose: Honeysuckle, chocolate, very subtle. Palate: Fudge, sweet milk chocolate, mocha, chocolate chip, vanilla, caramel, toffee, honey, brown sugar, sweet cane, dried fruit, marzipan, light bodied. Finish: Sweet, smooth, silky, medium.
Double Gold Medal

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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Ron Diplomatico Blanco (Venezuela)
Nose: Subtle vanilla bean, sugar cane, rose, herbal, oak. Palate: Crème brûlée, butter cream, vanilla wafer, cinnamon Graham crackers, burnt molasses, brown sugar, apple, pear, tropical fruit, peppery, leather, well balanced, elegant, delicious. Finish: Licorice, smooth, mellow, medium.
Gold Medal
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Mount Gay Eclipse Silver (Barbados)
Nose: Light vanilla, caramel, ginger, thyme, floral. Palate: Praline, honey, burnt sugar, molasses, toffee, nougat, orange, buttery, peanut butter, ginger, herbal, oak, well-balanced, full-bodied. Finish: Rich, lingering.
Gold Medal

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Below Deck Silver (Oregon, US)
Nose: Subtle jasmine tea, honeysuckle, heather, pineapple, herbal, tobacco. Palate: Orange, mango, guava, apricot, citrus, coconut, crème brûlée, whipped cream, cedar, herbs, peppermint, spicy, smoky, balanced, full-bodied, absolutely delicious. Finish: Medium.
Gold Medal
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Owney's (New York, US)
Nose: Red grape, prune, tangerine, banana, dried fruit, vanilla, sugar cane, walnut. Palate: Anise, licorice, vanilla, macadamia nuts, mint, cinnamon, clove, thyme, rosemary, guava, pear, apple, citrus notes, grain, grassy, subtle pepper, medium to full-bodied. Finish: Medium-long.
Gold Medal
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Rhum Clément Première Canne (Martinique)
Nose: Pineapple, banana, grape preserves, tea leaves, walnuts, spice, wine barrel notes. Palate: Kiwi, ginger, vanilla, caramel, molasses, sugar cane, cinnamon, grains, barley, robust, balanced, light to medium bodied, excellent for sipping. Finish: Smooth, short.
Gold Medal

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Tortuga Light (Cayman Islands)
Nose: Chocolate, honey, raisin, dark fruit, vegetal. Palate: Butterscotch, crème brûlée, cream, whipped cream, vanilla, caramel, buttery, banana, apricot, medium bodied. Finish: Mellow, medium.
Gold Medal

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Trader Vic's Silver (US)
Nose: Light, fresh. Palate: Brown sugar, creamy, maple syrup, honey, marzipan, nougat, banana, dried fruit, hazelnut, almonds, roasted nuts, cedar, delicate spices, pepper, medium to full-bodied. Finish: Smooth, medium.
Gold Medal
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Treaty Oak Platinum (Texas, US)
Nose: Cocoa, hazelnut, milk, coffee, chocolate chip cookie, butterscotch, molasses, floral, tarragon. Palate: Dates, figs, raisins, papaya, pear, buttery, crème brûlée, toffee, cocoa, espresso, nougat, dried fruit, walnut, herbaceous, hint of fine sherry, full-bodied. Finish: Toasted coconut, robust, spicy, lingering.
Gold Medal

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Clarke's Court Superior Light (Grenada)
Nose: Orange peel, ripe banana, coconut, cinnamon, cereal, herbal, agave, cardamom. Palate: Plum, prune, blackberry, peach, banana, tropical fruit, vanilla, honey, butterscotch, burnt caramel, spice, walnut, almond, balanced, medium-bodied. Finish: Dried light fruit, smooth, medium.
Gold Medal

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Papagayo Organic Silver (Paraguay)
Nose: Pineapple, peach, mango, guava, melon, banana, herbs. Palate: Peach, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, persimmon, dried fruit, grape juice, vegetal, jasmine, herbal notes, sweet, complex, balanced, robust, full-bodied. Finish: Short.
Gold Medal

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Old Ipswich White Cap (Massachusetts, US)
Nose: Butterscotch, buttered popcorn, praline, vanilla, caramel, toffee, banana, verbena, beautiful. Palate: Raisin, dates, figs, honey, caramel, custard, sugar cane, floral, almond, walnut, clove, wine barrel notes, complex, balanced, medium-bodied. Finish: Spicy, medium.
Gold Medal

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Sergeant Classick Silver (California, US)
Nose: Apricot, peach, pear, lime, lemon meringue pie, dates, vanilla, praline, sugar cane, rose, dandelion, herbal. Palate: Pineapple, pear, apple, papaya, figs, nougat, coconut, nutty, eucalyptus, tea leaves, jasmine, bold, complex, well-balanced, light-bodied. Finish: Short.
Gold Medal

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White Hat (Texas, US)
Nose: Vanilla, very light caramel, maple syrup, banana, coffee, almond, grassy. Palate: Dark cocoa, coffee bean, whipped cream, praline, nougat, molasses, maple syrup, orange blossom, cinnamon, peppery, rose, floral, herbal. Finish: Light, soft spice, smooth, short-medium.
Gold Medal

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Downslope White (Colorado, US)
Nose: Dates, ripe banana, candied ginger, apple, peach, vanilla. Palate: Banana, orange blossom, peach, violet, allspice, tarragon, subtle licorice, walnut, hint of tobacco, charcoal, light to medium-bodied. Finish: Smooth, short.
Gold Medal

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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:
Caña Brava (Panama)
Nose: Lilac, tobacco, pepper. Palate: Vanilla, maple syrup, jasmine, verbena, herbal, anise, slightly spicy, peppery, white pepper, subtle nutmeg, fresh, sweet, viscous, balanced. Finish: Smooth, light, lingering.
Silver Medal

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Clarke's Court Pure Jab (Grenada)
Nose: Papaya, lychee, banana, dates. Palate: Hints of honey, butterscotch, tropical fruit, mango, figs, dates, elderflower, mint, herbal, spicy, balanced, medium-bodied. Finish: Smooth, spicy, lingering.
Silver Medal

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Rhum Barbancourt (Haiti)
Nose: Mild, subtle, baking spice, oak. Palate: Dark coffee bean, peach, pineapple, tropical fruit, dried fruit, herbal, rosemary, mint, grain, leather, tobacco, light-bodied. Finish: Smooth, lingering.
Silver Medal

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Mocambo (Mexico)
Nose: Vanilla, cookie batter, peach, tobacco, floral, subtle. Palate: Toasted oats, apricot, pear, coconut, dried fruit, pecan, roasted hazelnuts, licorice, clove, lemongrass, slight mint, white pepper, vegetal, leather, balanced, light-bodied. Finish: Smooth, medium.
Silver Medal

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BRONZE MEDAL WINNER:
Clarke's Court Pure White (Grenada)
Nose: Guava, banana, dates, grape juice, honeysuckle. Palate: Banana, citrus, tropical fruit, crabapple pie, custard, rice pudding, burnt sugar, dark molasses, butterscotch, violets, viscous, medium to full-bodied. Finish: Lingering.
Bronze Medal

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Please drink responsibly!
Comments or questions welcome, please e-mail to: editor@thefiftybest.com
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