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Aged Rum 2016
 

Best Aged Rum - 2016

 

The Fifty Best Aged Rum Tasting 2016


The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 16 aged rums with a panel of 17 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

Ophyum
23 yr Solera

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Toffee, caramel, sugar cane, molasses, honey, vanilla, cream, apple, blueberry, orange, banana, pineapple, chestnut, cinnamon, clove, spicy, fresh-cut grass, bittersweet chocolate, coffee, oaky, earthy.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, raw sugar, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, chocolate, corn, cola, sherry, cherry, citrus-forward, orange blossom water, lemon, dried fruit, brown rice, eucalyptus, yum, mouth-watering, a Dominican beauty.
Finish: Burnt sugar, vanilla, clean fruit, dried fruit, allspice, cinnamon, clove, spicy, coffee, smooth.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



   Ophyum 23 yr Solera Rum



Opthimus
Oporto Finish 25 yr Solera

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Toffee, caramel, brown sugar, sugar cane, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, cream, fruit, dried fruit, cola, sweet sherry, nutty, clove, cinnamon, tobacco leaves, toast, oak.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, molasses, dark sugar, sugarcane, maple, vanilla, creamy, custard pudding, world’s finest rich fruitcake, raisins, dried fruit, sherry, nutty, filberts, allspice, matcha tea, concentrated toast, spearmint, wet rocks, wood, oak, smoky, rich, classic.
Finish: Toffee, vanilla, baking spices, bread, oak, soft wood barrel, smooth, great, elegant.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Opthimus Oporto Finish 25 yr Solera Rum



Exquisito
1985 Solera

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Caramel, molasses, sugar cane, maple syrup, vanilla, coconut, raisins, almonds, walnut, nutty, cocoa, coffee.
Palate: Toffee, nougat, brown sugar, molasses, burnt sugar, sugar cane, honey, vanilla, creamy, butter, chocolate, cocoa, cola, cherry, raisins, dried fruit, mildly floral, clove, oak, a Dominican rum that drinks Trinidadian, rich, the right balance, classic.
Finish: Toffee, caramel, molasses, demerara sugar, vanilla, very smooth, rich, flavorful, elegant.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Exquisito 1985 Solera Rum



Rumson's
Grand Reserve

(Massachusetts)

Nose: Caramel, cream, molasses, cane sugar, vanilla, buttered popcorn, cherry candy, tropical fruit, banana, cantaloupe, melon, apricot, lemon, raisin, Thai red tea, mint, clove.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, butterscotch, creamy, dark chocolate, hard candy, honey, molasses, brown sugar, sugar syrup, vanilla, prunes, citrus, orange liqueur, ginger, floral, eucalyptus, almond, hazelnut.
Finish: Butterscotch, dark toffee, chocolate, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, orange, light peppermint, stone fruit, cherry, nice balance.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Rumson's Grand Reserve Rum



Santeria
(South Carolina)

Nose: Butterscotch, caramel, rum toffee, demerara, dark sugar, blackstrap molasses, maple syrup, vanilla, roasted coconut, dried fruit, toasted nuts, leather, bacon, oak, woodsy, burnt toast, smoky, earthy.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, dark sugar, sugarcane, molasses, caramelized apple, tropical fruits, vanilla, chocolate, toast, tea, slightly grassy, green leaves, dried leaves, nutty, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, spicy, pepper, sherry, leather, tobacco, mahogany, pine, smoky, earthy, pleasingly dry.
Finish: Toffee, honey, cherry, raisins, buttery, floral, nutty, allspice, nutmeg, tobacco, leathery, smooth, musty, spicy, nice wood, dry, complex, flavorful.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Santeria Rum



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

The Real McCoy 12 yr
(Barbados)

Nose: Toffee, butterscotch, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, vanilla, coconut, banana, lychee, tart cherry, lemon, fruity, rose petals, grassy, green leaves, walnut, nutmeg, pepper, sweet spice, oak, pine, brightness.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, creamy, sweet molasses, sugar, honey, light sugar cane, vanilla, cherry, sweet potato, eucalyptus, cinnamon, thyme, nutmeg, spicy, tea leaves, dry sherry, leather, wood, smooth.
Finish: Caramel, demerara sugar, vanilla, candied lemon, apple, nutty, coffee, sherry, licorice, spicy, honey-like softness, oaky, semi-dry, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Real McCoy 12 yr Rum



Angostura
1824 12 yr

(Trinidad & Tobago)

Nose: Caramel, molasses, maple syrup, brown butter, chocolate, vanilla, orange, citrus, fig, blossom, floral, jasmine, lavender, dry green leaves, wheat, oak.
Palate: Butterscotch, toffee, white toffee, caramel, treacle, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, creamy, butter, vanilla, raisin, apple, apricot, orange, guava, mango, tropical fruit, ginger, perfume, clove, pepper, hot pepper, spicy, cereal, hazelnut, coffee, tobacco, oak, dry.
Finish: Toffee, butterscotch, buttery, sweet marzipan, pineapple, figs, dried fruit, nutty, licorice, grassy, mint, basil, vegetal, slight tobacco, clean, soft.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Angostura 1824 12 yr Rum



The Real McCoy 5 yr
(Barbados)

Nose: Toffee, butterscotch, buttery, creamy, Drake’s coffee cake, honey, molasses, vanilla, cherry, apple, ripe banana, dried fruit, grass, spice, nutmeg, wood barrel, smoky.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, maple syrup, molasses, sugarcane, honey, vanilla, sweet cream, baked apple, coconut, orange, lemon, banana, raisins, dried dates, bananas Foster, marzipan, elderflower, white flower, grass, eucalyptus, tea, hazelnut, cinnamon, leather, oak, pine, tobacco, sherry.
Finish: Vanilla, sugar cane, slightly tart cherry, citrus, dried fruit, floral, mint, hazelnut, walnut, spices, peppery, earthy, leather, wood, smooth, soft.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Real McCoy 5 yr Rum



Rougaroux
Full Moon Dark Rum

(Louisiana)

Nose: Toffee, muscovado sugar, sugarcane, blackstrap molasses, treacle, vanilla, marmalade, peach, citrus, eucalyptus, grassy, allspice, sherry, leather, sweet tobacco, wheat, woody, pine, oak, American oak, complex mix of old oak, earthy.
Palate: Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, treacle, vanilla, summer fruit, apricot, prune, mango, banana, dried fruit, dried herbs, mint, hay, allspice, clove, mixed spices, spicy, grassy, coffee, leather, burnt toast, wood, oak, charred oak.
Finish: Honey, treacle, vanilla, candied and dried fruit, melon, pineapple, sherry, leathery, nutmeg, tobacco, woody, smooth.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Rougaroux Full Moon Dark Rum



Ron Veleiro Añejo
(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Caramel, sugar cane, brown sugar, vanilla, lemon, papaya, coconut, corn, malty, spice, grass, earthy, oak.
Palate: Caramel, molasses, honeycomb, vanilla, pineapple, coconut, lime, dried fruit, cola, sweetened grain, meringue, cinnamon, oak.
Finish: Molasses, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, light wood, clean, very soft, smooth, gentle, very fine, rich, elegant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



 Ron Veleiro Añejo



Rumson's Rum
(Massachusetts)

Nose: Butterscotch, treacle, molasses, sweet candy, chocolate, vanilla, banana, pineapple, apricot, coconut, apple, green apple, citrus, floral, grass, leather, toast, pine, smoke.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, butterscotch, demerara, burnt sugar, honey, vanilla, sweet candy, bright candied fruits, raisin, banana, pineapple, grapefruit, green apple, coconut, elderflower, almond, tea leaves, licorice, wintergreen, lemongrass, grass, leather, pine.
Finish: Honey, cream, orange, citrus, peach, strawberry, fruity, cola, coffee, hazelnut, spicy, leather, woody, piney, smoky, smooth, bright.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Rumson's Rum



Brugal Añejo
(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Toffee, butterscotch, powdered sugar, cane sugar, honey, vanilla, chocolate, dried fruits, marzipan, blossom, light roasted nuts, nutmeg, spicy, leather, oak.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, creamy, molasses, chocolate, buttery, honey, vanilla, banana, mango, raisin, rose, tea, mint, grassy, eucalyptus, peppermint, peppery, nutmeg, cinnamon, tobacco, leather, cedar, oak, smooth.
Finish: Butterscotch, toffee, honey, vanilla, berries, raisins, green apple brightness, grassy, anise, clove, allspice, peppery, light leather, tobacco, smoky, nice, smooth, mellow, flavorful.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Brugal Añejo Rum



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

3 Mile Barrel Aged
(California)

Nose: Vanilla, clotted cream, light molasses, tropical fruit, banana, pear, citrus, baked apple, apple skin, dried fruit, herbal, light hay, sweet tea with lemon sugar, toast, wheat, wet wood, piney.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, fudge, treacle, honey-like, vanilla, crème brulee, banana, lemon peel, papaya, raisin, roasted almond. herbal, peppermint, mint, anise, licorice, clove, cinnamon, sharp nutmeg, white pepper, coffee, manzanilla sherry, leather, wheat, hay, wood, pine, dusty oak.
Finish: Honey, dried fruit, sweet marzipan, fruity, citrus, floral, tarragon, clove, peppery, spice, dry sherry, coffee, leather, pine, oak, woody.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



3 Mile Barrel Aged Rum





Twenty Boat
Cape Cod Amber

(Massachusetts)

Nose: Caramel, demerara, sugar cane, green apple, pineapple, orange, citrus, herbal, tea, grass, hay, cinnamon, peppery, coffee, dry cereal grains, toasted wheat, toasted bread, tobacco leaf, earthy, leather, cured meat, bacon, Polish ham, smoky.
Palate: Butterscotch, caramel, toffee, chocolate, molasses, light brown sugar, sugar cane, vanilla, orange, bright citrus, green apple, papaya, guava, cantaloupe, tropical fruit, honeysuckle, sherry, rose, nutty, cinnamon, spicy, peppery, tobacco, sweet cigar, pine, briny, well blended.
Finish: Brown sugar, honey, vanilla, fruity, sherry, citrus, floral, mint, pepper, coffee grains, nutty, oak, wood, minerals, complex, bright, full-flavored.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Twenty Boat Cape Cod Amber Rum



Brugal
1888 Gran Reserva Familiar

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Caramel, treacle, cane sugar, light molasses, honey, cream, vanilla, apple, banana, coconut, dried fruit, red wine, green grass, leafy, oak, wood.
Palate: Fudge, caramel, molasses, honey, apple, apricot, bright citrus, orange, orange peel, lemon zest, pineapple, coconut, prune, raisin, dates, figs, dried fruit, sherry, herbal, mint, spice, nutmeg, clove, oak, crisp, balanced.
Finish: Maple, rye, coffee, leather, light spice, licorice, clove, grassy, pine, oak-like, smoky, smooth, pleasant, well-balanced.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Brugal 1888 Gran Reserva Familiar Rum



Brugal
Extra Dry – Triple Filtered

(Dominican Republic)

Nose: Vanilla, buttery, marzipan, cane sugar, hint of sugar, apple, apple skin, banana, citrus, blossom, herb, juniper, grass, hay, clean.
Palate: Toffee, treacle, caramel, vanilla, molasses, cane sugar, apple, green apple, white grape, coconut, dried papaya, floral, herbal, mint, hay, nutty, nutmeg, spicy, peppery, clean, dry.
Finish: Vanilla, sweet cream, creamy, sweet and sour, biscuit, floral, mint, minerals, nutty, woody, smoky, off dry.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Brugal Extra Dry Triple Filtered Rum

 

 

 

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