White Rum 2020
 

Best White Rum - 2020

The Fifty Best White Rum Tasting 2020

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a "blind" tasting of 10 white rums with fifteen members of our spirits judging panel. 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 slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, neutral unsalted 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 highest. 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 country/state of origin and ABV are identified for each rum.



DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Tanduay Asian Rum Silver
(Tanduay Distillers, Philippines) 80 prf
Distilled from heritage Asian sugarcane.

Nose: Coconut, coconut syrup, buttery, clotted cream, vanilla cream, vanilla, molasses, Black Haus Blackberry Schnapps, pear, tangerine, lime, agave, elderflower, rosehips, subtle sweet orange blossom, florist shop, nutty, nutmeg, cedar.

Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, buttery, molasses, lightly burnt sugar, dates, piña colada, raw coconut, coconut water, whipped cream, vanilla, shortbread, floral, herbaceous, peppermint, nutmeg, tobacco, dark wood, smooth, wonderfully complex.

Finish: Coconut, piña colada, banana peel, fruit wraps, demerara sugar, marzipan, butter cookie, buttery, leather, mint, grassy, spicy, white pepper, mineral, creamy, smooth, great for cocktails.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal

 



Tanduay Asian Rum Silver




Rum Dog Rum
(Edmonstone & MacMillan, SC) 90 prf

Nose: Passion fruit, mango, banana, apricot, light pineapple, grape, green apple, lime x 10, lemon, cool citrus, elderflower, floral, mint, grassy, menthol, cotton candy, pepper, tannins.

Palate: Passion fruit, banana, dates, coconut, dried coconut, vanilla, cream, buttery, highly browned, ginger, lime, orgeat, elderflower, rose, floral, grass, wintergreen, clove, allspice, pepper, rounded palate, gin-like.

Finish: Papaya, guava, peach, apples, lemon, verbena, warm vanilla, cream, white sugar, elderflower, rye, peppery, great for mojitos, creamy, smooth, delicious.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal

 



Rum Dog Rum




GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Ron Diplomático Planas
(Venezuela) 94 prf

Nose: Chocolate, dark chocolate, brown sugar, sweet cream, sugar donut, toasted coconut, pineapple, apricot, apples, orange peel, hints of lime, honeysuckle, lilac, floral, tea leaves, dried leaves, touch of cinnamon, baking spices, coffee, woody, wet oak, fresh air.

Palate: Chocolate, cocoa, brown sugar, molasses, cream, vanilla, honeyed, candied pecans, pineapple, citrus, anise, eucalyptus, cinnamon, pepper, white pepper, musty, tannins, cedar, oak, creamy, smooth, rich, bourbon.

Finish: Chocolate, toffee, pecan pie, sweet cream, crème brûlée, umami, floral, mint, grass, clove, pepper, peppery, fire, nice heat, complex.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal

 



Ron Diplomático Planas




Black Pearl Silver Rum
(Seven Three Distilling Co., LA) 84 prf
Distilled from Louisiana cane.

Nose: Mango, banana, peach, light guava, figs, pear, apple, green apple, lime, citrus, dates, honeysuckle, violets, lavender, rose, floral, mint, eucalyptus, thyme, sage, bamboo, creamy, buttery, cedar.

Palate: Vanilla, creamy, custard, candy swirls, chocolate, poached pear, guava, coconut, apple, cucumber, licorice, mixed botanicals, violets, lilac, rose, blossom, floral, brine, salinity, woodsy, oak, cedar, silky mouth feel, mojito, tasty.

Finish: White chocolate, marzipan, apple, lilac, sweet rose blossom, flowery, coffee, grassy, minty, pine, mineral, complex, soft, approachable, great, elegant.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal

 



Black Pearl Silver Rum




Brightwater Rum
(Three of Strong Spirits, ME) 80 prf
Distilled from organic sugarcane.

Nose: Banana, guava paste, faint coconut, orange, lemon, lime, citrus, quince, green banana, rose blossom, floral, honey, butter, creamy, peanut butter, roasted nuts, cereal grains, straw, dill, cooked mushroom, umami.

Palate: Praline, cream, buttery, vanilla, burnt sugar, mango, guava, banana, hints of fig, lemon peel, citrus, honeysuckle, rose, grassy, minty, clove, pepper, slightly brine-y, oak, creamy, silky mouthfeel, light & easy.

Finish: Mango, papaya, banana, peach, pear, clementine, lemon peel, citrus, clotted cream, rose, minty, touch of pepper, spicy, smoky, clean, soft, smooth, approachable.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal

 



Brightwater Rum




Dread River Distilling Company Rum
(Dread River Distilling Company, AL) 80 prf

Nose: Vanilla, creamy, banana cream, banana, pears in syrup, guava, coconut, cooked oatmeal, almond, cane, biscuit, wheat, nutty, fresh mown hay, straw, grassy, cactus, oak, rich.

Palate: Vanilla, sweet clotted cream, buttery, creamy, chocolate, sugarcane, café au lait, coconut, papaya, banana, pineapple, pear, green apple, lemon, citrus, soft wheat, biscuit, nut, herbs, herbal, mint, peppermint, spicy, burnt wood, cedar, well balanced, velvet, creamy mouthfeel, elegant.

Finish: Vanilla, touch of caramel, baked apple, apple, lime, ginger, mint, wintergreen, grassy, biscuit, bread, toast, maritime, woody, nice, soft.


Gold Medal
   Gold medal



Dread River Distilling Company Rum




SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Howlin’ Hounds Silver Rum
(Missouri Ridge Distillery, MO) 80 prf

Nose: Vanilla, molasses, pineapple, banana, peach, fig, lemon, lemon rind, biscuit, fresh baked bread, grain, cream, butter, almond, hazelnut, dried herbs, dill, grassy, pussy willow, oaky, woody, cedar, agricole.

Palate: Pineapple, guava, green apple, lime, raisins, ginger, orange blossom, subtle cocoa powder, oats, nutty, dried herbs, tea leaves, eucalyptus, dill, grass, anise, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, white pepper, mineral, leather, tobacco, smoky, cedar, well balanced, smooth, edgy, vibrant.

Finish: Marzipan, almond, pineapple, lemon zest, anise, green pepper, spicy, musty leather, smoky, camp fire, dry, smooth.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Howlin’ Hounds Silver Rum




Sugar House Distillery Silver Rum
(Sugar House Distillery, UT) 82 prf
Distilled from Grade A sugarcane molasses.


Nose: Guava, melon, lemon, apricot, banana, banana peel, dried coconut, candied pears, nougat, candy bar, sweet cane juice, powder sugar, rose, lilac, mint, menthol, dill, palm, hay, herbal, thyme, cinnamon, nutty, agricole.

Palate: Praline, treacle, crème brûlée, sugarcane, deep cane, cereal grain, cereal, apricot, citrus, ginger, eucalyptus, grass, dried herbs, dill, green pepper, pepper, sweet tarragon, licorice, coffee, nutty, clove, musty, burnt wood, oak, smooth.

Finish: Vanilla, clotted cream, cocoa, dark sugar, dried fruit, banana, banana peel, citrus, lime, floral, faint anise, vegetal, grain, hazelnut, musty, earthy, woody, smooth.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Sugar House Distillery Silver Rum




Cane Run Estate Imported Rum
(Trinidad) 80 prf
Distilled from sugar cane.

Nose: Sugar cane, maple, cream, honey, limeade, lime, orange peel, citrus peel, delicate violets, light herbs, spearmint, cool mint, sea breeze, char, woody.

Palate: Sweet cream, crème brûlée, burnt cream, sugar cane, molasses, vanilla, coconut, lemon & cream, lemony, lemon verbena, lime, fresh citrus, apple, jasmine, grassy, spearmint, white pepper, woody, oaky.

Finish: Lime, citrus, limoncello, orange blossom, brown sugar, hazelnut, grain, herbal, spearmint, spicy, nice, clean, flavorful.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Cane Run Estate Imported Rum




Wise Men Rum Red Tape Series
(Wise Men Distillery, MI) 80 prf
Distilled from cane sugar.

Nose: Butterscotch, nougat, vanilla, marzipan, sugarcane, molasses, banana, passion fruit, peach, lychee, apple, dried apricot, ginger snaps, sweet dried flowers, herbal, mint, peppermint, sandalwood, moss, nutmeg, cilantro, wood, sake.

Palate: Praline, Bit-o-Honey candy, butter, creamy, cacao, pineapple, plum, pear, lychee, fig, ginger, biscuit, nutty, clove, minty, touch of anise, pepper, buttery mouthfeel, nicely balanced, rice wine, sake.

Finish: Pineapple, grapes, fruity, apple skin, hibiscus, ginger, honey, very light cocoa, nuts, nutty, minty, grass, white pepper, creamy.


Silver Medal
   Silver medal



Wise Men Rum Red Tape Series

 

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