Category: Rum

Spirits distilled from Sugar byproducts

Plantation XO 20th Anniversary

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Barbados, Rum, SourcedLeave a comment

Plantation XO 20th Anniversary

Price: $60 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Sourced / Pierre Ferrand

Region: Barbados

40% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: Blend of rums from 10 to 25 years

Cask Type:  New white oak, ex-bourbon, and Cognac casks

Chill Filtered: Undisclosed

Additives used: Yes

Color: Chestnut

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Molasses, oak, chocolate, toasted nuts, brown sugar, and vanilla

Mouthfeel:  Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Coconut, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, oak, and fruit

Finish: Light warmth and length, Cola, cream, vanilla, caramel, and sugar

Thoughts: On its own it’s a decent sipping rum, but very sweet and not overly complex. I have noticed it pairs very well with cigars however.
Score: 80 out of 100

Review: Don Papa

On By MajorHopIn 45-49, PhillipinesLeave a comment

Price: $30 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Bleeding Heart Rum Company

Region: Phillipines

40% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: Up to 7 Years (No definitive age)

Cask Type: Oak Casks

Chill Filtered: Yes

Additives used: Yes

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Birch beer, vanilla sweetener, orange cream sickle, sugar, and oak

Mouthfeel: Syrupy

Palate/Taste: Vanilla, flat root beer, cream soda, sweetener

Finish: Short and light warmth, cane sugar, syrup, and lollipops

Thoughts: This baby is loaded up with some type of nonsense and sweetened beyond belief. Pretty gross and is more of a liqueur than a rum.

Score: 45 out of 100

El Dorado 3 Year

On By MajorHopIn 70-74, Demerara Distillers, Guyana, RumLeave a comment

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Price: $15 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: El Dorado

Region: Guyana

40% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: 3 years

Cask Type: Oak

Chill Filtered: Yes

Additives used: Yes

Color: Clear

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Coconut husks, sugar cane, molasses, grass, fresh and crisp

Mouthfeel:  Light bodied, but coating

Palate/Taste: Vanilla, coconut, grass, and sugar crystals

Finish: Light warmth, medium length, vanilla and cane sugar

Thoughts: A good mixing rum, but too simple to shine neat on it’s own.

 

Score: 74 out of 100

Review: Clément 10 Year Grande Reserve

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Martinique, Rhumerie du Simon, RumLeave a comment

Price: $75 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Rhumerie du Simon / Bernard Hayot

Region: Martinique

42% ABV

Distillate: Sugar cane juice

Aged For: 10 Years

Cask Type: Virgin and re-charred oak barrels

Chill Filtered: Undisclosed

Additives used: No

Color: Light tawny

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: It’s a very fresh scent, oak, vanilla, chocolate, pineapple, white tea, cane sugar, lilac, and tropical fruit

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body

Palate/Taste: Vanilla oak with macadamia nuts and white chocolate, custard, papaya, simple syrup and pipe tobacco

Finish: Medium warmth and long lasting, oak and pepper with bakery sweets followed by plantains covered in brown sugar with a slight vegetal and earthy finish

Thoughts: After not enjoying several white and young rhum Agricole I decided I had to try one with some age on it. I love oak and barrel influence on my spirits, and young spirity drinks are not my thing (Gin and I don’t get along) so it remedied a lot of what I disliked about white Agricole. It was fresh but still sweet and deep. I want to scoop up a few more and broaden my horizons.

Score: 83 out of 100

Ron Zacapa XO

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Guatemala, Rum, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ron Zacapa XO

Price: $120 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Industria Licoreras de Guatemala / Diageo

Region: Guatemala

40% ABV

Distillate: Sugarcane honey

Aged For: NAS, 6-23 years Solera style

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, finished in cognac casks

Chill Filtered: Yes

Additives used: Yes

Color: Cloudy old oak

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Old molasses, oak, coconut, brown sugar, vanilla

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Vanilla, flat cola, brown sugar, marzipan, more sugar

Finish: Short length, light warmth, molasses, sugar, vanilla, coconut, and coca-cola

Thoughts: I prefer my rum neat, but this is pretty close to drinking a rum and coke on its own, not worth the price.

Score: 77 out of 100

 

Kirk and Sweeney 23

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Dominican RepublicLeave a comment

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Price: $60 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Bermudez

Region: Dominican Republic

40% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: 23 Years

Cask Type: Undisclosed

Chill Filtered: Yes?

Additives used: Undisclosed

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Thick caramel, marzipan, boozy rum, molasses, nutty, with brown sugar

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Vanilla ice cream, brown sugar, more vanilla, hints of marzipan and caramel

Finish: Light warmth and short, caramel, oak, sugar, and vanilla

Thoughts: It’s not a bad rum, but if it is indeed 23 years in a cask It doesn’t show.

Score: 77 out of 100

Rum Nation Panama 18 Year

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Panama, RumLeave a comment

Rum Nation Panama 18 Year

Price: $60 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Valera Hermanos / Rum Nation

Region: Panama

40% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: 18 Years

Cask Type: Oak

Chill Filtered: No

Additives used: No

Color: Burnt umber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Oak, coffee, caramel, chocolate, cinnamon

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, maple, oak, and light fruit

Finish: Light warmth, shortish medium length, brown sugar, molasses, coconut, vanilla, butterscotch

Thoughts: A rum that has many sweet notes, but I don’t think it’s been dosed so that’s unique.

Score: 81 out of 100