Rum & Cachaca

• • 96

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  • ABV may vary

  Clairin Le Rocher (700ml)

  HAITI

  $119. 99

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  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 47.2%

  Haiti is experiencing a rum renaissance, evidenced by the fact there are around 50 running distilleries in the rest of the Caribbean and no less than 532 in Haiti alone. Small craft operations are scattered throughout the country. Species of un-hybridised sugar cane, chemical-free farming, spontaneous fermentation with no yeasts, and archaic unfiltered distillations are common practice. Le Rocher is the latest Clairin from Romulus Bethel's distillery located in Pignon. Produced from syrup, rather than pure juice, the syrup is boiled in order to preserve all the aromas while retaining the character of three varieties of cane. A single pot still rum, this is bottled at ‘still proof’. The bouquet evokes candied pineapple, fruit pastries, toasted marshmallow with air contact adding grassy / caney scents and more. White rum meets blanco mezcal, with a seemingly impossible combination of smokey, citrusy, sappy, briney, fruity, fusel flavours that almost defies description. Exceptional. [2017 vintage 46.5% Alc./Vol. tasted]

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• • 95

  Clairin Communal Blend (700ml)

  HAITI

  $89. 99

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  $1079.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  If you can't decide which Clairin to choose, 'Communal' resolves that with a blend of four Clairins: Sajous, Vaval, Casimir and Le Rochers. Pungent, fruity-yet-fresh openings turning briney, caney, grassy, evolving white pepper, candle wax and plantain-like scents over 2-3 minutes of swirling… Silky yet concentrated. Off-dry, bready, waxy, briney flavours are perfectly balanced by an invigorating, vibrant finish hinting at prunes, raisins and late marzipan. Another brilliant Clairin that pretty much clocks the white rum flavour wheel. 43% Alc./Vol.

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• • 96

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  Clairin Sajous (700ml)

  HAITI

  $119. 99

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  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 56.5%

  Clairin Sajous is from the village of Saint Michel De L'Attalaye. Third generation member of the family Sajous, Michel Sajous built the small distillery in 2004, located in the middle of a 30 hectare plantation growing different varieties of sugar cane among which is the rediscovered Cristalline. The cane is harvested and then transported to be distilled at the Chelo distillery under the direction of Michel. Diverse yet surprisingly agreeable aromas are moderately caney, raw sugar-like then briney with yeasty scents evoking sour dough and fruit bread. Further air contact turns this grassy-sweet, finally leaning towards toasted marshmallow and beeswax. Amply spicy attack is oily, juicy, semi-sweet with a thrust of warming spirit and flavours of marzipan, dried herbs and white pepper. Ends salty, delectable, super long. Easily the most complex and remarkable white rum we've tasted to date. [2016 vintage 54.3% Alc./Vol. tasted]

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• • 95

  • ABV may vary

  Clairin Vaval (700ml)

  HAITI

  $119. 99

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  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 49.3%

  From the village of Cavaillon, three hours drive from Port au Prince. Heirloom sugar cane called "Madame Meuze" is the focus, the cane juice distilled at the Arawaks distillery under the direction of Fritz Vaval. Founded after the war by Fritz’s father, the estate possesses 20 hectares of cane grown without fertilizers or artificial pesticides. In the glass the rum appears clear with thick legs; It's very pure on the nose with a whiff of herbal freshness and a lovely yeasty / bready / grassy character, air contact adding hints of varnish, pickle, brine, icing sugar, dilute molasses. Exceptionally soft, medium-bodied, dry and fresh with a herbal-bready entry, you also get sweet pickle flavours, brine and developing oiliness but it winds up bone dry, minerally, yeasty with anise / dill freshness lingering. Great stuff. Natural strength. [2016 vintage 48.8% Alc./Vol. tasted].

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• • 85

  2011 Compagnie des Indes (Epris Distillery) 8 Year Old Single Cask Cask Strength Brazil Rum (700ml)

  BRAZIL

  $179. 99

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  $2159.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 53.2%

  Distilled in a multi-column still at the Epris Distillery, this blend of molasses and cane juice-based rums was summed up by Compagnie des Indes as "sweet and savoury with notes of BBQ sauce & Xérès vinegar." Zero sugar has been added. From a 30ml sample, the aromas need coaxing to get beyond basic scents like balsa wood and hints of molasses. On the palate, the sugars are matched by tingling spices, closing acidic, lean with nipping alcohol. Some sweetness recovers late in the aftertaste, but the lack of definition makes this odd-ball rum feel more like an oak-charged, cask strength Armagnac. 53.2% Alc./vol. Non-chill filtered. 293 bottles produced.

  Notes from the bottlers... Nose: rich and powerful, with notes of toffee, fudge and macadamia nuts with strong whiffs of molasses. Mouth: first a salty flavour (salted butter caramel), then grilled meat and dark chocolate. Finish: a sweet bitterness remains all along the tasting right until the end.

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• • 90

  2016 Compagnie des Indes (T.D.L. Distillery) 8 Year Old Single Cask Trinidad Rum (700ml)

  TRINIDAD

  $179. 99

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  $2159.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Aligned to the island style, best represented by Angostura, but made by Trinidad Distillers Limited. Cola, touches of honeycomb, vanilla and a hint of sarsaparilla on the nose. Leans towards the lighter side; pure and just a little zesty, fading grassy, pleasantly dry, warming. Lends itself to refreshing cocktails. 43% Alc./Vol. 424 bottles. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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• • 94

  2013 Compagnie des Indes (D.D.L. Distillery) 9 Year Old Single Cask Cask Strength Guyana Rum (700ml)

  GUYANA

  $199. 99

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  $2399.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 57.6%

  Sourced from the Diamond Distillery and distilled in the legendary Port Mourant wooden pot still. The expressive nose features heady notes of overripe tropical fruits, mango and papaya, becoming creamier after air contact. Quirky in its combination of banana bread, mango chutney, Indian spices and drying oak, lingering with fresh fruit cake, unaged grappa and warm, bittersweet sensations. An agricole-like wildness to this. Ticks many boxes if highly distinctive, all-natural Caribbean rum is your thing. 57.6% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 290 bottles produced. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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• • 91

  2011 Compagnie des Indes (Darsa Distillery) 12 Year Old Single Cask Guatemala Rum (700ml)

  GUATEMALA

  $179. 99

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  $2159.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Distilled from molasses in 2011 at Darsa Distillery (Destiladora de Alcoholes y Rones Sociedad Anónima). A shy nose is compensated by good power and balance on the palate; Plantain and raw sugar flavours, a grassy freshness and suggestions of iced coffee and milk chocolate through the aftertaste. Besides its naturalness and effortless delivery, this has a concentration punching above its ABV. 352 bottles produced. 43%.Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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• • 90

  2010 Compagnie des Indes (Secret Distillery) 10 Year Old Single Cask Fiji Rum (700ml)

  FIJI

  $159. 99

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  $1919.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 44%

  In the mainstream of molasses-based column-distilled styles; light to medium weight, almost malt-whisky-like in its aromas of ripe banana and dried fruits extending to the palate with subtle, semi-sweet flavours of dried pineapple, guava and banana; Hints of elderflower and cut grass bring balance before baking spices and banana peel rebound. Easy drinking. 44% Alc./vol. 409 bottles produced. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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• • 90

  2014 Compagnie des Indes (Secret Distillery) 8 Year Old Single Cask Thailand Rum (700ml)

  $149. 99

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  $1799.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Column distilled using local molasses, this bright gold rum offers medium-fresh aromas of banana bread, desiccated coconut, vanilla and chocolate, repeated on the palate in a soft, creamy, light to medium-bodied style evoking ripe cantaloupe and banana. The finish adds the required tannic grip, fresher fruitier notes and gentle spices. A profile that doesn't stand out in any particular way while being eminently drinkable. 392 bottles produced. 43% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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• • 89

  2009 Compagnie des Indes (Secret Distillery) 13 Year Old Single Cask Panama Rum (700ml)

  PANAMA

  $149. 99

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  $1799.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  A 30ml sample yields atypical rum aromas; Subdued, vaguely vegetal, eaux de vie-like, developing more familiar, though still muted notes of molasses and vanilla after 2-3 minutes of air contact. A light entry follows with soft, medium-dry flavours of dried fruits, aged grappa, shortbread and vanilla with a warming finish that resembles sherried malt whisky. Hard to pin down. A great throw-in at your next blind rum tasting. 429 bottles produced. 43% Alc./Vol.

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• Compagnie des Indes Barbagaya 14 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  $180. 00

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  $2160.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  A second Compagnie des Indes blend has landed. Barbagaya 14 Year Old is the third edition in the company's small batch series that brings together two great distilleries from Barbados and Guyana. Both components are molasses rums distilled in 2007 but aged separately in their original distilleries (Foursquare and Diamond) for six years. A finishing maturation in France lasted another four years, before the result was blended in a single cask in 2021. 791 bottles are on offer globally. 43% Alc./Vol.

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• 2010 Compagnie des Indes Mauritius (Secret Distillery) 9 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  MAURITIUS

  $169. 99

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  $2039.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 42%

  Mauritian rums are slowly making their way to our shores. This one's from a single cask yielding 455 bottles at 43% Alc./Vol. The distillery is not disclosed.

  Located off the coast of Madagascar, the island of Mauritius is a relative newcomer to the global rum scene. Sugar cane was introduced from Java during the Dutch period (1598-1710), mainly to produce an alcoholic drink. During his service in the 18th century, the French Governor, Bertrand-François Mahé de Labourdonnais, was the first to support the development of the rum industry in Mauritius. From 1810, the country became a British colony and gradually transformed itself into a plantation economy with sugarcane as the primary crop. Later, in 1852, Dr Pierre Charles François Harel saw opportunities to create quality rums on the island. Today, it's home to six distilleries and remains one of the few countries to offer both Traditional and Agricultural style rums, dark, light and spiced, the latter usually infused with the island's abundant local crops of spices and coffee.

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• 2007 Compagnie des Indes Belize (Travellers Distillery) 13 Year Old Cask Strength Rum (700ml)

  BELIZE

  $260. 00

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  $3120.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 62.1%

  Located on the eastern coast of Central America, Rum is the national drink in Belize - no surprise, as the country's sugar cane is of the highest standard, representing a considerable volume of exports.The local rum industry is dominated by 'Travellers Liquor' (est. 1953), a distillery based in Belize City. Specializing in molasses based rums and mainly supplying independent bottlers, the company gained its name from the success it achieved in serving travellers along the main route to and from Belize City. This natural strength release from French independent "Compagnie des Indes was drawn from a single cask at natural strength.

  Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Sandalwood, cinnamon, and a symphony of sweet spices. A floral touch of elderflower, the prelude of an intense mouth. Mouth: Powerful with still both the spicy and floral notes. It is a very well- balanced rum, its high abv makes for a contained powerfulness. Finish: Long and expressive, roasted subtle notes of 75% cacao. 62.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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• Compagnie Des Indes Spiced Rum (700ml)

  Caribbean,

  $99. 99

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  $1199.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  By several reports, this sets a new standard for the category. Far from the segment’s clichés, it's not one of those syrupy rums packed with sweeteners and colourings, rather it's an authentic spiced rum, with very little added sugar (15g) and zero colourings. Using a base blend of Dominican rums (approx. 80%) and Venezuelan Rums (approx. 20%), slowly infused with ingredients like black pepper, ginger, liquorice, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg for two weeks, whether sipping straight or mixing, it promises a delicious spiced rum experience. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 89

  Compagnie des Indes Caraibes Rum (700ml)

  Caribbean,

  $99. 99

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  $1199.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Made from rums from British Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, this multi country blend is aged in Bourbon casks for 3 to 5 years in the Caribbean, then imported into Europe to be 'assembled' into a final product. The result is a sweet-scented and slightly fruity rum, light to medium bodied with candied pineapple, poached pear, vanilla and mild cinnamon heat. The finish is nicely balanced, adding a delicate caney freshness. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 96

  Compagnie des Indes Jamaica 5 Year Old Navy Strength Rum (700ml) - 57%

  JAMAICA

  $149. 99

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  $1799.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 57%

  Made from rums sourced from four different Jamaican distilleries. Opens with powerful aromas of creamy soda, fried banana, dried mango, fruit bread and white pepper. Second pass finds raw sugar, hints of white chocolate and banana cake added to the mix. Concentrated yet remarkably smooth and poised given the ABV; gentle bittersweetness at midpalate with banana peel, fruit loaf, white pepper, grassy/pineapple freshness and warming sweet spices lingering at length. Complex and never too sweet. Beautifully done. 57% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... The Rum Masters 2016 | gold, Rhumfest Paris 2015 | gold.

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• • 91

  Compagnie des Indes Latino 5 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  Caribbean,

  $109. 99

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  $1319.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  The Latino edition is created from a blend of Central American rums, (60% from Guatemala) with a touch of Guyanese rum as well as some from Trinidad and Barbados. The rums were matured in x Bourbon casks for five years. Almost floral with softly spoken aromas of wafer biscuit, custard and light sponge cake. Medium bodied, silky and graceful in the mouth offering flavours of dried mango, banana cake, tea biscuits and a mouthcoating, salivating, creamy-soda-like burst to finish. Moreish. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 92

  Compagnie des Indes 5 Year Old Jamaica Rum (700ml) - 43%

  JAMAICA

  $114. 99

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  $1379.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Compagnie des Indes is a French bottler, based in Beaune and managed by Florent Beuchet. Rums are selected for their typicity and regional distinction, then brought back to France for maturation. Most are bottled without the addition of caramel colour or sugars. This edition is made from rums sourced from four different Jamaican distilleries and showcases the pot still style representative of the island's best. Some tasters have compared the profile to aged agricole. The aromas evoke elderflower cordial, dried apricot and marzipan in the opening sniffs followed by medium bodied flavours of dried fruits (mango, apricot), banana cake and a delicious creamy-soda and elderflower finish with lingering vanilla sugars. Certainly uniquely styled - and deceptively long. 43% Alc./Vol.

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• • 

  • Nick's Import

  Coruba 12 Year Old Cigar Rum (700ml)

  JAMAICA

  $109. 99

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  $1319.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Reminiscent of Dalmore’s Cigar Malt, this Jamaican rum is marketed as the perfect pairing with a fine cigar. Various sources report aromas and flavours of dried mango bark, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, pineapple, cloves, cinnamon, tobacco smoke and burnt oak. Others suggest it to be more suitable as a mixer rather than sipped neat. Distilled and matured in Jamaica on behalf of the The Rum Company Basel, creators of fine rum since 1889. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 95

  Dark Matter Spiced Rum (700ml)

  SCOTLAND

  $86. 99

  Bottle

  $1043.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Don't buy this if your idea of spiced rum is vanilla, vanilla, vanilla. The creators of Dark Matter use fresh ginger, fresh green peppercorn, long pepper and allspice berries, all hand prepared, and it shows. The rum is only very young, so it doesn't stand out in the flavour profile, but the spices are leaping out of the glass.

  Tasting note: Dull copper penny colour shows considerable viscosity. Up front with dense aromas of cinnamon, smoky cardamom, clove, liquorice root and gingery warmth. Follows through with a super silky, creamy, sweet burst of clove, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla; develops momentum with warming cinnamon and ginger heat. Finishes with sustained intensity. A robust, in-your-face example that's not ashamed to deliver what the label says. 40% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... Gold Medal. The Spirits Business Awards 2016

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• Stone Pine Distillery Dead Man's Gold Spiced Rum (700ml)

  New South Wales, AUSTRALIA

  $79. 99

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  $959.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  A marriage of barrel aged rum with vanilla and macadamia nut. The label celebrates Bathurst's Bicentenary, and is inspired by infamous bushrangers, The Ribbon Gang. Ten of the gang were hung in 1830 in Bathurst's first public hanging. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 94

  2010 Depaz Rhum Agricole Rum (700ml)

  MARTINIQUE

  $220. 00

  Bottle

  $2640.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 45%

  Depaz agricultural rhums are produced exclusively from super-fresh canes selected for their capacity to provide a rich, fruity aroma. Harvest starts in February when the cane fields are covered in white “feathers” (the cane sugar flowers, known as “flech’kann”, indicating that the plant is perfectly ripe and saturated with sugar). Freshness is fundamental. As one creole expression goes: “the cane should have it’s feet in the fields and it’s head in the mill”. In other words, once cut, the cane should be ground immediately to capture the most expressive juice. That freshness can be preserved even when the rums are oak-aged. This vintage-dated bottling combines eleven carefully selected barrels containing rums from the 2010 harvest. First matured for more than 10 years in American oak, a secondary maturation followed in 350 litre French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months. The rum ends up with a warming overlay of almond paste and mandarin confit aromas and flavours. Perhaps bottled not a month too late, it has a dry, natural feel, good freshness, and an oak-fruit balance that's similar to many Armagnacs. These styles can take a while to open up, so it's recommended served after five or minutes of air contact. 45% Alc./Vol.

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• Depaz Cuvee de la Montagne Pelee Rhum Blanc Agricole Rum (700ml)

  MARTINIQUE

  $109. 99

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  $1319.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 45%

  Depaz's 'Cuvee de la Montagne' was exclusively harvested from cane growing in the volcanic soils on the slopes of Montagne Pele. The fresh-pressed cane juice was fermented for 48 hours, distilled in a copper column still to 70% ABV, then slowly reduced with water over sixty days. Before bottling, it was rested in stainless steal tanks for at least three months. The result is a floral rum with notes of orange blossom, sweet banana and spice.

  Notes from Depaz... NOSE: fruity, floral and complex aroma, with a specific mineral touch. PALATE: the attack is sweet and honeyed, with a very elegant floral flavours. Sugar cane, orange blossom, banana combined with spicy notes of pepper and tobacco follows. 45% Alc./Vol.

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• • 93

  Depaz VSOP Rhum Agricole Rum (700ml)

  MARTINIQUE

  $160. 00

  Bottle

  $1920.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 45%

  Produced at the Depaz Rhum Chateau & Estate on the French West Indies Isle of Martinique this is an exclusively agricole product, the signature ingredient of which is estate-produced blue cane. Considered the costliest and most difficult cane to grow, Depaz Estate claim their blue cane "...delivers the ideal balance of sugars for maximum flavour and character delivering a superb floral nose and a smooth, flavorful and refined character to the rhum. Even within Martinique, very few locations are suited to produce blue cane at the quality level and quantity necessary for developing a luxury rhum". This VSOP is seven years old.

  Tasting note: Deep burnished copper. Medium sweet aromas of raisin cake, vanilla, cinnamon, a little clove. Later, greener notes blow through…white pepper, dried grass. An attractive assemblage of vivacious agricole with sweeter, heavier oak notes. Cough lozenges(?), sprinklings of white pepper, golden syrup and raisin cake through the finish. A little short but very tasty. 45% Alc./vol.

  Previous batch tasted 2013: Bright burnished copper / brass colour. The aroma is unusual for gold rum, being slightly grassy, with hints of unripe banana. Exposure brings sweeter, buttery scents of vanilla to the fore followed by a delicious fruitiness (ripe cantaloupe) leaving an overall impression not unlike aged, oaky Chardonnay, though the aroma is obviously much weightier here. Third pass adds bitter chocolate and caramel into the mix. Exceptional complexity. The unexpectedly dry and light entry delivers a rum that's a cross between blanco agricole and typical aged rum. This is drier and slightly greener than most gold rums, though none the less pleasant for that, with unripe banana, cut grass and beeswax flavours, finishing crisp, lean and vibrantly spicy with moderate length. 92 points

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• • 93

  • Reduced

  Depaz Grande Reserve XO Agricole Rum (700ml)

  MARTINIQUE

  Reduced from $340.00

  $199. 99

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  $2399.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 45%

  Produced at the Depaz Rhum Chateau & Estate on the French West Indies Isle of Martinique this is an exclusively agricole product, the signature ingredient of which is estate-produced blue cane. Considered the costliest and most difficult cane to grow, Depaz Estate claim their blue cane "...delivers the ideal balance of sugars for maximum flavour and character delivering a superb floral nose and a smooth, flavorful and refined character to the rhum. Even within Martinique, very few locations are suited to produce blue cane at the quality level and quantity necessary for developing a luxury rhum".

  Tasting note: Matured for 12 years. Brilliant amber / gold hue. Powerful scents of golden syrup are complexed by secondary notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, palm oil and leather. A bracing spirit carries flavours of cocoa-dusted banana cake with fruit sorbet and marzipan / honey entering late before the grassy characteristics return into the lengthy, drying fade. 50% Alc./Vol.

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• • 86

  Diamond Reserve 151 Overproof White Rum (750ml)

  GUYANA

  $125. 00

  Bottle

  $1500.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 75.5%

  This is the updated label previously referred to as "El Dorado" 151.
  Use with caution and keep away from open flames. It may light up your cocktails, literally. Include in Mai Tais, Rum Runners and punches.

  Tasting note: Crystal clear with a silvery blush. Offers up notes of icing sugar, fairy floss and vanilla bean. A sweet entry is followed by a wild flare of spirit. Repeats the aromas with lip numbing intensity. Prickly mouthfeel, the finish is bittersweet, with more texture than overt flavour. Reserve for the punch bowl or dynamite cocktails. 75.5% Alc./Vol.

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• 2013 Diplomatico Single Vintage Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  $275. 00

  Bottle

  $3300.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  "...a fantastic little rum that merits more contemplation than you might expect." - drinkhacker.com

  Distilled in 2013 from a harvest of the same year, this expression marries three types of distillate before maturation instead of afterwards. Master blender Nelson Hernandez selected unaged rums distilled from molasses and cane honey via three still types (column, pot and hybrid), and barreled the blend in a mix of x-bourbon and whisky casks. It was then aged for 10 years, experiencing an average loss of 6–8% angels’ share annually (around 60% of their overall volume to evaporation!) The final release yielded 18,000 bottles globally. 43% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... The nose is fairly deep, kicking off with a fragrant, perfumed wood note—not quite oak, but something similar—that is joined by ripe fruits, banana bread, and vanilla extract. The fruitiness carries over to the palate, with mango and cherry, plus leather, tobacco, oak, and vanilla. The finish adds spices, clove, and ground cinnamon. If you’re already familiar with Diplomático’s core range of 2–12 year old Reserva Exclusiva, then this newcomer will be a departure. The Reserva has a very conspicuous clove note on the nose, which is absent in the single vintage. Vanilla reigns supreme on the Reserva’s palate, but it plays more of a background role in Single Vintage, undercut by pleasant oak and fruit notes. 2013 Single Vintage has a drier profile overall, but it offers pleasant depth of flavor. We recommend sipping it neat. - whiskyadvocate.com

  ...Pretty on the nose, featuring notes of honey, torched orange peel, and green banana before more traditional notes of vanilla and caramel take over. Spice notes eventually dominate: cloves and cola, particularly. On the palate, the rum is immediately a bit tougher and rougher than the classic and very sweet Reserva Exclusiva, making me wonder how much less sugar dosage is used here. That’s a good thing, because it allows more flavor to come through beyond brown sugar and vanilla. (I love those flavors, of course, but great rum is a lot more than sweetness.) Big notes of banana bread, Christmas cake, and dark molasses all dominate, infused throughout with those spice notes present on the nose. Again, cloves and cola are punchy, while ample, toasty oak notes perk up on the finish. Some red fruit, coffee, and baked apple notes complete a holiday vibe on the lengthy, warming finish. All told it’s a fantastic little rum that merits more contemplation than you might expect. - drinkhacker.com

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• • Reduced

  Diplomatico Distillery Collection No.3 Pot Still Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  Reduced from $159.99

  $129. 99

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  $1559.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 47%

  Number three in Diplomatico's 'Distillery Collection' is created in the copper pot still that was used at the company's La Miel distillery in 1959, but originally used in Scotland to produce whisky. Today this copper pot still makes rums that are considered at the heart of Diplomatico's unique taste profile. Described as having aromas and flavours of red and tropical fruits with toffee and vanilla, it develops with notes of oak combined with coffee and dark chocolate. Best served neat or on the rocks or in an old fashioned. 47% Alc./Vol. 5000 bottles produced.

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• • 98
  • 96

  Diplomatico Ambassador Selection Cask Strength Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  $399. 00

  Bottle

  $4788.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 47%

  This is the peak of the Diplomatico range, as created by Golden Barrel Awards 2011 Master Rum Blender of the Year, Tito Cordero, and comes appropriately packaged in a stylish tapered bottle with a heavy set base and a cork inset into a weighty high quality metal stopper. Ambassador is matured in x-bourbon barrels before finishing for a couple of years in x-Pedro Ximenez (sweet Sherry) casks. Clearly, this is where things get serious for Cordero. It is a full throttle, 100% pot still rendition without filtration or compromise that stands as a benchmark in its category. Aged for a minimum of 12 years, the saturated, burnished mahogany colour leaves fat, glass-staining legs. Sensuous, mildly prickly aromas open with choc fudge, mocha, brandy cream and fruit cake. Cocoa and mocha accentuate with aeration, with the spicy fruit cake notes returning. From start to finish, the palate is a masterpiece of flavour choreography, beginning light, soft and gently spicy, slowly building in concentration, unfolding pulsing spices, intense dried fruits (raisin, date) and liquorice strap while fine-tuned acidity provides razor’s edge balance and a sense of elegance. It finishes clean, fresh and dry with a molasses aftertaste followed by a liquorice strap fade that reverberates over twenty minutes, however don’t be surprised if you’re still tasting this after an hour. It stands comfortably alongside the top two or three rums we’ve been fortunate enough to experience. Bravo! 47% Alc./Vol. (2011 batch tasted).

  Other reviews... Rich and concentrated, this is a blend of rums aged up to 12 years, then aged an additional two years in former PX Sherry casks. The end result is luxurious, thick in caramel, toffee and gingerbread flavors that finish long and elegant, with clove, allspice, dry cocoa, leather and orange peel accents. It sips beautifully. 96 points - wineenthusiast.com

  5+ stars - diffordsguide.com

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• Diplomatico Planas Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  $89. 99

  Bottle

  $1079.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 47%

  Taking its name from a valley near the distillery, "Planas" replaces "Diplomatico Blanco", however, the ABV is now 47%. A 50/50 combination of light and heavy rums, the blend is barrel-aged for up to six years followed by charcoal filtration which removes all colour. A fruity and creamy style, try it in a Mojito or Daiquiri. Also recommended for delicate cocktails such as the Rum Martini.

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• Diplomatico Mantuano Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  $84. 99

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  $1019.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Mantuano meaning 'nobleman' is the replacement for "Diplomatico Reserva". Molasses based, it's a blend of column & batch kettle rums combined with 40% heavier pot still rums. Aged for up to eight years, maturation employs x-bourbon and x-single malt whisky barrels. Expect a medium bodied and well rounded rum with notes of dried fruits, oak and vanilla. Ideal for flavourful cocktails. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 95
  • 

  • Nick's Import
  • Reduced

  Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  Reduced from $109.99

  $89. 99

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  $1079.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  If you haven't been inspired to try the aged rums of the Caribbean then you’ve got a lot to look forward to. This applies not only to those who’ve never moved beyond Bundaberg and Coke since high school, but more so to those who are serious about wine, whisky and brandy - in short, those of us who are passionate about ‘flavour’. Quality Caribbean rum has as many permutations of aromas, tastes, textures and strengths as any group of wines or spirits. The rum market in Australia has increased exponentially and the overall quality is superb. We now have access to many small and large producers who are vying for attention and the very reasonable prices mean rum is not just a passing fad.

  Aside from the familiar Caribbean island groups, more and more people are becoming aware of a ‘mainland’ rum tradition. Think Nicaragua, Gautemala, Panama or Venezuela. The latter, already famous as the spiritual home of the rum based medicinal bitters, Angostura, is now finding its rums eclipsing that legacy. The country has a number of highly regarded offerings, but those from the Distilerias Unidas in La Miel on the northern slopes of the Andes lift the bar highest.
  Their Diplomatico label is the international reference.

  We prefer to let what’s inside the bottle do the talking, but it is impossible to overlook this venture’s remarkable accumulation of twenty plus international awards since 2007 (54 medals in contests worldwide), including the SIP Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Miami Rum XP, Monde Selection and other big guns. Even if the show circuit is irrelevant to you, a different kind of achievement came in October 2011 when the company’s Maestro, Tito Cordero, was honoured at the Golden Rum Barrels Awards as the World’s Best Master Blender. He was the first Venezuelan to receive the award. Given that so much depends on how the distiller and blender create their product, this was the rum world's supreme commendation of Cordero's skill and outright quality fanaticism.

  A reinvigorated project that stemmed from an early Seagrams investment in the 1950s, passed on to Diageo, and is now in the custody of the Ballesteros family, the distillery is adjacent to the Hacienda Saruro, where much of the sugar cane is grown. Average daytime temperatures of 30-31C drop by 6-7C at night, a differential which when coupled with high humidity benefits cane growth: it concentrates the sugars and favours the ageing process. Different varieties are grown to make sugar honey and molasses. Molasses is preferred for the light rums, sugar cane honey for the heavy. While many producers are struggling to get molasses with a sugar content above 45%, Diplomatico are ahead of the pack before they even begin. Venezuela regularly achieves upwards of 60%. 

  Not unlike other distilleries, here pot stills are for richness and weight, column stills for adding freshness and elegance. Between the two are batch kettles that carry out secondary distillations of semi-heavy rums. Varying proportions of each create a hierarchy of styles. Barrel regimes vary, including ex-bourbon with some re-filled single malt whisky casks. Sherry casks are now being experimented with to great effect, as the 2000 Vintage release bears testimony. Finishing departs from the mainstream, as most Diplomatico rums are given only a delicate filtration prior to bottling - gentle enough to maintain fatty acids and maximum mouthfeel - then filtered using 3 micron-thick filter pads. It is minimal interference by world standards, Cordero considering it a formality to ensure the rums retain their clarity and brilliance when exported to cooler climates.

  Diplomatico's flagship cuvee is aged for up to twelve years and typically blended from around 80% pot still rums; the remaining 20% are lighter styles from column stills. Cordero mixes a little cane sugar prior to blending which is another reason why the flavour seems amplified compared to some others in the stable. Stylistically this edges Ron Zacapa 23 for satisfaction and sheer saturation and is the one that many of our customers measure other rums by. Those whose taste preferences tend towards the savory may misunderstand what is an unashamedly dessert / quasi- liqueur styled effort that falls into a sub-category of its own. Almost as decadent as a rum can get without cloying the mouth and falling out of balance - there are more complex rums around, but not near this price, nor do they have the same uncanny ability to incite superlatives. The packaging depicts Don Juancho Nieto Melendez, who was a noted rum enthusiast in the town close to the distillery. It's reported that, being something of a globe trotter, over many years "...he amassed a large collection of rums which he took great pleasure in offering his guests at the lavish dinner parties he held at his house."

  Tasting note: Brilliant copper with a gold hue. Heady and decadent scents of creme caramel, fresh coffee, chocolate fudge, vanilla and spice. A silky, creamy mouthfeel yields a plush array of dried fruits, raisins and coffee-caramel, counterpointed by a gently warming spirit heat. Perfect balance, seamless integration. Very long, mouth coating aftertaste of vanilla and liquorice strap with a subtle dark chocolate finale. Avoids the too sweet trap. A stunning rum that will instantly convert many a Muscat or PX Sherry drinker. This remains one of the most re-purchased spirits on our shelves. 40% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... Gold Medal: Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition, New Orleans

  Gold Medal, Best in Category: International Cane Spirits Festival, Florida
  • Silver Medal: Monde Selection, Brussels
  • Silver Medal: Concours Mondiale, Brussels
  • Silver Medal: San Francisco World Spirits Competition
  • Gold Medal: The Rum Experience, London

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• • 94

  • Reduced

  Diplomatico Distillery Collection No.2 Barbet Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

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  $129. 99

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  ABV: 47%

  The Barbet Column distillation system, originally created in France was brought to Venezuela the same year as the Batch Kettle - 1959. The still is made of 100% copper, aiding the elimination of undesirable compounds which form during the fermentation process. Aged in x Bourbon barrels and produced from high quality sugar cane molasses, the Barbet Column typically produces a distillate with a strong fruity profile.

  Tasting note: [Batch 3 tasted] Slightly lighter in colour and on the nose than the No.1, this seems all round softer and better structured; almost floral with distant citrus blossom and fresh honey notes over deeper, richer scents of vanilla cream and dried tropical fruits, especially banana. Fabulous mouthfeel, with a viscous, semi sweet entry, building with fanning spices towards a perfectly balanced finish. Raw sugar, cinnamon, light liquorice and dried banana late in the creamy, long and delicately spiced aftertaste. Great rum. You'd expect this to be reserved for something special. 5000 bottles. 47% Alc./Vol. Very limited stocks.

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• • 91

  • Reduced

  Diplomatico Distillery Collection No.1 Batch Kettle Rum (700ml)

  VENEZUELA

  Reduced from $159.99

  $129. 99

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  ABV: 47%

  Launched in 2017, "The Distillery Collection" showcases Diplomatico’s diverse distillation processes and wide range of styles. It offers rum aficionados the opportunity to discover these single distillates in their purest form, highlighting each rum’s individual personality.

  A Batch Kettle still was brought to Diplomático’s distillery in 1959. This semi-artisanal batch method was originally employed in Canada for the production of American whisky. No.1 is produced from sugar cane honeys and aged in x Bourbon barrels.

  Tasting note: Deep topaz. Warming aromas of light molasses, raw sugar and mocha with hints of orange zest and bourbon soaked oak. Not overly sweet. Well balanced with silky, medium bodied flavours of sponge cake, molasses, toffee apple and caramel fudge. Medium long, with drying oak, vanilla and pepper in the finish. Pulls up slightly short. A middle weight style with good vibrancy. 5000 bottles. 47% Alc./Vol. Very limited stocks.

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• • Nick's Import

  Don Papa Masskara Rum (700ml)

  PHILIPPINES

  $175. 00

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  $2100.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Don Papa Masskara is a limited edition celebrating the famous party on the Philippines’ Negros island, going by the name of Masskara (aka 'Smile party'). It's essentially the original Don Papa rum enriched by mixing in other local ingredients including honey from the Kanlaon forest, the Filipino citrus variety Calamondin and local Siling Labuyo chillies. The striking label was designed by Olaf Hajek.

  Other reviews... In a body of this rum you can smell and taste the original Don Papa's vanilla, although there is additional taste of the honey and dried fruit. It is really sweet rum, already close to Elixir rums. 40% Alc./Vol. - rumratings.com

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• • 91

  Doorly's 5 Year Old Barbados Rum (700ml)

  BARBADOS

  $89. 99

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  $1079.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  The bouquet is semi-sweet with hints of dried grass among the raisins, rum-balls and fruity dark chocolate notes. Silky on entry, leading into an easy-drinking, medium-bodied rum hinting at dried mango, semi-ripe pineapple, light molasses and fruit cake. Ups the intensity in a vibrant, spicy, characterful finish, the sweet fruity notes re-bounding. Bottled without added sugar or flavourings. 40% Alc./Vol

  Other reviews... I think Doorly’s is the most famous brand by Foursquare Distillery, and I believe it’s a blend of pot still and column rums. I had liked their Doorly’s XO a lot a few years back (WF 85). Colour: gold. Nose: vanilla and raisins plus Swiss milk chocolate and notes of cane juice at first nosing, then deeper, albeit tiny notes of earth and leaves. Oranges coming out after just two minutes, while the whole remains rather ‘easy’ and even a notch light. It’s a gentleman. Mouth: very good, bright, with oranges and cane juice, you’d almost think this is a readymade dry cocktail at high strength. Sips very well, even if it’s not a very complex rum. A wee touch of coconut – but can you say ‘wee’ about rum? Finish: medium, clean, cane-y. A little tobacco and more oranges in the aftertaste, as well as mangos. Comments: feels natural. Loved the easy fresh fruits in it, now I think it’s much less ‘phenolic’ than the XO. 80 points - whiskyfun.com

  ...When compared to the likes of the similarly priced Appleton V/X or Chairmans Reserve, it is a lot more refined and less edgy. In terms of mellowness it reminds me more of Appleton Reserve 8.  ...It’s not the same taste wise but in terms of heat and spice. It’s pretty sophisticated. I’d say it has a lot more going on than the English Harbour 5 year old, for example.  It is certainly a step up from Mount Gay Eclipse and even Cockspur Fine Rum... This is a serious contender for best rum in its price bracket.  It really is a great introduction to Bajan style rums. In fact its a good introduction to “real” rum in general. 4 stars - thefatrumpirate.com

  ...I tried the 5yo after the 8yo and expected a younger (obvious) harsher rum but it is actually easier and sweeter (for a 100% dry rum) than the 8yo. Less complex, less oaky, less sophisticated but also fruitier and more sweet notes make the 5yo a really pleasant, very affordable enjoyable sipper. On the nose it is very inviting with some vanilla, a touch of smokey oak, sweet oranges and some alcohol. On the palate the orange and vanilla combine to a fruity fudge-like sweetness (again, it is really a dry rum) with a pinch of pepper. The oak is much more in the background than with the 8 yo Doorly's. Very well balanced and nothing out of tune. Lovely little rum and at this pricepoint very hard to beat. Definitely not my last bottle! - rumratings.com

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• Doorly's 14 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  BARBADOS

  $150. 00

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  $1800.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 48%

  Doorly's rums are made at the Foursquare Distillery, one of Barbados' oldest trading companies. Currently owned and operated by the 4th generation of the Seale family, Richard Seale remains the Master Distiller & blender. The distillery is situated in the south eastern quarter of the island in St. Phillip and built on the site of a former sugar factory dating back to the 1650s. This blend of pot and column still rums was aged in ex-bourbon casks, with a smaller portion matured in ex-Madeira casks. While it's not quite cask strength, at 48% it definitely promises more oomph than the entry level Doorly’s. No sugar or other sweeteners are added, which will also please purists.

  Other reviews... The mid palate shows more of the Madeira influence. Notes of red wine and blackberries mingle alongside dark chocolate and some faint notes of marmalade. Finish wise we are left with a spicy and slightly heated end to the rum – white pepper and lots of ginger and a trace of cinnamon. The finish is very long and the rum lingers for a long time in the mouth. Lots of barrel char like flavour. Further sips seem to temper the more bitter and woody notes. More fruitiness becomes apparent. Once the palate adjusts the rum has a much better balance than the initial sip might lead you to believe. The extra ABV means this is a rum worth sitting down and spending some time with. Doorly’s XO you can almost swig straight from the bottle – you don’t want to do that with this. Sit down with it and appreciate it in small sips... For most other producers this would be the jewel in the crown. There best efforts. for Foursquare it’s just another great rum....The only people who would be disappointed with this rum are the nuggets that think Bumbu or Plantation XO are great Barbados rums. 4 Stars - thefatrumpirate.com

  ...Doorly's is one of Foursquare's brands. Colour: amber. Nose: not the first time that I have the impression that by using molasses and blending column and pot still, they often manage (not saying that was their goal) to create some kind of 'agricole' rum. This one's got the same kind of waxy polishes, slightly salty, almost olive-y touches, the slightly heady floralness, the crème brûlée, the tarte tatin, these slightly 'burnt' touches, this earthiness… Now, yes I know Barbadian rum existed way before the French started to make agricole rum, thanks to Napo and the British navy (or the other way 'round). Mouth: excellent, bold, salty, full of liquorice and smoke, cigars, burnt caramel, varnish and olives, some lavender (sweets), aniseed, caraway and cloves… I'm wondering if you wouldn't achieve some rather similar results if you would let some yellow chartreuse age for a decade or so in active wood. Like, in a proper ex-solera manzanilla butt. Seriously, I find this Doorly's just perfect and, perhaps, a little 'funkier' than the Foursquares. But not too sure about that part… Finish: long, with a little pepper, one olive, some orange juice and some caraway. Comments: I even like the blue parrot on the label. Is that an ara? What would the rum world do without parrots? In any case, this Doorly's was extremely convincing. 89 points - whiskyfun.com

  Great Foursquare rum, intensive, interesting and very balanced. - rumratings.com

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• Doorly's X.O Rum (700ml)

  Saint Philip, BARBADOS

  $109. 99

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  $1319.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Doorly's X.O rum is a unique rum from the parish Saint Philip in Barbados. A blend of rums aged six to twelve years, married in seasoned Oloroso sherry casks, the same casks that give several notable Scotch whiskies their deep colour, and dried fruit & nut flavours.

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• • 93

  • Packaging may vary

  Dos Maderas 5+5 Year Old PX Rum (700ml)

  SPAIN

  $119. 99

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  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Dos Maderas, meaning ‘two woods’ references the unusual maturation of this rum. It was initially aged in the Caribbean for 5 years before a second stint in Spain. The latter takes place at Williams & Humbert's facilities in Jerez with the rum transferred to casks that previously contained “Dos Cortados” (Palo Cortado Sherry). The final stage finishes the rum in x Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks.

  Tasting note: Brilliant amber-gold ochre dazzles in the glass. Moderate aromas of raisin and date cake, raw sugar, dark chocolate, caramel fudge and aged muscat wine, follows through to a silky, easy, graceful delivery; Flavours of liqueur muscat, raisins and honey finishing moderately viscous and medium-sweet with succulent dried fruit and caramel notes in the aftertaste. The PX makes a strong impact. Will appeal to lovers of sweet sherry. 40% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... Gold medal at the “Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition” (Miami) 2009.

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• • 93

  Dos Maderas 5+3 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  Caribbean,

  $99. 99

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  ABV: 37.5%

  Matured in Barbados and Guyana, after five years this was sent to Jerez de la Frontera where it was transferred to casks previously used to age the 20 year old sherry, 'Dos Cortados'. The finishing continued for an additional three years - hence the name "5 + 3."

  Tasting note: Dazzling topaz. Enticing scents of honey, maple syrup, sticky date and walnut fudge. Light to medium bodied with an effortless delivery of dates, cocoa and molasses cake flavours followed by hints of dried peel and tea biscuits in a spicy, vivacious finish. Sleek and graceful rum with impeccable sweet / dry balance. 37.5% Alc.Vol.

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• • 91

  Dos Maderas Luxus Rum (700ml)

  SPAIN

  $280. 00

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  $3360.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  Reportedly produced from rums sourced from both Barbados and Guyana, like its younger brother, Dos Maderas PX, this expression is also double aged: Ten years in the Caribbean followed by another 5 years at Williams & Humbert's facilities in Spain where it's finished in barrels that previously held wine at Don Guido.

  Tasting note: Burnished copper. High pitched marzipan in the opening pass. 3-4 minutes exposure adds cocoa butter, raisin toast, hazelnut and hints of chico lollies. A medium bodied, semi-sweet profile suggesting milk chocolate, caramel fudge, vanilla and raisin cake. Excellent sweet-dry balance. Finishes with late rancio and marzipan in the aftertaste. An elegant sipper in the tradition of lighter-bodied Venezuelan rums. 40% Alc./Vol.

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• • 95
  • 

  2014 El Dorado High Ester Blend PM / DHE Cask Strength Guyana Rum (750ml)

  GUYANA

  $299. 00

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  $3588.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 51.7%

  Following the series’ inaugural release in 2024 (La Bonne Intention / DHE) comes this single barrel blend of two pot still rums, PM (Port Mourant double wooden pot still ) & DHE (Diamond High Ester from a small John Dore double retort pot still), both aged for 10 years in second-fill Bourbon barrels. According to the company, their high ester rums are marked by intense fruity and floral notes, driven by the concentration of the aromatic compounds that define their signature character. The distillation process involves slow boiling and high reflux in the DHE still, which is said to help retain and extract the high concentration of ethyl acetate produced during the “funky fermentation” process. As a result, the rum achieves ester levels exceeding 1,500 grams per hectolitre.

  Beyond the deep mahogany colour, the first thing you notice is the volatility of alcohol. Once the fumes recede the nose gives way to papaya, mango yogurt, ginger warmth and latent vanillas. If you like your rums intense, this comes with a potent, almost incendiary attack of succulent tropical fruits and bracing spices. As your mouth adjusts to the ABV it feels less aggressive.; flavours of ginger biscuits and dry molasses are evident, as is the Bourbon oak input, but overall it's true to the label, capturing a bittersweet fruit-bomb profile that repeatedly brings you back to those funky esters, reminiscent of banana bread and ripe papaya, especially as the finish gains definition after air contact. Not everyone can handle these very natural and exotic styles, but most would agree, they're rare to find, and deliver at least twice as much character than 99% of mainstream market rums. 51.7% Alc./Vol.

  Notes from the producers... aromas of green apple, flambéed banana, and subtle notes of clove, cigar, and peat. On the palate, the fruit-forward style showcases notes of ripe tropical fruit, clove, and infused tobacco spice.

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• 2012 El Dorado High Ester Blend LBI / DHE Cask Strength Guyana Rum (750ml)

  GUYANA

  $299. 00

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  $3588.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 57%

  "Delicious...estery funk with tons of complexity, and then navy strength on top of that makes this Rum an absolute winner." - tastings.com

  2024 marks the first offering in the High Ester Blend Series, combining the La Bonne Intention (LBI) marque from the versatile French Savalle Still with the never-before released Diamond High Ester (DHE) marque from El Dorado's small John Dore Double Retort Copper Pot. Both distilled in 2012 and aged for 11 years in old Bourbon barrels, the ester count is reportedly over 1500g/hl (diffordsguide.com), however it's not certain whether that refers to esters after distillation (i.e.- before maturation) or after years of tropical aging. Regardless, according to more than one review, the results are pretty special, bursting with fruit, funk and floral notes. Bottled at a natural strength of 57% Alc./Vol., no outturn numbers are stated.

  Other reviews... Dark amber color. Aromas and flavors of bananas foster, grilled pineapple dipped in chocolate sauce, baked cherries, and pecan pie with cinnamon with a round, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a warming, gigantic, long finish revealing nuances of chocolate creme brulee, ripe banana and pineapple drenched in caramel sauce and lit on fire, cinnamon and nutmeg with clove and ginger accents, and kola nut. First and foremost, delicious; also estery funk with tons of complexity, and then navy strength on top of that making this Rum an absolute winner. 96 points - tastings.com

  ...There is a lot to be unpacked here and it rewards the patient. The palate is simply strong and very firm, fortunately without any kind of bitchy sharpness. It’s more like a very hot very sweet and very strong black tea. There’s salt, honey, olive oil, brown sugar, salted caramel ice cream, orange peel, sweet soya, and then a repetition of the sweet spices, freshly baked pastries, coffee grounds and unsweetened chocolate…and more of the spices mentioned above.  The rum as a whole presents as somewhat dry, but it all leads to a really long, dry, aromatic that sums up the profile quite nicely, but without introducing any new elements. Well. I must say, I’m happy that this is not a rum which was twisted into some semblance of conformity by some moron’s idea of a formula. It’s quite original, while still hewing to a profile that is recognizably Demerara. To do so was probably the right decision, since, overall, the rum works extremely well. The high ester component  is less assertive than the Jamaicans have led us to expect (that’s not a criticism, just an observation), yet it does well to balance off the more traditional flavours provided by the LBI, which, even back then, always seemed to be somewhat indeterminate... For that strength, that nose, those tastes and the overall quality, there’s nothing here that I don’t like. My suggestion would be to park the high ester expectations, enjoy the complexity of the blend, appreciate the strength, and maybe even drop the coin to get one for yourself. - thelonecaner.com

  Notes from the producers... Aroma: Gusts of figs and start-fruit whiff ahead, trailed by cinnamon and vanilla notes, and balanced by the mellow aromas of toffee and honey, with hints of banana undertones. Taste: the brief introduction of orange peel is overlayed with rich spicy notes in the pallet, prominently vanilla with cinnamon. Clove, dark chocolate, and slightly burner caramel hit the mid-palate delicately, before a smooth transition to honey that softens the leathery, spicy finish. A rum to be sipped and savoured for its delicateness as much as its deep impact, lush minerality and dry finish.

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• El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum (700ml)

  GUYANA

  $79. 99

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  $959.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  A satisfying mixing rum, twice filtered through natural charcoal for clarity and purity, then aged for at least 3 years in 45 gallon ex-bourbon oak casks. Ideal for all cocktails – especially Caribbean and South American styles. 40% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... 93 points - Exceptional - The Beverage Tasting Institute of Chicago.

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• • 92

  El Dorado 8 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  GUYANA

  $99. 99

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  $1199.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  El Dorado 8 Year Old - a product of the worlds oldest and most revered rum stills.

  Sugar was first produced in Guyana in 1658. By 1670 every sugar factory had a small Rum Still attached to it. This was the origin of Demerara, and Demerara Rums. Over a period of time there were steep fluctuation in prices that resulted in the closure of some sugar estates and consolidation of others. Today the associated stills have rationalised into one distillery - Demerara Distillers Limited, the makers of El Dorado. In 1740 Admiral Vernon formalized the rum ration for the Navy, with the rum composed of 82% Demerara and 18% other Caribbean Rums. The Port Mourant double wooden pot still (built in 1732) became the favoured source of Demerera Rum for the British Pursers. Before entering into battle the rations (tots) were doubled and British Navy men, steeled by the liquid courage tore into the enemy. Rum, and the classic stills that produced it, helped make Britain the supreme power at sea, forging an empire and the classic era for this great spirit.

  El Dorado 8 Year Old is a blend of Enmore (built in 1880, the world’s oldest and only wooden, column Coffey still), Port Mourant and the modern Diamond (steel column) stills. It is aged a minimum of 8 years in ex-Bourbon casks.

  Tasting notes: The deep brassy gold colour is flawless and bright. Offers up an attractive, mildly fruity bouquet including scents of dried pineapple and bounty bar. Raisins and dates come to the fore after several minutes in the glass. The aromas are reflected on the palate which is creamy with semi sweet, juicy sultana / date / fruit cake flavours. Concludes balanced, creamy-yet-fresh with mocha and vanilla custard tailing off into a gently spicy fade. Utterly delicious. 40% Alc./Vol.

  

   Click here to learn more about Rum.
  

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• • 95

  El Dorado Special Reserve 21 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  GUYANA

  $230. 00

  Bottle

  $2760.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 43%

  Delivers a kind of finesse that's almost unmatched in the rum pantheon.
  First class.

  The El Dorado rums are created from a combination of eight stills, some of which are the world's oldest in operation. Their different construction and size means each yields different distillates that allow for a maximum range of styles. The 21 year old is produced in three: the Enmore wooden Coffey still, the Versailles single wooden pot still and the Albion Savalle still with an emphasis on the latter. This original, four-column, metal French beauty was inherited from the 18th century Uitvlught Estate on the west coast of Demerara county. The rums it produces are characterised by a pronounced sweet, sugar cane nose combined with a dry medium-bodied flavour. The result is an alternative to the uber-exuberance of the 15 Year Old in which the Port Mourant contributes most. This is no powerhouse, rather you get serious complexity, persistence and a kind of finesse that's almost unmatched in the rum pantheon. Described as “monumental" and "one of the world’s greatest rum drinking experiences” by the Beverage Tasting Institute of Chicago, it's for the enthusiast who has the patience to appreciate it.

  Tasting note:[40% Alc./Vol. batch tasted] A blend of select aged rums between 21 -25 years old. Deep topaz / polished mahogany colour shows moderate viscosity. Drier styled aromas open mildly varnishy, developing with raisin slice, dates, banana cake, cinnamon, raw sugar and apricot brandy over 5-10 minutes; the sweeter notes are countered by woody, resiny aromas suggesting cigar box, cane and wax polish. Final pass accents toffee, rock lollies and heightens the dried fruit notes. Entry is light, dry, woody, unfolding with understated elegance, coating the mouth with a film of banana cake, dates, light molasses, caramel and vanilla. Builds in slow motion, peaking with a superb crescendo of sugars and zero burn, closing with liquorice allsorts and residual molasses through the aftertaste. Resonates and rebounds in the mouth over several minutes, the wood contributing almost as much as the spirit, the whole coming together in a way that sets it apart from almost any other rum. If you hurry this, frankly you'll be wasting your money. Demands extended breathing to reveal its best. One to savour.

  Gold - Golden - 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition

  Other reviews... Aeration allows aromas of oak, winter holiday spice and vanilla cake frosting to emerge. Supple palate entry, moderately honeyed; midpalate highlights include the buttery/creamy texture and tastes of cocoa, fiber, ash and beans. Sophisticated and world-class. 92 points - wineenthusiast.com

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• • 92
  • 

  • Reduced

  El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum (700ml)

  GUYANA

  Reduced from $119.99

  $94. 99

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  $1139.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  "...as a general all rounder for a lower price, this one is hard to beat". - the lonecaner.com

  A blend of rums from the original Wooden Enmore Coffey still, the original metal Diamond Coffey still, as well as from the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still. Bright burnished copper colour. Opens with rich aromas of roasted nuts, vanilla bean, cafe creme and raw sugar. A creamy entry is followed by a plush, intense, sticky date, creme caramel extravaganza with lively spices adding depth and vibrancy. Creamy vanilla, liquorice bullet finale. Concludes satisfying, warming, long. Luxe mixing rum at a budget price. 40% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... Having written all the above, what would I recommend? Truth to tell, I’d use this as a high end mixer for sure, and if looking for a premium sipper, just go up to the 15, or blow a hundred for the 21.  But as a general all rounder for a lower price, this one is hard to beat – it deserves a place on your shelf for all those visitors to your rooms or houses or apartments who want to try something a bit richer than Bacardi, Appleton V/X, Lamb’s or Mount Gay (those standard staples of the young), but don’t want to bust the bank doing it. - thelonecaner.com

  Medium depth of gold. Super attractive nose packed with wonderful aromas of Demerara sugar, honey, toffee, raisin and sultanas. Wonderful balance of rich, ripe flavours and sweetness with rich spice and firm frame. After all the sweet characters there is a delightful, dry finish. Beautifully elegant rum. Silver (Best in Class) - International Wine & Spirit Competition.

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