Dictador 12 Year Solera System Rum

Allow this plenty of time in the glass for the initial harshness to fade, revealing aromas of roasted coffee, rich chocolate, and molasses. On the palate, expect sweetness, a smooth character, notes of dark chocolate, nuts (possibly walnut or hazelnut), and cocoa, concluding with a slightly tart finish. As with all spirits produced via the solera process, it's acceptable but lacks a distinct personality. Frankly, I'd find this more pleasing in a rum cocktail or mixed with cola, allowing the flavors to meld better, rather than drinking it neat.

The aroma is a delightful mix of brown sugar, buttered toffee, and strong vanilla, making it very inviting. The initial taste reveals notes of oak and vanilla, with a subtle hint of coffee, all enveloped in a buttery texture. It is certainly sweet, as is typical for rum, but not overwhelmingly so. The finish brings baking spices and a touch of warmth with a slight lingering vanilla note. This rum is pleasant enough to enjoy on its own, but also possesses enough character to be effective in cocktails.

This rum is deceptive; avoid purchasing it. The marketing is questionable, even for rum. There's no Dictador distillery in Colombia, perhaps a bottling facility, but not a distillery. The rum is imported from Panama and loaded with additives.

This was an unexpected and unusual discovery for me. It shares caramel and coffee notes found in the Dictador 20 year and the excellent Dictador XO, but it's nowhere near as good. The flavor balance in this rum is entirely off for my palate. I would prefer the 20 year.

A quick tasting: Very smooth, quite light, peppery, sweet like candy, light red fruits, a bit salty. Very good, it slightly reminds me of Sexton and to a lesser extent Penderyn Madeira.

After trying the 20-year-old release, the 12-year-old Dictador seemed watery to me, with faint notes of coffee, smoke, and leather. Quite good but very lacking in character.