El Dorado 8 Year Rum

Rating: 14/23 I have Bacardi 8 and El Dorado 8, so I figured I should taste them together. Aroma: Quite sweet, but also unusual. There's a distinct tartness that reminds me of oloroso casks, plus some nuttiness and savoriness. The smells are a little rough. I also detect a bit of molasses. Barrel notes are faint, with burnt sugar being more prominent. Palate: Sweet, with blackstrap molasses entering questionable caramel territory alongside burnt sugar, sharp orange zest, notes of maple at times, an almond paste-like quality, and peanut nuttiness. There's also some spice, like clove and black pepper. This has an assertive palate that feels unrefined. It offers a good number of edgy flavors, but could benefit from more complexity and balance. Finish: Some of that sharpness from the competing flavors remains. On the fruit side, I get orange, lemon, and lime. Burnt sugar appears at times. There's some undefined woodiness. Hints of blackstrap molasses. - Conclusion - This is very rich and full-bodied, but it could certainly use improvement. It's edgy, somewhat like Plantation Xaymaca. While the Plantation seems more complex, this one feels richer, akin to Pusser's Gunpowder Proof. I likely wouldn't have guessed this was only 40% ABV, though I wouldn't have placed it above 50% either. What about that Bacardi? This is richer and fuller, but I think the Bacardi 8 is a more well-crafted product. Between the two, I slightly prefer the Bacardi. Or maybe not. Honestly, I could go either way with these two. That must mean this one also gets a 14. Thank you for the sample from a friend!

Nose: molasses, tobacco, brown sugar, coffee, butterscotch, orange, vanilla, leather, dark chocolate, cookie dough, allspice, raisin toast, baked apple, moderate ethanol burn. Taste: molasses, butterscotch, apple, vanilla, tobacco, sweet floral notes, peanut butter fudge, nutmeg, allspice, raisin toast, black pepper, orange, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with molasses, baking spice, and burnt toast flavors. This is another affordable mixing rum I acquired previously, yet it's surprisingly decent for sipping. The aroma is rich and dark, featuring molasses, butterscotch, burnt raisin toast, and baking spices. The palate is somewhat thin and lacks the same richness. It presents more molasses, some peanut butter fudge nuttiness, and a touch of orange. The nose is superior to the palate. It actually contains many of those deep notes I appreciate in bourbons. The most disappointing aspects are the texture and finish. It tastes overly diluted and the flavors begin to turn sour around the middle of the palate. For me, this is above average and just barely drinkable on its own. However, it performs more than adequately as a mixer. I've created some quite delicious Rum Flips with it over the past year.

This rum is delightful. A pleasant taste, nice warmth, a beautiful amber-brown hue, and a delicious aroma. It's very easy to drink. Less distinct than the 12yo, but it complements it rather than being a lesser version. It possesses the typical flavor profile of mid-aged rums, nothing unique, but all components are well-balanced and coated with a delicious molasses sweetness. Considering its price, it's one of my preferred value-for-money rums. Well, the rating here is quite good, isn't it? I generally like this one, and its rating (well above average for its category) is seven and three-quarters. Another person strongly dislikes it and regrets spending 18 EUR, giving it only a 7 rating...

Dominated by oak. A direct comparison with another brand's rum and another brand's cask strength offering. After a few sips, they all present similar aromas and even taste alike: oak. This is expected from the latter, but not the rums. What's the point? The first rum is slightly more intricate and retains a (very subtle) rum character compared to the other rum, making it my preference, but the second rum is only 20 euros, so it will be used for mixing. The third spirit is astringent, sharp, sour. Best consumed neat. When queried, others identified its character as whisky (bourbon).

The aroma was typical for a well-aged rum, but from a distance, I did catch some of the 'funk' I've heard so much about. The initial taste is light, but that's only due to the proof. Flavors of the barrel and sugar are easily noticeable, and regarding the 'funk,' I taste no more than the dried bitter notes of, for example, a date or raisin. Beyond all that, the finish is a bit weak, with the caramelized sugars being the last element to fade.

The scent is light brown sugar with dark cherry fruitiness. The flavors are hard to define. Mostly, they are like overripe tropical fruits. Compared directly to the 12-year-old version, this one is initially more aggressive. After a few sips, it becomes acceptable. Its immaturity is evident in the taste and mouthfeel, similar to a younger whiskey. I believe this is better suited as a mixer than for sipping neat. This rating is for sipping straight.