A rum review?  Isn’t this a whiskey website?  Yes, and yes!  Think of it as a little lagniappe.  Every now and then I’ll sprinkle a non-whiskey related post on the website to keep things interesting.  This one is special too because my buddy Mike Jorgenson came over to the house and we did a tasting together.  Mike runs andabottleofrum.me, a rum blog.  Head over to his website for his take on this rum, or click here for the direct link.

Some info on this rum.  It’s distilled in Venezuela in copper pot stills from sugar cane honeys, then aged up to 12 years.  There could be some young rum in this blend.  The company offers expressions that are aged for a minimum of 12 years – their Single Vintage and Ambassador.  Both of those expressions are then finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casts, respectively.  I’d love to see the sherry cask influence on rum.

On the nose, there are big molasses, brown sugar and ripe banana notes.  Almost smells like bananas foster. The entry is smooth, with thick molasses and honey dominating the palate.  Look beyond those two flavors and find some nutmeg, licorice and vanilla.  This is a big, sweet syrupy rum.  Much thicker mouthfeel than most of the rums I’ve encountered.  The sweetness of the nose and palate continue into the medium-length finish.

The sweet and spice notes of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva make this  a rum I’d love in the wintertime.  It’s a bit too syrupy for these Louisiana summers.  Nonetheless, this one’s a sipper, and a nice one at that.  Don’t dare mix it in a cocktail.