El Dorado 5-Year

This is a fantastic rum. It doesn't quite match up to its older brothers on the taste front but is an absolute staple in Guyana. From Georgetown to the Rupununi, I can't think of anything I'd prefer to have in my back pocket whilst under the Guyanese sun than a bottle of 5 year old. Tasty enough to be sipped neat or with coke. A must try for any Rum drinker. Just wish it was more available in the UK

Enough said!

This rum is one of my favorites for under $20. It has a floral spiced flavor that is slightly sweet. Just right for sipping on ice on those hot summer nights in south Florida.

This one will be a little dry for those who love rums such as Zaya, Zacapa and Diplomatico. Nicely robust Demeraran and one of the best buys in the $15 price range.

This one has a different blend of rums from the 8 and 12 yr and is closer to the 15 in terms of flavor profile, with substantially less added sugar (12 grams/ltr vs 30 for the 15 yr). Don't be fooled into thinking the aging is responsible for the smoothness of the 15 yr, who knows what percentage of the rum is actually 15 years old? (Only the blender).

This isn't about the rum, it's about the experience. When travelling through Guyana, I always carry bottles of ED5 with me as a gift, salve, and icebreaker. It has fueled many-an-evening of fabulous times and revelrous story telling with my wise Amerindian and gregarious Guyanese friends. And it sure knows how to take the edge of a rough day of potholes and tire failures on that #&%@#$ laterite road that criss-crosses that obscure jungle nation.

This stuff isn't just legendary, it has genuine medicinal qualities to its credit too. Check out Congresswoman Speier's tale of the Jonestown massacre back in the late 70's. She was shot five times at point blank range in the airstrip attack that killed Congressman Ryan, the NBC news crew, and several others. She recounts how she had to endure the night, bleeding to death huddled under the wing of the disabled plane waiting for help to arrive the next day. What did she do to get through the night? She drank El Dorado rum, my friend. (Listen to the clip - it's a really moving StoryCorps interview: http://bit.ly/hJsPee)

When I can get my hands on it, I prefer the only-slightly-more-expensive ED8 which is noticeably smoother and friendlier to rum newbies. But ED 5 makes a fine mixer and I've been delighted to see more and more hip SF-area bars making ED5 their preferred well rum. Cool!

El Dorado's opening price point. Smooth Amber and probably the best bang for your buck. One of the nicest economy rums. Very similar to the 8-year old version.

Makes fantastic Hurricanes or use as the gold rum in a Mai Tai, but smooth enough to sip neat (although no competition for it's older siblings). A great value at 15 bucks, I prefer it to the 8yo.

As far as aged rums go this one's a baby but surprisingly smooth. The aroma in the bottle is quite nice. I can't put my finger on it but the aroma hints of sweetness but not a syrupy sweetness but a fruity sweetness. This is accentuated when smelled via a snifter.

The flavor is nice. Sweet but not cloyingly. Far from it. Seems the sweet is natural. Doesn't taste like there's added sugars. Has elements of butterscotch and vanilla and a little cinnamon. A little pepperiness, too. Not harsh at all but surprisingly smooth. I can see some enjoying this as a sipping rum while others use it in mixed drinks. Very versatile. A great rum for the price.

Excellent on the rocks (probably too hot for sipping neat), nicely complex and oaky. Mix it with coconut water and you have the world's greatest drink. Also great with cola and ginger beer. At between $12-$17 this can't be beat for value.

This rum has a beautiful reddish tinge to it's amber colour, and with little/no alcohol smell it's very inviting. Even when mixed with cola, you can still immediately taste a little smokiness which provides some richness to the drink. This aged rum gives some nice depth to an easy-drinking smooth rum and cola. One of my favourites.

It's a shame you can't really buy this outside Guyana, as it's a very yummy rum.

I really like the bottle design and the color of the rum, nice display bottle in the bar. Perfect for guess who are use to rum and coke and want something else than a captain coke.

Very smooth. Nice toffee flavor. Sweet but not overly done. Would recommend.

Just love every single ED bottles!

A solid mixing rum. However if given the choice I would opt for the 8

Smooth dark gold rum. Demerara flavours come through with a hint of vanilla. A pleasant lingering flavour. Lacks a depth of flavour at the back of the throat.

Ranked 7.5 on my scale, but the bottles here are never half full. A nice aftertaste. Oak flavor but not as rich as the 12.

Nose: overripe melon, wax, even sharp, not outstanding.
Palate: bitter, sweet, harsh. This rudeness seems appropriate. Masculinity. There is a feeling that this should be the true rum.
The digestion handles perfectly, and the head feels hot and fast intoxication. Further the taste seems watery. Does not produce severe post-effects.

Drinking this rum neat, is doable but in my opinion does not reflect the quality and taste of El Dorado. The complexity is resided and a bit boring.

But with Coca Cola this rum really shines! The subtle taste compliments the sweet taste of the cola and pair perfectly together. As mixer, this is my go-to rum!

The rum has character, is smoky and a little sweet.
Has a nice burn.
Not less than the other El dorado rums.

Nice and light on the rocks. Good value. Hint of Caramel I was thinking Kahlua. A decent rum but there is so little time. Won't be in my cabinet

It's nice but not compared to its older cousins. It's fresh and that's ok but there is a little alcohol harshness coming through even while mixed.

I went to Antigua and they gave us this bottle at the resort we were. I did not expect much, but I was surprised by the taste of this rum. Ok, it is mostly great for mixing, but nevertheless, it is a good sipping rum too. I start with this one before having some better rums, to warm my throat and palate.

I was not really impressed with this rum so I tried a little experiment. After reading how added sugar 'ages' a rum, I boiled up some demerara and made a sugar syrup. It definitely works! Very nice aperitif that my wife really liked.