El Dorado 1988 25-Year

This is a truly special rum, and without a doubt the best I've ever had. The presentation of the bottle is already special, matched by a mouth-watering color. The taste is perfect and smooth, with not an ounce of burn. El Dorado has created the perfect rum!

My scoring system (with weights) is as follows:
-Packaging (10%): 10
-Color (20%): 10
-Nose (20%): 8.5
-Palette (25%): 10
-Smoothness (25%): 10

-Total Weighted Score: 9.7 (rounded up to 10 for rumratings.com)

The nose was very good, but to me isn't as flavorful as I'd expect and doesn't reflect the perfection of the taste. Apart from this, it is a perfect rum in every way.

Well over 800 aged dark rums enjoyed and El Dorado 25 year is easily on my Top 10 list. It is sublime, super smooth, like molten chocolate, no burn at all and contains plenty of amazing flavors. I tried this amazing rum the first time at the Marriott hotel in Georgetown Guyana and have had the luxury of enjoying it 4 times since that in rum bars in New York and in Chicago.

Detailed scoring analysis:
10/100 Packaging, bottle and label design 10
10/100 Color of this rum 10
15/100 Nose test 14
20/100 Palate test 20
15/100 Afterburn of this rum 15
15/100 Availability to purchase this rum 11
15/100 Ultimate value for money 2
Total score 82

Here's my top 30 list:
1. Ron Tres Loco de Vinos from Vinoble Skanderborg
2. Ron Esclavo XO Cask Strength
3. Legendario Gran Reserva 15y
4. Cubaney Centenario 25-30y
5. Companero Panama
6. Ron Esclavo XO
7. Ron Millonario XO and 15y
8. Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary
9. El Dorado 25y
10. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and Single Vintage
11. Presidente Marti 23y and 19y
12. Cubaney 18y
13. Pusser's 15y
14. Black Tot
15. El Pasador de Oro XO
16. Bavaro Black Ultra Premium
17. Punta Cana Esplendido
18. Edmundo Dantes 15y
19. Pampero Aniversario
20. Bacoo 12y
21. Ron Esclavo 15y and 12y
22. El Pasador de Oro Gran Reserva
23. Brugal Leyenda
24. Exquisito 1990 and 1995
25. Koloa Kaua'i Coconut
26. Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala & Belize
27. Unhiq XO
28. Ron Hero 21y Solera
29. Punta Cana XOX
30. Ron Cartavio XO

I was hesitant to buy a bottle of this, because of the extremely high price of $499 (DrinkUpNY 2016) and because I'm not really a big fan of El Dorado rums. But this one is very good.

I like the 43%abv on this. Good rums always taste better stronger. Smells and tastes of toffee, brown sugar, caramel, chocolate, and vanilla. Smooth, especially for 43%abv.

I rate this at the top of the 9 scale; very good, but just shy of a 10.

You can truly taste the 25years - What a taste experience and GREAT nose!
It is my understanding that this vintage 1988 is a bit on the sweeter side compared to other vintages. I would say that the sweeter side together with this complex rum brings out the masterpiece.

Earns all the superlatives you know. A truly fantastic rum, but it’s always discussable if it’s worth the money. Because of the price it cannot be an everyday rum for me. Instead it will be a rum for special occasions.
Nose fantastic, taste very good and afterburn fantastic.
Truly recommendable if you have around 500€ left.
Picture: My top five shelf.

Had expected a little more for that price. 9.5 would have been the right grade.

Top of the typical El Dorado sweet line of rum. Nice aroma, sweet complex taste, smooth not burning. Longer and sweet aftertaste with fruit and honey tones. Best od the "standard" El Dorado line. Good experience, but whole bottle looks overpriced (500Eur in my country).

Bättre än så här blir det inte. Smakade den på en master class som hölls av Ian Burrell på Birka Cruises romkryssning 2018. Det här är perfektion.

I never thought I would enjoy a glass as much as the 1980 vintage of the 25 year El Dorado, but this one is right up there. If I had the money I would would drink nothing but this.

This is better than the normal 25 year aged rum wow what flavourings , money well spent ..
Honestly flavours cannot comprehend how good of a rum this is ... El Dorado stands for liquid gold and this is the holy grail ... I would own a 1000 bottles if I could