El Dorado Special Reserve 15-Year

Very tasty between top 5 rums. Sharp taste with woody flavour.

Let me start my review with a confession... I'm not a "rum purest" drinker. I've been drinking rum & Coke as my go-to cocktail since my college days. Not being a huge liquor drinker for most of my adult life, I have only recently started to explore more into the world of my favorite type of liquor. So, I end most of my reviews with a statement of how I prefer to drink my rum with Coke. Having said all that, I've yet to try this rum with Coke.

I bought this specific bottle because I've heard so many good things about it. I found a YouTube cocktail video about a rum-based version of the Old Fashioned cocktail which uses the 12-year version of El Dorado. I decided to use the 15-year special reserve instead (I've already tried and like the 12-year, so I wanted to use this opportunity to try something new.) and wow am I glad I did! BTW, that drink mixes this rum with some maple syrup and bitters.

I recently took a small flask of this rum with me to a Christmas party for sipping. I've never really been a straight liquor drinker, but I figured this rum would be my best choice to try. I was NOT disappointed! In fact, I was pleasantly surprised just how much flavor this rum has...

I will for sure keep a bottle of this magnificent rum on hand from now on...

It's great for the price. I find that letting this breath in the glass will help increase flavor notes and lower alcohol-y smell. It's not a pour and sip.

A great rum. The best rum I drank so far. Better than the 12 years old, this rum makes you want more and more.

I do not have enough experience to describe the exact sent and taste of this rum, but boy do I love this one. It smells great, after smelling this rum, other ones don't smell Like much anymore. It's a Nice, sweet, overwelming taste. It feels Nice and warms you up completely. This is a sweet rum, not to sweet, has a lot of character and has a Nice finish. I do love this rum.

I admit, I'm relatively new to rum, but this is the best one I had yet. Sweet, but not as sweet as the Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva - it seems I start my rum-journey as a Demerara-junkie, but Venezuela is just around the corner. ;)

A nice nose with just a slight burn on the tongue. As it mellows after that first taste your get the butter scotch malt taste that makes this different. A great value for a sipper.

Tried mixing it and was very impressed in coke and ginger ale but thought it lost something in citrus. Did not blend but feel this is the kind of rum that will add to any recipe, definitely a keeper.

This is my favourite evryday rum, great quality for the price. I like the flavor, smell, great to drink with some ice.

I am a beginner, my experience is Matusalem 23 Solera, Zacapa 23 Solera and now I am trying Eldorado 15. For me, this rum is the best of the three roms. The aroma of this rum is something ... the taste and aftertaste are delicious. 10 points definitely

ED 15 years is definitely one good sipper on the rocks! It is sweet and gives you a nice smooth warmth after the first sip. Guayana has a very high standard rum history due to El Dorado! Would rate it a 7,3 if possible.

A nice warm sipping rum, just a little sweet. A nice addition to any rotation!

This rum is a nice rum, with a good taste. It has a great sweetness without being too sweet.

Treacly badboy with some spice - excellent with figgy pudding...

I personnaly prefer the 12 years over the 15 years old especially considering the price point (about 55% more in Canada for the 15). IMO there's much better option at that price for a sip rum.

Very smooth, lots of flavour and properly aged for sipping.

Light brown butter and hickory nuts on the nose. A little hot up front and grassy, almost rhum-like. Lots more going on. Good stuff though.

Till I've taste this rum I conser that ED12 the most delisious rum. But this one turned out even better - less sweet and more testefull. Just perfect!

Not the type of rum I normally drink, but not bad at all. And I actullay prefered this over the 21y.

One of my favourites to drink, has hints of the 12 year, but much more sophisticated. Excellent neat, or used in cocktails. Hard to choose between this and Pussers Gunpowder proof.

This is a dark, slightly sweetened rum, which makes me quite sceptical although it is probably not enough sweetness for some. Visibly coloured, a bit viscous in the glass.

Nose: Figs, toffee, toasted pineapple and a hint of oak.

The mouthfeel confirms the impression of viscosity, very pleasant taste with a good balance between dried fruits and the typical molasses and caramel you would expect from sweetened spirits, but not overwhelmingly sweet as mentioned.

The aftertaste is long and also very pleasant but it does not really add new aromas to the drinking experience. The last two points from me are due to the low price, this is a very good starting point for those beginning to explore high end rums. A good blend of what seems to be quite different styles. Although it is a long time since I had access to really expensive rums I would say this an excellent starting point that allows you to get an idea of what top shelf rum can taste like.

dryer than the 12, but quafable overall. good as an after dinner drink.

Very tasty rum for that money. I smell a little bit of pineapple with coconut. Nice and long finish.

I think that rums with gold medals arent't good at all and overrated. This rum is a dissapointment for me. Odor strong alcoholic, OK the taste is not that bad at all; but the leaving is just harsh and woody. AND there is 37g/l sugar added - so you have a somewhat bad rum made sweeter for the mass. No thanks.

This is a hard review for me.

On the one hand I liked the flavor of this rum. It was truly in line with the Cuban Rums I so enjoy. However, the thickness of this rum on the palette was off putting to me.
I found myself for the first time thinking "this would be nice as a dessert topping on vanilla ice cream"....yikes.

The 12 year old El Dorado is much nicer as a rum to my tastes.