Abuelo Gran Reserva 12-Year

I've been through several Abuelo rums, but this one is a good one. It lacks depth, but it has a great nose and it's gentle to palate, so thumbs up.

Tested this long ago and you can definitely taste that it’s a Panamanian Ron. It has it all, but everything is weaker than in the better ones.
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Tasted it again during Birka’s rumcruise 22/3-2019 at a Master class and this time I had difficulty to distinguish from Havana Club 7yo.
So my rating will not be changed.
Picture: Brands included at the blindtest.

Smells sweet like Ron Zacapa Solera 23 but only has half of the familiar taste from that rum. The dried fruit and raisiny flavors are the same but the finish is totally different and has a noticeable dryer tobacco/leather/scotch flavor. I had to sip it a few times b4 I could figure it out when I suddenly yelled out loud "Scotch"!
Overall it honestly tastes like a mix of sweetened rum and scotch. If you like both spirits then you may just love this. 6/10 because it doesn't taste like rum but is unique. Update: I've just tried Appleton 12 year rare blend and it has some similar flavor to this, apparently this scotch-y taste can be found in other rums as well. Update 2: obviously upon writing this review I was unfamiliar with funky Jamaica/Guyana style rums that give the flavor of what I thought then to be reminiscent of scotch. I only knew that this tastes like Zacapa but different on the finish. I remember it being quite sugared tho and will have to revisit at some point and might actually like it this time now that my palette has had more experience.

This rum contains a very large amount of added sugar which makes it seem "sweet and smooth", but which masks the rum's actual flavors. What does this rum really taste like? We'll never know.

I liked this a lot for my first time trying it. I tried it with coke and sipped on it as a shooter. I can drink either way but prefer with coke. I will definitely buy again.

This one reminds me very much of the El Dorado 12 year. I am fairly certain there is some substantial added sugar, as I recently found out there is in the ED 12 - but it has enough flavor to hold up and not be overwhelmed by sweetness. Smoky, woody, with leather and tobacco notes. I don't smoke but it seems to me this one would be excellent with a cigar.

Edit : I have since found out that this rum and El Dorado 12 yr have almost the exact same amount of added sugar, around 30 g/ltr. This is a substantial amount and makes the usual $30+ price tag something I would not pay - although I am not unhappy that scored several on closeout for under $20.

First rated it a 7, dropped to a 6. Recommended to me as being on par with El dorado rums. Its alright, but not on par with El dorado rums. Much more of a oak/cask after taste.

Отличный Ромчик, в чистом виде, то что доктор прописал. Вкус мякгий сбалансированный, сухой. Много фруктов и специи. Приятное послевкусие. Под хорошую сигару и на природе у костерка очень хорошо заходит 👍

Mahogany in color. Little spicy and sweet, notes of dried fruits, dark cherrychocolate, cigar and oak on palate. Well-balanced, almost full-bodied and decent sipping rum.

I was really loking forward to test this one and I was not dissapointed.

Nose - sweet, fruity scents followed by sherry, hints of smoke and woods. Theres some mustiness. Excellent amora. Presents very luxuriously. This is what I imagine, what diplomats would drink, when I was younger.

In taste there are fruity notes, bit of raisins and sherry. Oak with smoke. Taste is sweet but not so much. Still fine for me. Superb finish, leaving sherry, plantain and oak in mouth. Silk smooth tastefull drinking. For its price absolut gem. Beats more expensive bottles with ease. A must have. Perhaps more dryness would reap better success with connoisseurs. Best choice for standard sipping eavning.