Centenario 12-Year

I really love the Centenario 20, 25, and 30, but I didn't have high of hopes for this, due to the low price of only $28.99 (Beltramo's 2015). However, I was pleasantly surprised. While this isn't as good as the above, it's still my kind of rum.

Has a wonderful sweet caramel and brown sugar smell/taste, that is relatively simple, but extremely good to me! A tad harsh compared to the others I mentioned, but a great taste and a nice surprise for my 90th review!

I understand others don't rate it as highly. However, I fully disagree. I find it to be quite smooth as a sipping rum, with very complex and pleasing flavors that are so absent in lesser rums. In fact, I'd say this is my perfect sipping rum. It's not harsh, it remains smooth when held in the mouth and has a gentle afterburn. Perfect straight up in a small glass. I'd rate it in the low 90's.

Alkohol: 40 %
Původ: Kostarika
Aroma: Vanilka, kůže, čokoláda, javorový sirup a máta, nebo něco podobně větrového. (83 b)
Chuť: Čokoláda s kůží, med, k tomu opět peprmintová příchuť, snad až do anýzu a lékořice. (83 b)
Shrnutí: Za cenu kolem 550 korun v akci to není nic převratného, ale ani nic, co by zklamalo či urazilo. Celkem pohodový rum, který je ozvláštněn větrově pikantní vůní a chutí.
Body: 83

When in Costa Rica, this is my go to - mainly because I like supporting the local economy, but it’s delicious enough to sip neat, and it’s still cheaper than anything close to comparable.

Purchased a bottle for 35 from TWE chocolate and caramel slightly smooth but not amazing

Tasty, but not as smooth and refined as som other 12 year old rums. Fruity and sweet on the nose, a little vanilla note on initial taste, then there is a bit of a bite at the end.

Yes, let's start saying this : I feel that this is a really big improvement over the mediocre 5-years old & simple 7-years old Centenarios (unfortunately I haven't been able yet to taste the even older versions). Sooo here we are talking about a pleasant & smooth everyday rum, with a rich, oily texture & a complicated character (not overly, though) : the balance between the caramel/cinnamon/brown sugar/dried fruits & the oak hints works just fine! A recommended rum!

I finally came across a bottle of this Ron Centenario 12 Year Old this morning. When I got home, it was time to compare it to my Ron Centenario 7 Year Old that I rated as a 6 some time ago. This 12 Year Old is only marginally better than the 7 Year Old, but when cost is considered, is this 12 Year Old worth double the price? I think not. Don't get me wrong, it is a very good dry rum with enough complex flavors to warrant sipping. However, since there are better rums for less money, I will only buy it again if I happen to run across it at a good price. I almost put the 20 Year Old into my buggy for purchase, but am so glad that I put it back.

Update October 2, 2018: I found this one again at a nearby liquor store for only $34, which now makes it a good buy. After being burned by it's sugar bomb older brother RC 20 that has 40 gpl of added sugar, I had to give this one another try. Nowhere is this listed, but it definitely has 0 gpl of added sugar, making it a dry rum. If it is transparent with no viscosity or legs, then it has no added sugar. Plain and simple!!!!

A friend of mine brought this back from Costa Rica, and I've really enjoyed it. There is a bit of sweetness to it, and it's only 70 proof (35% ABV), but that might be part of its charm. If you like the Diplomatico, you'll probably like this, too.

I poured it neat, and you could smell the sweetness, with a little oak and a tinge of alcohol. It has a bit of an oily mouth feel, but gives you just a little burn from the alcohol and just a hint of the sweetness. You can taste the oak and spirit, with just a hint of apricot left behind.

It goes down easy. I think I'll have another.

I first got this rum a few years ago on vacation in Costa Rica. I immediately fell in love with it, rich taste and a smooth finish. It is great on the rocks or mixed with coke/ coconut milk. If possible pour some into a freshly opened coconut for an authentic Costa Rica taste.

El ron costarricense, es agradable, poco original, se deja tomar con un sabor dulzón. Lo tomo en Cuba Libre.

For me close to a perfect Rum. Similar to Flor de Cana 12, very smooth, caramel, marzipan, decent wood, maybe a little thin but still great work. Looking forward to the older ones.

This one is okay for an everyday sip, but unfortunately has nothing special. You certainly find better for this amount of money.

It was the end of the bottle when tasted and was only able to pour 2cl. The bottle was opened for quite some time so very difficult to assess the real potential.

Vanilla and powerful black pepper notes stood out though

This is a smooth rum great for sipping on the rocks

Ve vůni sladkost, ovoce, vanilka a dřevo, chuť příjemně nasládlá, vanilka, dozvuk dřevo 👍

Tiene lindo color y un sabor aceptable para una noche común!!! Es cómodo, pero aún así sabe bien solo con hielo.

Celkom pitelne, ale nie podľa môjho gusta. Zakúpené v tescu.

Very nice bottle, but unfortunately not corked, instead it arrives with that pesky plastic piece of **** you find just after you open the metalic screw cap. Light amber colour, fresh aroma with mint, alcohol and hints of vanilla and what I can only describe as 1 euro milk chocolate. The taste is somewhat bland but still somehow manages to be harsh, tobacco, some wood and spice, perhaps pecan nuts, too, and a very strange licorice/mint finish that reminds me of those chewing gums sold under the impression of "fresh" breath. I cannot say it is terrible, but it doesn't bring enough interesting points nor the depth to justify buying this over say similarily priced bottles from Flor de Cana, or Eldorado, depending whether you love sweetened stuff or not.

Gładki rum o oleistej konsystencji.
Delikatny i łagodny, rum nie jest przesadnie słodki, ale słodki. Alkohol w zasadzie nie wyczuwalny.

Zapach: pierwsze moje wrażenie... będzie dobre:), w zapachu przewaga owoców , po dłuższej chwili tak jakby lakier do paznokci (?)... W pustym kieliszku wyraźna wanilia.

Smak: delikatny, przewaga owoców, trochę rodzynki, cukier trzcinowy, po chwili dość wyraźnie dąb, od czasu do czasu trochę czekolada.
Ciekawy balans miedzy cukrem trzcinowym, dębem i owocami.

Finisz: srednio dlugi, owoce przechodzące w dąb

Pokud Vás přestanou bavit přeslazené rumy, nemusíte zrovna whisky, ale má to mít říz, je to jasná volba.

Genau wie der Pyrat XO Reserve hat dieser Ron Centenario 12 nicht die Erwartungen erfüllt, wie z.B. ein Flor de Cana 12 oder Appleton Estate 12.

Gold colour
Subtle, spicy nose, restrained alcohol
In the mouth very smooth, fairly sweet (4/5), no fruit aromas, fades into subtle spice with a hint of oak.
Virtually no burn.

Sweetened, unoffensive drink, but without any ambition or character.
The younger ones are more fun.

Medium amber color meets the eye. In the nose, pleasant vanilla and a waft of oak that does not linger. On the tongue, gentle fruity sweetness washes to the throat with lasting finish. Fruit on the nose and tongue is mixed so is hard to pin down. At the end of the bottle, this one lands in my top-10. An excellent dram!