Centenario 12-Year

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

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.

Not bad for $32, but I would recommend stepping up to the 20 year older brother. The 12 year is more of a high-end mixer.

Note that the bottle seems to have undergone a redesign (see photos). It also has some sort of strange plastic insert/spout that controls air returning into the bottle. The 20, 25, and 30 year bottles don’t have this feature.

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.