El Dorado 2020 Edition 15-Year

So at first glance this is a revisitation of an old classic. However, it is in fact a new review of a new rum. That’s because in 2020 El Dorado decided to revamp their entire lineup and, to the near universal delight of the rum community, they decided remove or severely limit the amount of added sugar they used to add to their bottlings. In the case of this rum, it contains 0gpL of added sugar.

This is a pure Demerera rum distilled on DDLs column still and then tropically aged for 15 years in ex-bourbon casks. Unlike the previous iteration, this newer bottling contains no added sugar. So now the million dollar question: how does it compare to the previous sugar-added iteration?

Taking a whiff from the Glencairn I get absolutely smacked in the nose by Raisins, Brown Sugar, and rich Pipe tobacco. Further nosing reveals Candied Figs, Prunes, and faint Modelers Glue. The nose, while not overly complex, is deep, rich, and inviting.

To my delightful surprise the palate matches the nose exactly, deep rich flavors of Raisins, Brown Sugar, faint Pipe Tobacco, Candied Figs, and Prunes. But in an interesting twist in addition to all the rich earthy notes present on the nose, the palate also includes a wonderful rich Toffee note. This is quite delightful.

The finish is long, rich, and more of the same: ages of Raisins, Candied Figs, Prunes, and Brown Sugar - but here with a touch of butter.

I have no idea how they did it, but this is even better than the previous added sugar version. The most likely scenario is that El Dorado was simply changing with their market and realizing that the rum community is trending towards purity rather than sweetness. But what I find with this rum, (and maybe what they also realized), is that their rum is just absolutely fantastic all by its own. No sugar is needed. In fact, now having had both, and even though I enjoyed the previous iteration, this new pure version is FAR superior in every way. It is richer, earthier, fruitier, and fuller than it was.

Frankly, I am stunned. I had anticipated the richness and fullness of the dried fruit notes to drop without the added sweetness…but the opposite in fact occurred! It seems the added sweetness was actually holding this rum back. Call me impressed. I was not expecting that.

This is the best commercially available aged Demerara that I have enjoyed by some margin. Well done DDL! Take pride in your rum - No added sugar needed

Short Description: Deep rich dried fruits, Brown Sugar, and Pipe tobacco. Everything you are looking for in an aged Demerara.

ABV 43%

Country of Origin: Guyana

Distillery: Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL)

Nose: Raisins, Brown Sugar, Pipe Tobacco, Candied Figs, Prunes, faint Modelers Glue

Palate: Raisins, Brown Sugar, faint Pipe Tobacco, Toffee, Candied Figs, Prunes

Finish: (long) Candied Figs, Prunes, Raisins, Brown Sugar and Butter

This rum knocks it out of the park. No added sugar! Absolutely a true rum. When I first tried the 15yr old I kind of liked it because it was sweet. Then, as I got my sea legs I found that adding sugar is, in my opinion, a mask. But the industry sells well with added sugar so I guess they thought, OK everyone else is doing it so let's see where this takes us. Well, after the EU put guidelines down they had no choice but to abort. Great choice because this rum doesn't need any sugar support. Nice move Matey! Now you have a chance to regain the throne! At the price ($48) this is a steal in my opinion.

This is definitely a step up from the 12 year old. This adds significantly more complexity and depth, while being recognisably from the same stable. I never tried the older, sweetened version so I can't comment on the change.

Smell is a dark, rich molasses, with a touch of lighter volatiles. Really well blended.
Taste is layers of molasses, really well integrated again. Then comes the wood and the burn, followed by the deepest layer of molasses, which heads almost to liquorice.
The finish is long, dry, slightly woody, rich and complex.

This ranks as one of the most complex and involving rums I've yet tried. It has a similar deep, slightly dirty, distinctly demerera, taste to ED12, but it's so much more complex and rich and involving. If ED12 is incredible value for the money and a must buy again, ED15 is simply a great rum without any qualification.

El Dorado 15yr Special Reserve is an absolute stand out. It’s the one for which all others are compared. The nose gives a complex spiced molasses with a caramel sweetness - and plenty of cinnamon.
The mouth feel is thick and mouth watering. There’s an Initial sweetness which develops into the spicey sweetness. There’s a hint of over ripe oranges . .
The finish is quite long with lingering dry spices and a touch of Liquorice. / dark chocolate.

nice soft rum with vanilla aftertaste. A little bit spicy when it goes down, but that's okay!

nose, some wood and sugar, same in the mouth plus some vanilla, finish also better than the 21, the old 15 years was rated 3 because tons of sugar added, this one is ok, not exceptional but a solid good sipper, will buy it again ! in fact now after tasting all 3 new releases (12, 15, 21) i can say this is the only one i like, even said so, it s nothing exceptional, it s funny for me to see some people (sweetened rum lovers) trying un sugared el dorados and saying they are bad, like little kids when you take chocolate and cakes from them ...

Decent sipper. Not very sweet. Not overly powerful in any category. Just solid.

Smooth and very little burn going down. Hints of molasses and vanilla. A solid sipper neat or on ice.

Dejlig sipper fra El Dorado. Er ikke så sød som den 12 års