Steven Richardson

“Live in the north east of England. Discovered the joys of rum about 10 years ago. Usually have a good 30 different rums in the house to choose from for my late night tipple. Gradually converting the friends and neighbours. ”

Brand

Review

Rating

Diplomatico Ambassador Selection

Can’t fault it Wonderful, as you’d expect. One of 5 sampled at a rumfest seminar. Not sure it’s 4 x better than the exclusiva, but it is even better.

10

Flor de Cana 25-Year

Excellent This is lovely. Smooth. It’s a quality bottle for a quality rum.

9

Diplomatico 2000 Single Vintage

Quality As expected, superb. Tried it at rumfest during a seminar. Total value!

9

Kirk and Sweeney 12-Year

Quality Smooth and as distintive as diplomatico. A fine birthday present for me.

9

La Hechicera Extra Anejo

Smokey Love so much about this rum, especially the smokey, oak aroma. Smooth, flavoursome. Great bottle and named well, enchantress that it is.

9

Kaniche XO

Came in a straw box! This is pretty darn good. Lovely smooth sipper. Big cube of ice all thats needed.

9

Havana Club Selección de Maestros

Maybe just under a 9 Very very good sipper. Well worth £40 and the rest. Enjoyed it many times watching some quality live music.

9

El Dorado 12-Year

Love this This is so lovely and smooth. I hope my local M&S never stop stocking it.

9

Don Q Gran Anejo

Top taste This is gorgeous. Smooth sipper. Lovely bottle and I love the trick with the bottle top

9

Ron Zacapa 23 Solera

Lovely I love this rum, especially 1 litre bottles at duty free prices. Smooth sipper.

9

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva

Distinct Smooth with a taste distinct from other sippers I’ve had.

9

Rumbullion Navy Strength

Spicy indeed Tried this at the uk rum fest. Best spiced rum I’ve had. I thought it might be a bit too strong but no, it hit my taste buds just fine.

9

Mount Gay XO Extra Old

Bit better than an 8 This is a really good sipper. I like this distillery!

9

Jack Ratt Lugger

Bit spicey! Batch #005. This is lovely and spicey. Orange, nutmeg, cloves and (not overpowering) vanilla.

9

Flor de Cana 18-Year

Had this round simons This is nice and smooth. Actually, can’t really fault it. More like a nine point five.

8

Ron Panama 15-Year

7 December Love the colour, love the aroma and it has quite a strong flavour. Not harsh over ice

8

Rum Nation Panama 21-Year

Not many better Great aroma, slightly smokey. Lovely smooth sip and the taste lingers gorgeously.

8

Angostura 1919

Bargain Damn good distillery. For the money this is great. Gutted sainsbury stopped stocking it. 7.5.

8

Lord Nelson's Spiced

Very sweet It’s a liqueur really and very sweet, but if you like Legendario, as I do, it’s nice.

8

Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala & Belize

Really nice Marks and Spencer have a good selection. This is a lovely sipper. Not quite as good as the el dorado 12 , but close.

8

Don Papa 10-Year

Flavour Big step up for me from the ordinary Don Papa. Not keen on the aroma of the normal Don Papa but this is better and it has a dinstinctive flavour. Good

8

The Real McCoy 12-Year

Maybe 8.5 Very nice sipper. What is it about Barbados! Over ice, let it sit and chill.

8

Plantation Pineapple Stiggin's Fancy

Recommended If you like pineapple its amazing. Its such a smooth sipper I haven’t got round to trying it in a cocktail yet but I’m pretty sure it will be awesome.

8

Legendario Elixir de Cuba 7-Year

Its sweet but lovely For those with a sweet pallet. But i sooooo like it. Neat with ice.

8

Barcelo Imperial

No wonder the spanish like it This was my favourite at rumfest 2015. Very smooth. Maybe not quite a 9 but getting there.

8

Captain Morgan Black Spiced

Lovely As a black spiced rum it reminds me of kraken, but it’s a touch better. Nice supper and mixer. It’s my wife’s favourite spiced rum.

8

Rumbullion Spiced

Oh yes! Best spiced rum I’ve tasted apart from the navy strength version.

8

Deadhead Chocolate

10 Dec This is gorgeous as far as I’m concerned, wonderful chocolate aroma and finish.

8

Kill Devil (Hunter Laing) Guyana 1997 18-Year

Packs a punch You’re not gulping this down. Smooth, pungent, aged. Nice.

8

Spytail Ginger

Nice and gingery This is a lovely sipper (with a little ice) and a good mixer. Nice bottle too.

7

Santa Teresa Anejo

Not bad Not sure why so many rate this quite low. It’s nice enough to sip and mix.

7

Magec XO

11 December Great aroma. Very nice taste. Quite a dry flavour but not harsh.

7

Cihuatan Reserva Especial 8-Year

Dec 4 Tastes a lot better than it smells. The vanilla is not too strong.

7

Whisper Gold

Dec 2 Not so smooth going down, but tasty. Works best with ice just melted.

7

Rum Nation Martinique 12-Year Anniversary

A Rhum I’m happy with Not normally a big Rhum fan but this, over ice that’s just melting a little I found quite lovely. Floral aroma. I found it a tasty, fairly smooth sipp

7

Bayou Select

Maybe 7.5 I like the bayou brand. This is a good sipper. I probably prefer it to the spiced.

7

Don Papa Small Batch

Nice taste Not so keen on the aroma, reminds me of red leg and lambs, but it tasted lovely and it’s smooth enough to sip and goes well with coke.

7

Rebellion Spiced

Great value for money I’m sure it’s not to everyone’s taste but I like this a lot. Normally rum this price isn’t going to be a sipper. But I enjoy this with ice.

7

RL Seale 10-Year

Great bottle Smooth, but not quite the full flavour I was expecting from such a distinguished brand.

7

Sadler Peaky Blinders Black Spiced

Not a gimmick rum Love the show, now I love the rum. Great with coke but not too harsh to sip either. Not too much vanilla plus notes of orange and nutmeg.

7

Dead Man's Fingers Spiced

Very good mixer This is a very enjoyable rum, especially in coke and with ice. The vanilla is judged well and not too overpowering.

7

Bajan Estate XO

Good value Barbados never disappoints for rum. Kudos to Marks & Spencer’s for stocking this. Great mixer, good sipper.

7

Ron de Jeremy Spiced

Flavoursome Not some celeb cashing in. I thought it would be amusing to have and give to guests but actually its bloody lovely. Very sweet though.

7

Pirate's Grog Golden

Cracking mixer Really surprised how good this is. Not sure i know a better one for a rum and coke.

7

Wood's 100 Old Navy

Maybe 7.5 I’m not a navy rum fan usually, but i do like this one. Bags of flavour.

7

Mezan XO Jamaica

Strong One of those rums that seems more like a whisky to me.

7

Bayou Spiced

Nice Probably more like a 7.5 but i need to distinguish it from the other bayou which i prefer.

7

Pampero Aniversario

Tasty Maybe just not quite smooth enough to be a sipper, maybe it is.

7

Gosling's Black Seal

Pretty good Not quite an 8 but decent sipper and great with coke.

7

Bacardi 8

7.5 Really quite good. Goes well as a sipper or with mixers. First tried it in the bacardi tent with different types of food and aromas at rumfest uk.

7

Matusalem Gran Reserva 15-Year

7.5 i reckon It’s a lovely smooth sipper, over a nice big ice cube.

7

Mount Gay Black Barrel

7.5 our of 10 Big step up from the eclipse. Smooth sipper. Very much like the other good Barbados rums

7

Kraken Black Spiced

Mmm, caramelly Lovely caramel flavour to this. I like this as a sipper and love it as a mixer with Coke.

7

Dictador 20-Year

Dec 1st advent calendar Yes, this was nice. 20 year old spirits can be strong but this wasn’t. Nice and smooth with a strong coffee smell but not overpowering taste.

7

Enghaven Blackstrap

8 December Strong on the nose, reminds me of a Jamaican Mezan XO. Very tasty though

7

Dunedin Golden

With ice Had this round simons, Adam bought it. Quite nice actually. Fruity and dry. Smooth enough. Could happily sip this of a night.

7

Borgoe 8-Year

19 December Lovely aroma and really tasty. It has a lovely mild burn. Surprisingly good this.

7

Wicked Dolphin Crystal

Not bad for a light rum I’m not a fan of many light rums but this one actually has a bit of flavour. Some good cocktails on their website too.

6

Mombacho 8-Year

20 December Not quite sure what this tastes of. I think there is some caramel that I like, but some liquorice that I don’t. Little bit of pepper too?

6

Infinity Spirits Cane Island Cuba Single Island Blend

18 December Bit burny but overall not so bad and quite a strong, almost Jamaican flavour.

6

Saint James Reserve Privee 7-Year

16 December Not bad for an agricole rum. Quite warming. Better at room temp than over ice.

6

Pink Pigeon Original

Nice Distinctive. Vanilla. Not too many spiced rums that i like neat and in mixers but this is. 6.5

6

Plantation 3 Stars Artisanal

Not bad For a white rum this actually has some flavour. Good in cocktails.

6

Pusser's Spiced

Not bad This is ok. Better spiced rums out there for me. Pussers expertise is in navy rum.

6

Ron Miel Guanche

Bit sweet Bit sweet for me. Nice to sip in the Canary Islands sum mind you the missus loves it.

6

Arehucas 12-Year

Maybe 6.5 Not quite smooth enough to be a sipper. Quite good flavour though.

6

Diplomatico Reserva

Good But not great. The Exclusiva is a significant step up. Maybe this is a 6.5.

6

Clement VSOP

The bottle was fab I’m not, so far, an agricole fan. Too harsh for a sipper. The bottle though was fabulous and colourful and fun.

6

Dark Matter Spiced

Tingles Unusual. Definitely distinctive. A bit whisky like for me and too harsh to sip. Not bad with coke though. I do like how it makes my lips and tongue ti

6

Flor de Cana Anejo Clasico 5-Year

So so Bit too much of a burn to this but perfectly good in a mixer.

6

SangSom Special

Nothing wrong with this Wow, some very harsh ratings for this. Think there might be some snobbery going on.

6

The Duppy Share Caribbean

Great name Love the story behind the name. Blend is a bit more jamaica than barbados for my liking and a little bit harsh.

6

Foursquare Spiced

Spiced? Nothing wrong with this but i dont really get any spices.

6

Barcelo Gran Anejo

Its ok Its ok bit not that smooth to sip. The Imperial is a massive step up from this.

6

Chairman's Reserve

Its ok I normally like my rum chilled over ice. This is the only rum i actually prefer at room temp. Not special either way though.

6

Brugal Añejo

Brutal not brugal Bit harsh maybe. Not a sipper thoigh. Like the string around the bottle though.

6

Captain Morgan Spiced

This is the standard to judge for spiced Its not special but its really not bad as a mixer.

6

Pyrat XO Reserve

6.3 Its nice. Not quite smooth enough as a sipper for me. I need to try it with a few mixers though.

6

Sailor Jerry Spiced

Bit better than a 6 As a mixer this is really quite nice. I can understand why bartenders like it.

6

Havana Club 7-Year

Strong Its good, but a bit on the strong side. Great with coke and lime though.

6

Cloven Hoof Spiced

Sweet Its nice and certainly distinctive but a bit too sweet for me

6

Bacardi Oakheart

Average spiced rum When I first tried this I loved it but as my appreciation of rum has grown its obvious its a bit chemically compared to many others

6

Bacardi Carta Fuego

Okay Not especially to my taste but one of my wife’s favourites.

6

Mount Gay Eclipse

Value for money mixer Decent enough. Bit too harsh as a sipper but a good mixer and really good price.

6

Matugga Golden

13 December Not bad. Sort of Jamaica meets whiskey, but sweet. Nice over ice

6

J Gow Spiced

Average Not really a sipper but mixed with coke it’s fine.

6

Cane Island Trinidad Single Island Blend

14 December It’s not bad. Slightly bland but also made my lips tingle.

5

Old Hopking Spiced Gold

Value It’s not great but it’s not terrible. And for the price it’s good value as a mixer.

5

Barcelo Anejo

Bit harsh Ok as a mixer. In terms of value for money, get the better Ron Barcelo’s

5

Havana Club 3-Year

It’s a mixer It’s slightly better than most white rums but no better than a mixer and cocktails

5

Red Leg Spiced

Better than lambs spiced Similar aroma to lambs spiced, which is not to may taste, but a lot better to taste with a mixer than Lambs

5

Pampero Especial

Average Far too harsh to sip, its ok as a mixer but there are better value for money drinks.

5

Pusser's British Navy

Navy rum isnt my thing Its too dark, too strong for me. Much better than most other navy rums (except Woods) but not my thing. I’ve spoken to many friends who were in the na

5

Appleton Estate 12-Year

Mixer material Not as smooth as many, flavourful, but needs a mixer and lime/lemon

5

Ron Vigia Gran Reserva 18-Year

Medicinal aroma Slightly medicinal aroma. It’s strong on the tongue. Pungent. I get the feeling 18 years is a bit too long. Such a disappointment for a drink in the d

5

New Grove Old Tradition 8-Year

Dec 3 Smells like there is lots going on, including some orange peel, but unfortunately there isn’t a lot of taste of anything.

5

Domaine de Severin Rhum Vieux

Not great Bit antiseptic. I’m not a big fan of Rhum Agricoles mind you.

5

Cane Island Jamaica Single Island Blend

15 December Not a fan of Jamaican rum usually. This is pretty harsh.

5

Neptunes Gold

17 December Very fruity, can taste pear. Wow but it’s harsh and quite a burn as it goes down

5

Flying Dutchman No 3

9 December Bit rough and pungent really. Not a sipper that’s for sure

4

Old J Spiced

Not to my taste Bit like lambs spiced and red leg. Not for me, not great even with coke.

4

Bacardi Black

Our lads likes it But not to my taste. Definitely not a sipper. It can just about work with coke.

4

Bacardi Gold

Weird aroma Can’t put my finger on the strange aroma. Not keen on the scent. Tastes a little better than it smells.

4

Myers's Original Dark

Not the worst I was recommended this by someone who found out i was a rum lover. I can only conclude they didnt like me. Glad i didnt but a bottle. Mind you I’m not

4

Bacardi Carta Blanca

Bog standard It’s a white rum. Nothing special. Goes well with Coke.

4

Burning Barn Smoked Rum

Tingly I like the smokiness but it’s a bit too hot and spicy for my taste.

4

Bacardi Superior

Big standard If there is nothing else then it’s ok with coke or cocktails

3

Captain Morgan Dark

Blaarggh Not much better than supermarket dark rum for me. Better than nothing or the odd spiced rum that is ruined by spices that don’t suit me but that’s as

3

Lamb's Spiced

Awful With spiced rum it’s all about the spices suiting your taste. But urgghh, by far the worst rum I’ve ever tasted.

1

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