Sugar Awards Dept: Ratings by the Frozen One

[Capn Jimbo]

State of the frozen F'art awards...


...do note that mentions of our erstwhile Canadian friend rarely merit mention, critique or even friendly kidding anymore for the simple reason that doing so would be a near endless task considering the industrial output of this sample accepting review machine. But every once in awhile, you just can't help yourself...

2015 awards by the Frozen Wonder:

"25) Santa Teresa 1796 Antiguo de Solera
24) Dictador 20 Year Solera Rum
23) Ron Zacapa Centenario (23 Solera) Rum
22) Dictador 12 Year Solera
21) Angostura 1824 (12 Years Old) Rum
20) Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)
19) Pumpkin Face 23
18.) Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Barbados Rum
17) El Dorado 25 Year Old Vintage Reserve Rum
16) Ron Zacapa Centenario XO 15
15) Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial
14) Pusser’s 15 Year Old Navy Rum (Nelson’s Blood)
13) Rum Nation Caroni 1998 (Bottled in 2014 @ 55%)
12) Juan Santos 21 Yr Antigua Reserva Rum
11) El Dorado 12 Year Old Special Reserve Rum
10) Rum Nation Demerara 23 Year Old
09) Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year
08.) Reimonenq Vieux 9 Year Old Rhum (Distilled 1999)
07) Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
06) Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum
05) Dictador XO Insolent Rum
04) Panamonte Reserva XXV – 25 Year Old Rum
03) Diplomatico Single VTG 2000 Rum
02) Ron Millonario XO Reserva Especial Rum
01) El Dorado 21 Year Old Special Reserve Rum"

I thought it would be entertaining to convert these uh, ratings, to their proven or likely sugar content...

• 1. Sugar
  2. Sugar
  3. Sugar*
  4. Pure*
  5. Minimal Sugar (4g)
  6. Sugar
  7. Sugar
  8. Sugar*
  9. Pure
  10. Sugar*
  11. Sugar
  12. Unknown
  13. Sugar*
  14. Sugar
  15. Sugar
  16. Sugar
  17. Sugar
  18. Sugar*
  19. Sugar*
  20. Sugar
  21. Sugar*
  22. Pure
  23. Sugar
  24. Sugar
  25. Pure
  (* probability, reviews or best estimate)

Except for Appleton and Santa Theresa - both well known and tested very fine and pure products - 84% of the "winners" are sweet-toothed desserts for hungry wolves who've run short of fresh moose. I trust that the Dictador 12 is reasonable, and surely the mega-expensive Panamonte (that failing the guarantee of a soft ball review, will likely never touch our 99% lips).

[mamajuana]

While Dictador 12 may not be sugared, I find it to be clearly altered. The 12 year old had a distinct unnatural taste of coffee.

I would also not doubt the Panamonte having added sugar. Don Poncho's own lines have added sugars, take the reported 18 year results he released not long ago. As he is associated with this rum as well I would say that more probably than not its a $400-500 sugar laced rum.

The Diplomatico Ambassador which made similar claims of purity at a super premium price... later on tests for 26 g/l.

[AK9]

they should have a notice to visit the dentist after you drink this list..

[Capn Jimbo]

Mama, based on your Ambassador tests (and central castings "Don Pancho's" history, I'm tending to agree with you. If so, tof he rums that made the Canadian, mix 'em with Coke, Top 25 selections, an amazing 92% are sugared or likely so.

A sad day. Oh, and a note about the Columbian Diktador - I still remember one of my very favorite flavored rums - Ron Santero 7 year flavored with Columbian coffee. A rare find at the time, many years ago, and featuring the Columbian coffees that have always been my favorite country of origin.

There's no doubt that in the Carib, that rum, cigars, coffee and tropical fruits are all an important part of life. Ergo, I think you're right, my friend. Good observation! The point:

Sugar is only the beginning, and we should never forget Matusalem's vanilla and prune extract, and perhaps Diktador's coffee.

[JaRiMi]

Santa Teresa 1796 (old bottle, 3/4 empty, recorked): 14-15 Capn Jimbo
Santa Teresa 1796 (new bottle): 7 (tested 2x) Capn Jimbo
Santa Teresa 1796: 0 thefatrumpirate

I may have older bottles of this product, but they were far from "pure". So easy to see when tasted next to a truly pure rum. No idea if they cleaned up their act since. I suspect sugar is hardly the only substance used here. Mouthfeel is non-pure.

[Beukeboom]

Is there somewhere online a good listing of rums that have been sugared for sale in the United States and rums that are unadulterated?

[Capn Jimbo]

Boom... yes, right here at the Project:

http://rumproject.com/rumforum//viewtopic.php?t=1683

This list summarizes all the tests that have been done worldwide, in a single list. About half of them contain no sugar...