El Dorado Rum 12 years old

[Gillman]

When at the LCBO today I tasted (as reported in another thread) El Dorado 15 years old and found it not bad but not what I was interested in.

The 12 year old was also on the shelves and I bought it because, i) I recalled the taste being great from tasting it in Saint Martin last year, ii) it occurred to me its profile might be different than the 15 year old.

Well, I was right (this time). The 12 was exactly what I recalled from the bistro in Marigot. It was, and is, rich, coffee-like with cigarish overtones. Also, it is noticeably sweet. Not like a liqueur, but sweetish to the point that I have to assume some light sweetening was added. And that is fine, it knits together the drink and makes it a superb after-dinner dram. So good, I will bring it to Gazebo and leave my rum blends behind (I may bring a mickey for interested parties).

To summarise: my (and this is final) Gazebo bringings are Barrel Select Canadian whisky from Kittling Ridge in Grimsby, Ontario and El Dorado 12 year old rum from Guyana.

Gary

[TNbourbon]

Gary, as you know from off-line communications, I recently found the El Dorado 5- and 15-year-olds, the first time I've seen Demeraras in Middle Tennessee. I bought and opened the 5yo, and concur almost completely with your taste description, though I know nothing from cigars, and would further define the coffee notes as "coffee grounds". I suspect the 12yo is moreso of everything.
Info on the back label doesn't mention flavorings added (which, of course, doesn't mean there aren't any), but does note it is "...hand blended to achieve the ultimate taste..." -- so, whether using additives or not, they certainly seem to have a specific taste in mind.

[Gillman]

Thanks Tim!

Wait to taste the El Dorado 12 year old at Gazebo, it is extraordinary. The 5 year old is excellent and has the house elements (tobacco, sweetness, molasses richness) but they combine incomparably in the 12 year old with the filip of age.

The 15 isn't bad by any means but doesn't come close to the 12 IMO. The 12 is like the 15 if a dash of brown sugar mixed with old bourbon was added and some fine cigar smoke had wafted through it.

Gary

[CrispyCritter]

I have one Demerara on my shelf, a 25yo Hallmark of St. James. I find it has a very smoky touch to it. I find it to be almost but not quite like an aged whiskey.

[Vange]

If you are in NY/NJ area shoppers vineyard is selling El Dorado 21 year for $50. It's a gerat deal for a superior rum.

[Gillman]

Certainly I'd like to try the older ones in the Dorado line and others.

I liked the 12 because it still has rum flavour, sometimes the very aged ones resolve only to sweet oak and alcohol and lose that edge.

The 15 actually was still rum-like but seemed lesser to me, too austere.

In my own blends I use rums of between 1 year or so and 23 years old.

Gary

[scratchline]

Okay, Gary. Was on a quest to bulk up my rum supply and came across the El Dorado 12 so, remembering this thread, I picked up a bottle.

Do you think this is strictly sipping rum or do you think it would work in cocktails?

-Mike