Well, well. Tonight's review is (for me) the elusive El Dorado 12 - available at an extremely favorable price, about $18. Many of you are aware that the ED15 has been rated one of the top rums in the world. Accordingly ED15 has earned the right to be my reference standard in this category. Still, there is more than one writer who prefers the 12 year. Is this possible? The reviews:
Sue Sea:
Me:Please note that my dear Sue Sea is ill this evening and I was forced to complete this review without her expert leadership and fine senses. She swung by just once to do a quick nosing, and to reassure me: "You've got it Jim, keep it up!. And so I shall. She promises to add her notes real soon now, lol...
El Dorado 12 Year comes in yet another attractive, squat bottle. Any sailor (this includes "It's all good" Preacher Ed) can't help but love this classic sailing ship label and faux red and gold seal. The color is a clear dark amber with lovely slow legs. Nice. ED12's aroma is striking: a pungent deep tobacco-leather, smokey and oakey. Think cigar box with undertones of tar. If this doesn't remind you of a historic, tarred sailing vessel, nothing will.
The taste is entirely consistent (leathery, tobacco, oak) but a tad lighter with a coating, medium body. Entry includes a light overtone of honeyed sweetness with a nice light pepper. Lovely. End palate is warm and slightly astringent. The finish is all too short, but leaves a consistent lingering aftertaste. At it's price point, almost a must buy.
El Dorado 12 is a smooth sipping rum that would ago perfectly on the bridge of a tarred, wooden sailing schooner, watching the sunset and smoking a good cigar...
Rating (10 is best): 7.
Addenda:
Sue Sea finally got over her illness and was rarin to go - we ended up tasting four rums including the ED12. Here's Sue Sea's review:
Sue Sea:
Me:I very much like the ED15 and was interested in comparing the ED12 in its similar classic squat bottle. It's color is a typical medium amber, only modestly clear. This is one of the few rums where Jimbo and I have somewhat differing opinions. I found El Dorado 12's initial aroma to be more deeply fruity, a deep dried peach with vanilla, oak and a little clove. On reflection I do pick up Jim's leathery, tobacco aromas, but this was later. ED12 is medium bodied, with a heavier apricot/peach marmalade taste with some clovey heat, along with smokey tastes of tobacco or cigars. The finish is a medium cigar box/tobacco.
El Dorado 12 reminds me of the homemade canned peaches with cloves as my mother made.
Upon a second tasting, I stand on my earlier review. This is a good cigar rum. We both liked it.
Final Rating (10 is best): Sue Sea - 8, Me - 7.
