Review: Ron Diplomatico Single Vintage 2013

Our last encounter with Venezuela’s Ron Diplomatico Single Vintage expression was its 2007 release — though that release hit the market only a couple of years ago. Now Diplomatico is back with a follow-up from 2013. As is common with its rum releases, this is a blend of three different distillates, drawn from column, pot, and and hybrid still production, all made from molasses and cane honey. Entirely hailing from the 2013 production year, these rums are blended before barreling, then aged for 10 years before bottling. 18,000 bottles produced.

Let’s taste.

Ron Diplomatico Single Vintage 2013 Review

Pretty on the nose, featuring notes of honey, torched orange peel, and green banana before more traditional notes of vanilla and caramel take over. Spice notes eventually dominate: cloves and cola, particularly.

On the palate, the rum is immediately a bit tougher and rougher than the classic and very sweet Reserva Exclusiva, making me wonder how much less sugar dosage is used here. That’s a good thing, because it allows more flavor to come through beyond brown sugar and vanilla. (I love those flavors, of course, but great rum is a lot more than sweetness.)

Big notes of banana bread, Christmas cake, and dark molasses all dominate, infused throughout with those spice notes present on the nose. Again, cloves and cola are punchy, while ample, toasty oak notes perk up on the finish. Some red fruit, coffee, and baked apple notes complete a holiday vibe on the lengthy, warming finish.

All told it’s a fantastic little rum that merits more contemplation than you might expect.

86 proof.

A- / $120 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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