Don Q Cristal Rum

In a store looking for a budget unaged rum for a party cocktail this weekend, and all my usual brands that I like to peruse are either missing or do not have an unaged version. I've never heard of Don Q, but at least it is imported, and was cheap, as evident from being on the second to bottom shelf. Being next to a 151 proof aged version was also a little impressive, since overproof rums are hard to come by at all, let alone in toxic Ohio. What I did not know until looking it up after getting home is that this is actually aged, with the color removed. At no place on the bottle is this stated, which is such a lost reasoning to me, and I cannot understand why only bottom shelf rums do this (looking at you, Bacardi). I'm hoping this actually does taste more on the awful range than expected, so I can perhaps use it in my cocktail that calls for unaged rum. A nose of lemon, lime, and unripe banana begin things off, with an unequivocal note of high-quality, hospital-level hand sanitizer. Given the trickery here, I would expect to smell oak or barrel notes given the abnormally high age, but if they are there, it's very artificial. In fact, the remaining scent of white pepper and various citrus oils (a focus on grapefruit), are all what I would expect to find on an unaged rum. An initial taste comes up of a bright yet powerful floral flavor. The spirit slightly tickles the gums, and as it does so, a slightly spicy, floral, and citrusy flavor seeps in, very reminiscent of juniper berries and other gin flavors. This is where any fun had ends, however; as soon as the mouth is opened, all alcohol flavor seeps out, and a watery liquid is all that's left behind. As another slap in the face, a distinct finish note I'm getting is that of an unaged, neutral spirit or grain (such as corn or wheat), reminding me of vodka or new make; what is this distillery trying to make? A disappointment is a great word to sum things up here, because this is slightly worse than I expected it to be, but it also isn't a colossal, laughable failure. Instead, we have a spirit that clearly is not sure what it wants to embody or taste like, and I'm left a little more understanding of Don Q being one of the only other distilleries to create a rum they specifically label as "151." Fortunately (in all the wrong ways), I believe I can still salvage this for use in a batched cocktail, since everyone that's partaking in it has never spent more than $25 on any bottle of anything in their lives. Having said that, Don Q Cristal being the perfect candidate to fill such a roll does not a good selling point make.

I’ve seen excellent reviews of this rum, so it may simply come down to my palate, but overall it is very similar to Bacardi Superior. It does have slightly less of a rubbing-alcohol aroma—though only marginally. The mouthfeel is also a bit heavier than Bacardi Superior’s, but it’s still thin, and the flavor remains dominated by rubbing alcohol. After a few minutes, the aftertaste is still alcoholic and harsh, offering none of the fruity notes that Bacardi Superior at least provides on the finish. Even when mixed with cola, it tastes more like vodka than rum.

Don Q Cristal is an exceptionally clean silver rum with a vodka-like profile. On the nose, it presents a refined, upscale vodka aroma. The palate opens smoothly yet warmly, revealing subtle notes of vanilla and citrus, followed by a crisp, vodka-like finish. This rum is best suited for vodka-based cocktails such as Screwdrivers and Chi Chis, catering more to vodka enthusiasts than traditional rum lovers. While it lacks the depth typical of classic rums used in tiki cocktails, it performs adequately in standard Daiquiris and Long Island Iced Teas.

Very inexpensive and as Im trying different drinks it still remains among my favorite light rums. The flavor profile is extremely accessible to new tasters such as myself. On the nose it smells like a vacation, a noticeable alcohol smell with ginger, light coconut and tropical fruit notes. It has a smooth and fairly neutral taste, it’s sweet on its own, and does a good job of accentuating flavors in cocktails.

Not really into clear liquor; but received this as a gift, along with some barrel aging spirals. Decided to taste test it prior to adding the wood. This isn’t bad neat, in fact it is quite drinkable. Of course, it would be better as a mixer. After leaving the aging spiral in for two weeks there was little change except the alcohol burn was slightly intensified.

Don Q Cristal is clear, with extremely tiny sediment specks. The alcohol legs are uniform. The aroma is of very light molasses and oak. The flavor is of those elements, with present alcohol. The body is medium, and Don Q Cristal finishes moderately long. RJT