El Dorado 3 Year

White, lightly aged, blanco or silver rums, whatever you want to call them are not typically rums that I drink neat, but I do have a good number of them, so I figured I would run thru 8 of them and see which one emerges the winner (between Angostura, Privateer, Havana Club, Cana Brava, Barbancourt, Flor de Cana, Banks 5 Island & El Dorado). I did not expect this one to land in the top 4, but it ended up being serviceable neat for sure. It has shined in most cocktails I have used it in and overall is a very solid white rum. The nose has butter and nutmeg notes. The palate is creamy, with green apple, vanilla and cloves. The finish does have a slight burn to it and a bit of sweetness. I wasn't expecting to like this neat, but I was wrong, it's solid. I wouldn't forgo an aged rum for it, but if someone offered it, I would gladly take it. It also is a bit cheaper than some of the others on the list, which puts it as a strong value choice.

El Dorado 3-Year-Old Rum opens with aromas of honey and molasses. The entry is brisk, revealing a palate of toffee followed by light molasses. The finish is brief, marked by neutral grain alcohol. It lacks balance and depth, making it unsuitable for sipping straight or mixing into cocktails.

Smooth and clean rum. Slightly sweet taste of molasses and sugary notes, vanilla.... however almost no taste at all. No Rum Funk whatsoever. Earthy and boozy smell. Reminiscent of a sweet flavored/infused vodka. Excellent as a mixer that you want to mask the alcohol flavor.

Aromas of butterscotch, treacle, and banana, with hints of orange blossom and lime peel. Relatively rich mouthfeel. More butterscotch, treacle, and lime peel on the palate, plus buttered popcorn and vanilla. Medium-length finish. 3.00/5.00 – Good (neat)

Nose: Immediate syrupy demerara, caramel, almost maple syrup. Palate: Caramel, fruit, some ethanol. Warm with a velvety mouthfeel. Finish: Quick with ethanol lingering. A rich and versatile base for cocktails.

Dry with hints of vanilla, fennel, caramelized tropical fruit and spice. The dry bland/harshness of Bacardi Superior with a little bit of Havana Club 3 Year's fruity complexity. $27 in Ontario.