Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva

Good taste with sweetness and clear barrel character, hints of orange, raisins, vanilla fudge and cinnamon. Mmm!

Aromas of vanilla, oak, and fruit. Flavors of cinnamon, fruit, oak, spices and hints of licorice. Well rounded

Diplomatico certainly leans toward the sweeter side, however, I truly do not find this rum to be excessively sweet. The people who liken this rum to maple syrup or liqueur are, in my opinion, way off base. I get that some rum-lovers might prefer dryer rums with little to no sweetness. I also understand that others might be particularly sensitive to sugary notes. But I honestly do not find this rum to be cloying.

Yes, it has added sugar.
While some scoff at the thought of adulterating a rum with adding sugar, I have a different approach: I accept Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva as not a purist's choice, but a delicious rum to sip for casual enjoyment, with enough complexity to captivate my interests. It is most certainly not a 21 year old masterpiece, but it doesn't have to be. For the price, it is an excellent sipper that one can bring to almost any occasion.

This rum is very smooth. I get some confectionery notes, such as toffee; a bit of bitter herb, such as licorice; and a lingering presence of oak. I detect other complexities in the tasting notes, such as citrus (the label says 'orange peel', I'm inclined to agree) and maybe some other fruits.

So, why 8/10?
Diplomatico remains readily available in most places. For the price, it is a superb choice. With its sweet smoothness and moderate complexity, it is a perfect rum to enjoy by yourself or with company who might not necessarily be rum drinkers, serving as a solid introductory rum. In fact, it's the rum that opened my door to rums.

I highly recommend keeping a bottle around as a smooth sipper for after dinner and for guests.

This rum is incredibly smooth...it has been my favorite ever since I had my first sip of it. Slight caramel taste and vanilla...

Has a sweet, toffee-like flavor. Goes down super smooth with a consistent aftertaste (I’m a “neat” drinker). Highly recommend. My local price in Nov 2023 was ~$45/bt

This one I can sip all day long. Still getting my pallet tuned, though.

For my taste best rum at the price. sweet and with a decent body.

Best quality. One of my favorite rums. Smooth and rich.

This is still my favourite after many years and I keep coming back. It’s very good value. Almost like a single malt from Scotland. Smooth and well rounded. Only have straight with a ball of ice. I once tried to order and they said my neighbour had purchased all of their stock…

This Rum is for those that prefer a bit more sweetness; Desert Rum
it is good for me since I go for both sides depending of the day
Perfect for sipping; caramel and toffee explosion in the face ; creamy ; I still prefer the Selección de Família but this one is very skilled