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Posted
almost 9 years ago
Notice the title of this review doesn't say this is just the best rum, but rather the best rum for anyone who truly enjoys fine spirits. This is because Don Q Gran Anejo is NOT ridden with tremendous amounts of sugar and additives added after distillation. This seems to be what most rum heads regard as 'smoothness' and 'complexity'. Why don't you guys buy some cheap 151, raw molasses, vermouth, spices and make your own pre-batched cocktail because that's what you're really drinking (and this includes Zacapa, Zaya and even Diplomatico).
The DQ GA drinks likes a dream and shows what a real unadulterated and extremely fine aged rum should taste like. I love the nuttiness from the sherry barrels and the full dark caramel mouth feel that resembles a fine cognac. If you want a one of kind cocktail make an Old Fashioned or Manhattan out of it and enjoy the fact it's not too sweet to do so right out of the bottle.
BTW, to Luis the reviewer below, I really have no idea what you're talking about comparing this or anything of Don Q's disfavorably to Bacardi. Luckily, you're a very small minority. The only thing Bacardi has done for the industry is make people stop drinking rum after they're out of high school. Oh I guess, those poor Cubans (fyi, they really left Cuba to keep exporting to the U.S. when Fidel took power) can also be credited with pumping a whole lot of waste water into the Caribbean and confusing consumers about what really is Puerto Rican rum. And, nothing of Bacardi's even the 'Facundo' B.S. comes even close to this Gran Anejo. I hope you got paid for your ignorant review or will someday. Otherwise, I really have no idea what's wrong with you.
Posted
over 9 years ago
Having this New Years Day 2015. Reminds me of Zacapa 23 but a little smoother.
Posted
over 8 years ago
This is one of the few rums I've rated at 8 or below that I like better than the consensus score (currently 7.3 as of this review). In fact, I like this more than many $100+ rums I've reviewed.
Molasses, oak, honey, vanilla, bourbon, leather, tobacco, and cinnamon. A very nice smell, and a good taste. Only $45.99 at Bevmo! (2015 price), this is a good value. I recommend it!
Posted
11 years ago
A fabulous premium rum if you have the scratch. It comes in a wonderful box that looks like a silk coffin. I love sipping it on special ocassions. The best I've had from Don Q.
Posted
5 years ago
This gran añejo is Don Q tip of the line and I enjoy it for special ocassions. Very smooth, light with subtle vanilla, oak and caramel, I enjoy it on the rocks. There is something about Don Q Gran Añejo and Puerto Rico evenings that is magical
I like this rum. It needs an ice cube or two to go down smoothly. Not sure is buy it again until I try a few more "high"ish end rums. It has some bite, but you get that when you sniff the cork as well. But it sips nicely next to a fire on a chilly night, so crack open a bottle and enjoy it with friends.
Posted
almost 9 years ago
This is one of the few rums that I can drink on the rocks. It is amazing how smooth - but tasteful - this rum is. I have it over Bacardi's "Reserva Selecta."
I got for $30 and at that price I don't think it could be beat. Alot of good vanilla and carmel with a good bit of barrel spice. Smooth and complex at the same time
Posted
almost 7 years ago
This expression of Don Q is superb. Smooth, light with subtle vainilla, caramel and oak. You could understand and appreciate what aging do to rums when comparing it from the Añejo. For me, it's a benchmark.
Posted
8 years ago
Very clean aged rum, without lots of extra sugar. Hints of molasses, bourbon, and cinnamon heat make this a great rum to experience neat.
×
Not worth the bucks
6
/10
out of 10
Many years ago, a co-worker who was from Puerto Rico told me that Don Q had the best rums. Since he was a refined gentleman and I was looking for yet another reason to bid Bacardi farewell, I bought one of their basic rums from the grocery store. Horrible stuff! I swore off Don Q at that time, but should have bought their standard Anejo instead, which is supposedly just as good as their Gran Anejo.
Then I got to reading reviews on this one here at Rum Ratings and added it to my wish list. Lo and behold, I found one of two remaining dusty bottles on the bottom shelf for $51 each. This should have told me something about it not being worth the money. A very good liquor store can drop subtle hints like this, as well as put some really good cheap ones on the top shelf.
Discarding the silly box on the outside, I had one rough time opening the tightest cork that I had ever encountered. I thought that something was wrong with it. Wiggling it back and forth finally allowed me to open it. It is a plastic cork, but these things prevent spoilage better than real corks made for wine to breathe. This first sign was a good one.
The nose was almost nothing. The taste was like a fine bourbon with no added sweetness or artificial flavors. It was as smooth as can be, but also not memorable at all. An ice cube did nothing to open up the flavors. The pretty bottle could easily impress guests, but that is not my style. However, I will savor this most expensive bottle of rum that I own just like I did for that only bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old bourbon many years ago. That bourbon lasted me for a record six months figuring that I could never find another one again. How right I was! But I won't be looking for another bottle of this over priced rum.
Update: Eventually, half of this bottle was gone and I was sick of looking at it to remind me that it inspired my personal limit of $50 per bottle. I also had a half bottle of the much cheaper Don Q Anejo. Hmmm! You guessed it! I poured this half bottle into the half bottle of Don Q Anejo and that combination made for a wonderful sipping rum that I still have. Since I could not wait to get that empty pretty bottle of Don Q Gran Anejo out of my sight, I gave it to my neighbor. However, Don Q and Cruzan now rate as my two best brands of budget rums from the northeastern Caribbean to avoid sipping on the expensive ones in my collection.