DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release)

After finding out that Guyana rum without added sugar was on offer here, as a Guyana fan I simply had to try it. It was more than worth it. Roasted coffee with caramelized fruit and chocolate shavings. For me, this is THE rum profile par excellence. A little more mature and woody/"older" than the 12y. An absolute highlight for the price and a hit for those looking for an unsweetened rum to start with or as a sipper.

Compared to the old sweeter version this one is a step forward. Instead of the sugar covering your palate you get a more hones and slightly spicy palate. The wood is there and so are the spices and semi heavy caramel, but it is a far better version. If you get the chance then give it a try. Price to quality is very good.

Intense and balanced taste of grilled tropical fruit and with notes of oak and spices - lots of sweetness and with good pressure on the flavors 👍 Long lasting and smooth aftertaste 😁

This rum simply meets my taste very well. The toasty, woody aromas with red fruits and licorice are particularly great on the palate for 43%. A little alcoholic on the nose. Quite sweet for being completely sugar-free

Also an evergreen for me, the sugar reduction has definitely made it better than the old version. Wood, vanilla, dark chocolate and a hint of fruit. I always have it in my cupboard, it always goes down well and the PLV is also great! P.S. For the sake of fairness, I have to reclassify it ;) still an evergreen but no longer an 8

Much better. Much much better than the sweetened variant of earlier times. That's all I want to say. Revusited again, and must say I did not care as much for this as I do for the classic 8yo Hampden that is my 8/10 Benchmark.

7,8:The nose is largely roasted, so much so that you can almost guess the powdery side of coffee grounds. The rum's core is relatively light, as evidenced by the fruit candy notes that begin to pass between the toasted oak fibers. With aeration, the profile remains relatively taut, with ethereal flights that seem to clean the surface of the barrel. They carry with them notes of varnish, toasted wood and flame-roasted nuts. 8:On the palate, the first impression is of a rather fluid attack. It's like a rum with a toasty woodiness and a slightly diluted maple syrup. The mid-palate then takes us to the heart of the Demerara style, albeit with a great deal of restraint. Toasted, caramelized nuts, ripe exotic fruit, sweet spices and a slightly mineral, powdery edge are all present, again with nuances. 7,8:The finish is slightly sweet, gently spicy, dry, with the rum fading rather quickly from the palate. Run with a bit lack of smoothiness and roundedness. Otherwise everyday sipper. Nice, but not top.Nose 7,8, a bit repressed, on palate 8, it opens, but it is more agressive than 12 y which is more elegant, 7,8 on finish... Edit:20.6.25, an upgrade due to deeper tasting, 2.9.2025

Edit: I also used this to make rum balls. It goes really well with dark chocolate. For me, it's still a good classic as an introduction to the Guyana world. The rum has everything that a good rum should have, at least for the price that is asked for it. There are clearly better and more complex rums, but not for this price. Not incredibly complex, but a welcome addition to my cabinet as an easy sipper.

Dry El Dorado at last! Really nice and spicy with notes of malt, licorice, dark chocolate and espresso beans. I like it surprisingly well! A positive surprise! I wouldn't have thought it possible 😃 now a big cross comparison would be exciting!

I find the nose very pleasant, exuding a lovely aroma of caramel and vanilla. The palate is also relatively sweet with vanilla and caramel flavors. It is also slightly spicy and you can taste the barrel. A little too sweet for me though.

Good unsweetened rum for starters!

Very nice rum this is without the sugar. It's like a tropically aged Port Mourant that has had its edges sanded off with some soft Demerara Colum Still. As a blend wonderfully harmonious, soft and yet strong and spicy. At cask strength or at least Navy Strength, this would be an outstanding everyday rum. But even so I will get myself a bottle. Well done DDL!

Today a small comparison of the two newer, less sweetened El Dorado standard bottlings 12yo (rx9644) and 15yo (rx9643) Both benefit from the reduced sugar content ... you can now taste some of the rum - although unfortunately not much, as both are quite heavily (too heavily) diluted. The robust pot characteristics of the 15yo may come across a little better on the palate. Nevertheless, I like the 12yo better, as the Diamond Column profile appeals to me more and the nose is thin but nice. A high proof of the 12yo would certainly be a great niche.

In my rum beginnings about 10 years ago, I inevitably had to go through the El Dorado. Found the 15yo at that time really good. Today, the no longer goes. At least the old sugared. But how is actually the new one, without sugar? I had to try it. Nose: has a good start, but quickly loses power at the back. Stop diluted to 43%! Spicy and slightly woody, immediately caramel and vanilla. Seems sweet. Light aroma of orange and currant. With deep draw come allspice and curry. Goes well, actually. 70Palate: in the following order: thin, spicy-woody, slightly peppery and salty, herbs, vanilla, fat pecan, anise. Herbal, thin. 60Surely better than the old one, but still way too thin. El Dorado could do so much more!

Super price performance ratio. The new bottling has become super exciting. Hardly any sugar compared to the predecessor. Very pleasant and clean. The demarara style is very nicely recognizable without much schick schnack