r/rum

Started last fall, added 1oz of each molasses based bottle I brought home. Plan is to add as I buy new rums. No clue how it will taste though.. but it’ll get consumed, I’m sure of that.

App 12 

App estate

S&C

Rum fire 

PAPALIN 5 

Hampden 1753

DR Bird

WP OP

WP 109

Probitas

W&N op

RL Seale 10

MG eclipse

Doorly 14

Stiggins

OFTD

ED 12

3 star

Xaymaca

Ham 86

Ham 151

Ham White Stache

Ham Breezeway

Chairman ORIGINAL

Ham Zombie

Ham PSB

DENIZEN

BLACK SEAL

BACARDI 8

Pussers 

I’m new to rum and have been making my way through as many less than $40 bottles as I can so I can try many different kinds. This is my second Planteray bottle. I just finished a bottle of Stiggins Fancy. I was going to go to a nice liquor store after work on Friday for a bottle of either Hamilton 151 Demerara or OFTD but we have a huge festival this weekend and traffic was nuts so I didn’t wanna drive across town. They had this at the corner store by my house for $23. It goes down REALLY easy. I’ve been making daiquiris and Cuba Libres.

This rum easily confuses anyone, and rightly so, but let me start from the beginning. In Venezuela, there is a distillery called El Muco, which is possibly the oldest continuously operating distillery in Venezuela, functioning uninterrupted since the mid-19th century.

El Muco is one of the original brands that participated in the creation of the Venezuelan Rum Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Therefore, it is known as one of the original and founding companies. This gives it a certain prestige within the PDO. The distillery produces rums, including the one that bears the distillery's name, but also a line called Bodega 1800. This Bodega 1800 is the only one from the brand that is part of the PDO.

Still with me? Okay.

Within the Bodega 1800 line, there are three products: 6 Years, 8 Years, and 12 Years. But within each of these, there are two products, with the same name but different bottles, different prices, and supposedly different liquids. I originally reviewed one of the 12 Millennium, but I found this other one and had to look up what was about it.

Looking at the packaging, there's nothing on the blue label that distinguishes it from this one with the orange label. However, the blue label costs about $15 more than this one. Unofficially—because, I insist, there's nothing on the bottle indicating this, and it was a friend who told me—the blue label is aged for 3 to 6 months in ex-sherry casks, while this one isn't. Oh, and the blue label comes in a cardboard canister. That's all.

Made by: C.A. Bebidas El Muco
Name of the rum: Millenium 12
Brand: Bodega 1800
Origin: Venezuela
Age: 12 years (according to the brand)

Nose
On the nose, it smells like any other rum, and certainly not one that's 12 years old, or at least not in my experience. The aromas are caramel, vanilla, alcohol, and not much else. Upon closer inspection, I detect pepper, lemon peel, and coconut. There are no aromas of wood or nuts.

Palate
On the palate, the sensations are very similar; I would only mention a hint of raisins, mainly in the aftertaste, but that could very well be a concentrated caramel flavor. T

Retrohale/Finish
The retrohale also includes notes of synthetic coconut and lemon peel.

Rating
4 on the t8ke

Conclusion
I've always been intrigued by the fact that two Bodega 1800 products share the same number and name but have different prices in liquor stores, and it wasn't until now that I discovered the difference. Having tried both, I think the difference is minimal, and the lack of transparency (in this case) is glaring.

But that's not all… this bottle says on its back label that it's 12 years old. It doesn't just say 12, nor does it say that its spirits are aged for up to 12 years. It says it's 12 years old, and after tasting it, I have two questions: Is it true that this rum is 12 years old in its entirety? And more importantly, if other rums that claim to be 12 years old, or even up to 12 years old, feel so complex, are they being altered?

These are rhetorical questions. The fact is that Bodega 1800 embodies everything that is wrong with many deceptive rum labels: impossible age statements and blatant half truths. The whole PDO's reputation struggles because of this, but since El Muco is one of the founding members, there's a certain privilege and the PDO can merely suggest improvements. Some brands seek transparency with their customers, while some don't really care.

I usually post in Spanish on my networks, so if this review seems translated, it's because it is.

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I have been gifted this bottle of Bacardi and I have been trying to figure out how old it is. I am thinking 1980s? Is there anyway to confirm the exact age?

I can't locate a lot number anywhere on it.

Ripping Jungle Birds and Mai Tais. Happy Sunday to all.

Was so interested to see a rum made from piloncillo so I figured I’d try it out. Pretty good overall, pretty unlike anything I’ve had before. Has a bit of cane juice taste and the beginning but opens up to being super citrusy and a slight dusty note. The guy at the liquor store described it as desert-y and I agree.

I went a little overboard with my latest haul according to my wife. I’m a big fan of high ester rums, in particular Savanna’s HERR. When I read a comment that Melaza Con Muck was HERR Jr., I knew I had to buy and it did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to trying more of these bottles in due time!

On a family trip to Cologne during the Christmas markets, I ordered this Matusalem Rum 23 Years in the hotel lobby — the perfect way to wind down after a cold winter evening. Rooted in the Cuban rum tradition and now produced in the Dominican Republic, this premium rum is aged for 23 years using the solera system, blending younger and older rums for exceptional smoothness.

The aroma opens with vanilla, toasted nuts, and dried fruit. On the palate, rich layers of caramel, honey, and toffee come through, followed by a subtle touch of cocoa. Hints of spice and oak add depth, while the texture stays velvety smooth.

The finish is long, warm, and comforting — ideal for slow sipping and quiet conversations after a festive day out.

Have read conflicting information about being able to bring to the US. Worst case, I lose $40USD.

It’s been a joy getting into rums these last few months and reading up on this sub, Rum Wonk, Cocktail Wonk, etc. So much to learn, and taste, and it’s all been so fun and interesting. Thank you all for your recommendations, reviews, articles, etc. This is my favorite sub. And this is the collection so far. Cheers!

Has anyone tried this rum El Dorado 25yr Special Reserve? Or have a good idea on the quality, I know taste is personally subjective. But still, I like rums but I'm far from an expert so I'm hesitant. And it doesn't hurt to ask round a little.

My cousin is offering it for our brand new gas grill gotten for a pool side grill/bar project that was shelved. We got it for free but can't use em now. The rum I do know how much it's worth online but I'm more curious in its taste, because what I do know is "expensive doesn't necessarily mean good".