Diplomático Single Vintage 2013 Rum Review

I’m far from a rum expert, and Diplomático Rum approached me to review its Single Vintage 2013 Rum; my gut instinct was to decline. However, as I read about it, I learned that it was aged in former whiskey casks, and I took them up on the offer.

 

After all, if it is whiskey-related, I’m always in the mood to #DrinkCurious.

 

You know that I’m big on education, so here are some basic facts about rum:

 

The spirit is spelled Rum, Rhum, or Ron. Unlike whisk(e)y, the spelling isn’t based on the country of origin. Rather, Rum is English, Rhum is French, and Ron is Spanish.

 

Terroir matters. Jamaican rum tends to be funky. Those from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic are often spicy. Those from Venezuela, where Diplomático is located, have been produced for over 200 years and is usually considered “smooth” (which I know is a term that rankles some whiskey drinkers). Venezuelan rum must also be aged a minimum of two years in white oak (new or used).

 

In the Caribbean region (and for purposes of distilling, Venezuela falls into it), their angel’s share is huge, averaging about 6-8% annually!

 

Pot stills produce full-bodied rums that can age for many years. A batch kettle, which is a hybrid, lends to creamier rums, whereas a column still creates lighter, sometimes funky notes.

 

Diplomático’s rums always start with locally grown sugar cane. The distillery, located at the base of the Andes Mountains, utilizes all three of the aforementioned distillation methods. Everything, from start to finish, is done in-house, and Diplomático has over 60 rum components to work with. The brand is considered super-premium in its category.

 

Jose Luis Ballesteros is Diplomático’s national brand ambassador for the United States. His heritage harkens back four generations to Diplomático’s founding family. The brand was purchased by Brown-Forman in 2023, and with Jose remaining with the brand, he ensures that things follow Diplomático’s traditional path.

 

Single Vintage 2013, however, marks a new milestone for Diplomático. It took three of its light distillates made on traditional column stills, a Barbet column still, and a batch kettle and blended them before the aging process began. The pot still was not used because that creates heavy distillates.

 

Diplomático then matured the blend in former whiskey casks, including Bourbon.

 

“The 2013 vintage is a tribute to the art of rum-making and the depth of our reserves. It reflects our pursuit of excellence and the remarkable flavor that emerges when innovation meets patience.” - Jose Luis Ballesteros, National Brand Ambassador

 

Approximately 6,000 bottles are slated for the United States, and all 50 states are expected to receive some of the allocation. Remember the angel’s share for this region? At ten years old, that translates to about 60% angel’s share for each barrel involved!

 

I must thank Diplomático for this opportunity in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Now, it is time to discover how it tastes (and if it is whiskey-like).

 

• Spirit Type: Rum/Rhum/Ron
• Distiller: Diplomático
• Age: 10 years
• Mashbill: Venezuelan sugar cane
• Cooperage: Former whiskey barrels, including Bourbon
• Alcohol Content: 43% ABV (86°)
• Price per 750mL: $120.00

 

Appearance: I poured this rum into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The color was dark mahogany; it formed a massive rim that released thick, wavy tears.

 

Nose: I allowed the spirit to breathe for about ten minutes. Once that passed, I brought the glass to my nose and explored the aroma. Notes of molasses, plantains, dark chocolate, wet oak, and bitters were easily identified. When I drew the air into my mouth, there was more molasses.

 

Palate: The texture was dense and creamy. I tasted caramel, cherries, and honey at the front of my palate. Midway through, I found bananas, dates, and vanilla. The back included dark chocolate, orange bitters, and oak.

 

Finish: The finish was slightly warming, dry, and short. I timed it at 0:37. During that period, I discerned dates, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, and oak tannins.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: In reality, I’m unsure what sort of influence the whiskey barrels had on the distillate. I do know that I enjoyed this rum immensely. There was nothing off-putting about it; it was just one to sip and savor and is perfectly fine served neat.

 

At its price, Single Vintage 2013 isn’t an everyday drinker. And, while the thickness of our pocketbooks may vary, I would never consider using one this expensive as a mixer. I could easily imagine myself sitting on a patio, glass in hand, and enjoying this on a warm summer’s evening while hanging out with friends who appreciate something aside from mass-produced rum. It earns every bit of my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.