COMPETITION RESULTS 2007

BEST OF CATEGORY AGUA LUCA

GOLD

Agua Luca

Judge's Notes "Aromatics of fresh cut grass, flowers and lime peel; a slight smokiness; minty and sweet; well-balanced"

Leblon

Judge's Notes "Lush tropical fruit bowl nose - bananas and guava; clean pure, direct; very pleasant tropical flavor, but still dry; good balance with a lingering finish"

SILVER

Beleza Pura

Judge's Notes "Rich aromas of banana cream pie; good balance of fruit and earthiness; clean with persistent finish and good acids"

Fazenda Mae De Ouro

Judge's Notes "Light floral aromatics; aromas of fresh figs, apples and dried apricots; very indicative of the category; smoky dry finish that lasts"

BRONZE

Cabana

Cuca Fresca

CACHACA, AGED

BEST OF CATEGORY YPIOCA 160

GOLD

Fazenda Mae De Ouro Single Barrel 5 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Aromas of honey, cocoa, cedar and caramel with flavors of caramel, orange and a drying savoryness"

GRM 'Small Batch' 2 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Opens with coastal grass aromas; some banana bread and nutmeg notes; gentle, subtly spicy bit not overpowering; earthy, pleasant and smooth; hints of anise and citrus; finishes sweet and tangy with good acids; delicate and refined"

Ypioca 160

Judge's Notes "Rich crème brulee and toasted almond nose, with loads of spices and even a salt water taffy quality; tastes buttery and toasty, rich and robust with rippling notes of marzipan, spice cake, tobacco, fudge and chocolate; full-bodied, with a lengthy, nutty, candied finish"

SILVER

Cuca Fresca Gold

Judge's Notes "Gentle aromas of grass and flowers; sweet tasting with hints of vanilla and lemon; complex finish"

Rochinha 'Single Barrel' 12 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Balance between sweet grass and nuttiness; flavors of cognac - dry and oaky, with a tea-like quality; dry persistent finish"

Ypioca Ouro

Judge's Notes "Earthy and smoky, with hints of cooked bananas on the nose; smooth and well-balanced with a buttery vanilla and black tea tang; clean and balanced finish"

BRONZE

Armazem Vieira 'Onix' Solera 16 Year Old

Ypioca Prata

RHUM AGRICOLE, UNAGED

BEST OF CATEGORY Rhum Clément Première Canne

GOLD

Rhum Clément Première Canne

SILVER

Rhum J.M White Rum

RHUM AGRICOLE, AGED

BEST OF CATEGORY TIE
Rhum Clement V.S.O.P. Rum & Rhum J.M. 1997

GOLD

Rhum Clement VSOP Rum

Judge's Notes "Toffee and floral nose; surprising flavors of fruit and spice, baked cinnamon rolls with maple sugar; keeps building, long lingering finish, very smooth"

Rhum Clement Rhum Vieux X.O.

Judge's Notes "Well-balanced nose with fruit, wood, spices and a hint of nutmeg; delicious taffy flavors, inviting; complex and rich; excellent length; very smooth"

Rhum J.M. Gold Rum

Judge's Notes "Aromas of Caribbean fruit - mango, banana - caramel and vanilla; flavor is complex and charming, strong with vanilla; finishes slightly sweet but complex and fruity; a hint of lime peel and toffee; smooth and velvety"

Rhum J.M. 1997

Judge's Notes "Very balanced aromas with fruit, vanilla, wood and nuts; tangy citrusy flavors with coconut and toffee; excellent length and developing complexity; finish is appetizing, long and very smooth"

SILVER

Clement Cuvee Homere

Judge's Notes "Nose of vanilla, cinnamon and lots of oak; tastes of honey and cognac; good acids and puckery finish"

Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. Rum

Depaz Blue Amber Rhum

Judge's Notes "Subtle and pleasant nose; tropical fruit and maple syrup; sweet vanilla and aged flavors, dry but not drying; good for sipping; good complexity; mouthwatering finish of guava and chile peppers"

WHITE RUM

BEST OF CATEGORY PRICHARD'S CRYSTAL

GOLD

Mount Gay Special Reserve

Judge's Notes "Aromas of butterscotch and caramel, flavors of roasted nuts and fruit, altogether a nice balance of fruit, pepper and sweetness, tangy but smooth"

Prichard's Crystal

Judge's Notes "Full buttery aromas of toffee, caramel and raisin; tropical lushness; tastes like butterscotch vanilla pudding but well-balanced, with light and pleasant finish"

SILVER

Rubi Rey Reserve

Judge's Notes "Clean, pure, spicy and balanced with a dry and herbaceous flavor and long lingering richness"

Ron Botran White

Judge's Notes "Nice aromatic balance of tropical fruit and molasses; Complex flavors with a slight sweetness, smooth with a gentle finish; good acids"

Santa Teresa Blanco

Judge's Notes "Clean; light aromas of vanilla with a touch of cocoa; moderate flavors of coconut and banana; taste a bit of toasted pumpkin seeds; moderate pleasant finish"

BRONZE

Havana Club (US)

New Grove Oak Plantation

Mainstay Cane

DARK RUM

BEST OF CATEGORY ONE BARREL RUM

GOLD

Khukri

Judge's Notes "Rich and robust toffee and vanilla aromas; full bodied and fruity; dances on the tongue; big finish with loads of cocoa"

One Barrel

Judge's Notes "Subtle nutty aromas; flavors of walnut, hazelnut, butter, caramel and a hint of apricots; long, lingering finish of nuttiness"

Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21

Judge's Notes "Spicy nose (cinnamon, nutmeg, mace) with an abundance of spicebox flavors - nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, ginger - as well as honey and fermented nuts; very spicy finish"

SILVER

Pirate's Choice Molasses Reef

Judge's Notes "Aromas of sherry and berries and a light nutty butteriness; smooth mouthfeel, with baked pineapple, honey and orange notes; smooth moderate finish"

BRONZE

Jack Tar Superior Dark Rum

Rogue Dark

RUM, AGED UP TO & INCLUDING 8 YEARS

BEST OF CATEGORY TORTUGA 5 YEAR OLD

GOLD

Goslings Black Seal

Judge's Notes "Very distinctive and complex aromas; like a glass of Bananas Foster and tastes like it, too; guava, banana, cookies and cream, dates and spices galore; evolving, everlasting finish"

Mount Gay Sugar Cane

Judge's Notes "Very inviting aromatics of ginger, honey, orange and almonds; Smooth flavors of nutmeg, citrus, apricot and vanilla; rich sweetness of baked walnuts and cocoa powder; dry finish"

Prichard's Fine Rum

Judge's Notes "Aromas of custard apple and guanabana; Spicy licorice tang; Flavors of date, raisins and fried bananas; succulent and rich; a touch of bourbon in the finish; rich dry fruit finish"

Ron Barcelo Imperial

Judge's Notes "Rich toffee, treacle and orange aromas; date and toffee flavors with a touch of tobacco; robust, sophisticated and balanced; builds in complexity and stays forever"

Tortuga 5 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Rich and elegant aromas of toasted almonds and toffee with peaches and pears; sweet and delicious flavors of mashed dates, raisin wine and coffee, with a tannic backbone - a sipper's delight; complex finish - lovely, balanced and complicated"

SILVER

Bacardi 8

Judge's Notes "Aromas of papaya and banana; smooth and balanced with a hint of caramel; nutty and spicy; finishes with a pleasant mouthful of Caribbean fruits with good dryness and balance"

Cockspur Fine Rum

Judge's Notes "Elegant cognac-like aromas, with hints of orange and lime; Very smooth and balanced flavors with a light butterscotch taste; finishes round, balanced and long"

Diplomatico Reserva

Judge's Notes "Nose of raisins, molasses, vanilla, caramel and banana; flavors of vanilla and caramel with orange and almond; very balanced, smooth and clean, lingering finish"

Goslings Gold

Judge's Notes "Nutty, well-balanced flavors; dates and seawater; smooth, sweet and balanced, full-bodied with a rich butteriness; builds complexity through the finish"

New Grove Oak

Judge's Notes "Flavors of tutti-futti, toasted almond and caramel with a touch of oaky bitterness; finishes smooth with a lingering butteriness; balanced finish between tannins and fresh fruit"

Santa Teresa Gran Reserva

Judge's Notes "Crisp aromas of pear, apple and citrus; buttery, tart, smooth and balanced flavors; spicy and pleasant finish"

BRONZE

Appleton Estate Reserve

Appleton Estate V/X

Bacardi Select

Centenario Anejo Reserva Especial

Mount Gay Eclipse

Ron Botran Anejo 8 Year Old

Ron Botran Oro (Gold)

RUM, AGED 9-15 YEARS

BEST OF CATEGORY TIE
DIPLOMATICO RESERVA EXCLUSIVA & TORTUGA 12 YEAR OLD

GOLD

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva

Judge's Notes "Redolent of rich caramel and chocolate, hazelnuts and burnt sugar; tastes sweet, smooth and balanced - delivers the promise of its aromas - delicious! Orange, chocolate, sweet mango - the flavor notes are endless; full- bodied, lush and rich, with a lingering finish that demands another sip"

Tortuga 12 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Smooth and balanced aromas of cooked tropical fruits and coffee cake - molasses, cocoa and spices; lots of sweetness - maple sugar, hazelnut, apricots, vanilla and caramel; sweet and smooth, with a very fresh, bright and charming finish; excellent length and developing complexity"

SILVER

Mount Gay Extra Old

Judge's Notes "Aromatics include maple sugar and chocolate, spices, leather and wood shop; spicy flavors of nutmeg and cognac; lean and mature, with touches of tea, tobacco, peppermint and smoke; powerful, well-knit and drying characteristics make this a slow sipper worth savoring"

Ron Botran 12 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Well-balanced aromas with hints of flowers and fruit - oranges, apricots and vanilla; light tasting, smooth and slightly sweet, with notes of black tea and molasses; smooth lingering finish"

Ron Zacapa 15 Centenario Year Old

Judge's Notes "Strong notes of orange, cocoa, raisins and cooked tropical fruits; a bit like plum pudding with custard; lush and rich tasting, with sweet overtones of dried fruit, caramel and honey, the sweetness balanced by a woody backbone; long lasting finish with a drying lemony character reminiscent of cognac"

Santa Teresa Selecto

Judge's Notes "Balanced light aromas of caramel and chocolate, with hints of candied fruits; hazelnuts and caramel in the mouth; clean, straight-forward rum, with a lingering caramel sweetness on the finish"

RUM, AGED +15 YEARS

BEST OF CATEGORY TIE
RON ZACAPA CENTENARIO 23 YEAR OLD & SANTA TERESA 1796

GOLD

Pyrat XO Reserve

Judge's Notes "Orange and grapefruit marmalade aromas; medium-bodied with tangy flavors of citrus peel and dark honey. Finishes with spice and dried orange peel notes"

Pyrat Cask 1623

Judge's Notes "Opens with multiple dried and fresh fruit aromas - peaches, grapes, prunes, green figs and sherried walnuts; rich and dense body with ginger-peachy and maple sugar flavors; well-managed tannins and acids, with a powerful, long and strong finish"

Ron Macuro Anejo Ultra Premium

Judge's Notes "Aromas of marzipan and chocolate oranges with a whiff of coffee; on the palate, marzipan again with a slight bite of tannin; finishes persistent, lush and rich with great balance with hints of coffee and cocoa"

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Year Old

Judge's Notes "Nose full or apricots, citrus fruits, vanilla, cocoa and bourbon; rich and full-bodied with spicy chocolate flavors and a pleasing tannic bite; very long finish, clean and rich with a lovely liqueur-like density"

Santa Teresa 1796

Judge's Notes "Opens with toffee, brown sugar and vanilla aromas; dark chocolate and maple syrupy on the palate, with a dense richness; finishes with great length, a touch of pepper and developing complexity"

SILVER

Centenario Fundacion

Judge's Notes "Aromas of Sherry, orange and caramel, with sweet Sherry-like flavors; rich, suave and sweet, tasting of dates and lemons; complex, dry and long finish"

Goslings Old

Judge's Notes "Strong, lush aromas of Demerara sugar, raisins and dried fruits; dry but full-bodied, with hints of chocolate, honey and black tea, very smooth, well-balanced and finely aged"

Ron Botran Solera

Judge's Notes "Subtle nose with some nutmeg and cinnamon; tastes of vanilla bean and nutmeg with balanced dryness and sugar; smooth and easy on the palate; fine finish"

LIQUEURS/FLAVORS/CORDIALS

BEST OF CATEGORY SANTA TERESA ARAKU RON Y COFFEE LIQUEUR

GOLD

Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb

Judge's Notes "Oranges with a hint of vanilla, slight bitterness, but well- balanced and bright, with some slight bitterness - what an orange cordial should be"

Santa Teresa Rhum Orange Liqueur

Judge's Notes "Almond and oranges on the nose; rich tasty and and full- bodied; great mix of sweet and bitter oranges"

Santa Teresa Araku Rum and Coffee Liqueur

Judge's Notes "Coffee, coffee, coffee - strong French roast with a touch of chocolate; well-made and robust rum cordial"

SILVER

Castries Peanut Rum Crème

Judge's Notes "Aromas of freshly ground peanut butter - creamy and smooth, a yummy and rare peanut cordial"

Prichard's Sweet Georgia Belle Peach Mango Liqueur

Judge's Notes "A glass full of ripe, sugary apricots and peaches with some pleasing citrus; sweet and peachy, with some almond notes; fun"

BRONZE

Beleza Pura Caipirinha

Pirate's Choice Key Lime Rum

Prichard's Cranberry Rum

Rogue Hazelnut Spiced Rum