Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is one of rum's most polarising bottles. Fans adore its luscious, dessert-like richness; purists question whether the significant added sugar makes it more of a liqueur than a rum. Both perspectives have merit, but one thing is beyond dispute: this Venezuelan expression has introduced more people to premium rum than almost any other bottle on the market.
Produced at Destilerías Unidas in the foothills of the Andes, the Reserva Exclusiva is distilled primarily from sugarcane honey (miel de caña) in copper pot stills and aged for up to twelve years in small casks. The distillery's philosophy leans towards richness and accessibility, and this expression is the purest expression of that philosophy.
On the nose, expect intense toffee, dark chocolate, orange marmalade, vanilla pod, brown sugar, and ripe banana. The palate is lusciously sweet with caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruit, orange peel, honey, and a thick, velvety mouthfeel. The finish is long and sweet with lingering chocolate and caramel.
Best appreciated neat after dinner, perhaps with a square of dark chocolate. It also makes an extraordinary Espresso Martini variation. Whether it is to your taste depends on your tolerance for sweetness, but as an introduction to aged rum, it is superb.
