About Venezuelan Spirits

Rum is a critically important spirit in Venezuela, so much so that under law, Venezuelan rum must be aged a minimum of two years. As with most other South American countries, there are various types of rum from Venezuela, while (blanco) as well as gold along with some that are aged for five years or more. While some are meant for cocktails or as an ingredient in a punch, many are very high quality sipping rums.
Top Picks for Venezuela
219128
Ron Diplomatico
Mantuano Rum
Dark amber color. Baked, complex aromas and flavors of banana bread, walnut skin, Mr. Pibb, and desert wine with a lightly tannic, bright, dryish full body and a tingling, elaborate, medium-long hazelnut spread, cherries in dark chocolate, leather jacket, and spicy oak finish. A great special occasion rum.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
219127
Ron Diplomatico
Planas Rum
Clear color. Clean, tropical aromas of coconut shell and sweet cream with an oily, lively, dryish light body and a medium-length banana bread, Thai chile, eclair, and crushed gravel finish. A clean and supple rum with a toasty center.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
202753
Ron Santa Teresa
Ron Antiguo de Solera Santa Teresa 1796
Deep amber color with an olive cast. Elegant aromas and flavors of toasted nuts, coffee gelato, dried tropical fruits and pepper with a satiny, medium-to-full body and lots of toffee, vanilla bean, and sweet tobacco notes of the long finish. A delicious, smooth, and artfully balanced aged rum for sipping, cigars, or world-class cocktails.
94 points $39.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
214949
Ron Diplomatico
Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Copper color. Delicate, fruity, buttery aromas and flavors of frosted banana cake, waxy honeycomb and dried cherries, and pistachio brittle with a velvety, bright, off-dry medium-to-full body and a smooth, complex, medium-long vanilla cola, spiced nuts, honeyed dried tropical fruits, and sandalwood finish. A fruity aged rum pleaser; try as an after dinner treat.
93 points $39.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
206866
Diplomatico
Ultra Premium Blanco Rum
Clear. Aromas of baked bananas and coconuts and mocha fudge with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a whipped cream, delicate spice, dried fruit, and praline accented finish. A fantastically smooth and flavorful white rum for all occasions.
93 points $29.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
202633
Diplomatico
Reserva Rum
Copper color. Aromas of waxy honeycomb, mocha gelato, and chocolate graham crackers with a satiny, fruity-yet-dry medium body and a smooth, creamy latte, toffee, mineral, and banana gelatin candy finish. Very smooth and tasty.
93 points $24.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
202702
Pampero
Ron Añejo Aniversario
Dark copper brown color. Aromas of roasted nuts, caramel, tobacco, and spices with a supple dryish medium and a tobacco, pepper and mineral finish. Nicely aged and artfully balanced.
92 points $32.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
202751
Ron Santa Teresa
Claro Rum
Very faint straw silver color. Aromas of dried banana, lightly polished wood, and faint fuel-like minerals with a silky, dryish medium-to-full body and a earthy, stalky sugar cane, creamy custard, and chalk accented finish. Nice complexity and punch for cocktails.
91 points $14.99 Best Buy
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
206865
Diplomatico
Añejo Rum
Brassy amber color. Aromas and flavors of caramel-vanilla fudge, chocolate fig, and mocha latte with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a long, smooth, warming brown spices and nuts finish. A very well made and stylish dark rum.
90 points $19.99 Best Buy
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
206867
Diplomatico
Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Deep copper color. Aromas of toffee, candied cherries and raspberries, and root beer with a silky, fruity medium-to-full body and a coffee gelato, browns spices, and cola nut finish. A fruity, sexy aged rum for sipping or cocktails.
89 points $39.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab