2015 RumXP Tasting Competition Awards Announced!

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The RumXP International Rum Expert Tasting Panel convenes once a year to evaluate a wide range of cane spirits from all over the globe. RumXP judges are experienced evaluators of rum spirits from many countries, offering expert guidance in their selections of outstanding rum products.

Their web site is: RumXP.com

The RumXP International Rum Expert Tasting Panel is pleased to announce results of the 2015 RumXP International Tasting Competition held at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival from April 14 to 16, 2015.

Twelve members of the International Rum Expert Panel and five guest judges participated in six tasting sessions of 14 categories with 127 of the finest rums from around the world presented for evaluation this year.

The RumXPs were sequestered in their tasting room for three days of blind tasting trials. The rums were grouped and judged in categories according to their style.

2015 RumXP judges include Dirk Becker of Germany, Javier Herrera of Spain, Leonardo Pinto of Italy, Bernhard Schäfer of Germany, Forrest Cokely of California, Tatu Kaarlas of Australia, “Bahama Bob” Leonard of Key West, Paul Senft of Georgia, Juan del Busto of Miami, John Gibbons of Sweden, Rene van Hoven of Holland and Ingvar Thomsen of Denmark.

Guest Judges include Marie King of California, Johnny Drejer of Denmark, Suzanne Long of California, Mark Theron of St. Kitts and Nevis, and Alexander Brittel of Miami.

2015 RumXP Best in Class and Gold Medal winners include:

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White Rum
Best in Class Gold: Skotlander White
Gold Awards went to: Blue Chair Bay White, Carta Vieja Silver, Brugal White Extra Dry

Premium White Rum
Best in Class Gold: Fwaygo White
Gold Awards went to: Plantation 3 Star, Nine Leaves Clear, Skotlander Rum III

Gold Rum
Best in Class Gold: Bacardi Gold
Gold Awards went to: Brugal Anejo, Ron Carta Vieja Gold, Don Barrilito 2 star

Aged Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Original Dark
Gold Awards went to: Ron del Barrilito 3 star, Pusser’s British Navy, Bundaberg Small Batch 4

Premium Aged Rum
Best in Class Gold: Cartavio XO
Gold Awards went to: Plantation 20th Anniversary, Mezan XO, Brugal 1888

Aged Rum 5-8 Years
Best in Class Gold: Cartavio 5
Gold Awards went to: Plantation Barbados 5, Bacardi 8, Real McCoy 5

Aged Rum 12-15 years
Best in Class Gold: Pusser’s 15
Gold Awards went to: Yolo 10, Don Q Gran Anejo, Real McCoy 12

Aged Rum 18-25 years
Best in Class Gold: Opthimus 25
Gold Awards went to: Opthimus 21, Opthimus 18, Carta Vieja 18

Aged Rum – Special Cask
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Jamaica 2001
Gold Awards went to: Plantation Guyana 2005, Opthimus Malt Tomatin Whiskey Barrels 25 yr, Opthimus Oporto Barrels 25

Spiced Rum
Best in Class Gold: Siesta Key Spiced Limited Edition
Gold Awards went to: Siesta Key Distillers Reserve, Siesta Key Spiced, Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced, Bayou Spiced, Blue Water Caribbean Gold Premium Spiced

Flavored Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Pineapple
Gold Awards went to: Bayou Satsuma, Blue Chair Bay Banana, Caray Cafe

Overproof Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Overproof Original Dark
Gold Awards went to: Don Q 151, Lost Spirits Colonial American Inspired Rum, Wicked Dolphin Strawberry RumShine 100 Proof, Stroh 80

Rhum Agricole Blanc
Best in Class Gold: Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 55%
Gold Awards went to: — Trois Rivieres Cuvee Speciale 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 50%

Rhum Agricole Vieux
Best in Class Gold: Trois Rivieres Rhum Vieux VSOP
Gold Awards went to: Trois Rivieres Rhum Ambre 40%, La Mauny Rhum Vieux X.O. 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Vieux Martinique 12yr

Consumer Rum Jury

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For 2015, a new edition of the competition was introduced: The Consumer Rum Jury was comprised of 20 enthusiastic rum collectors and experienced consumers, offering the perspective of the active and engaged rum buyer in their evaluations.

Best in Class Gold: Ron Cartavio XO

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Gold Awards went to: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Opthimus Ron Artesanal Solera 25 Anos, Siesta Key Distillers Reserve Solera Spiced Rum

Congrats to all winners!

A Whole Range of Rums at the Upcoming Miami Rumfest!

Miami Rumfest 2015

If you are planning to attend the Miami Rum Renaissance/Rumfest on april 17-19 you are in for a real rum TREAT! There are a lot of great news for this year. Here is a list of rums that will be debuting at the show. Many will be in the US for the FIRST TIME. Others have expressions available, but these are NEW to the brand and will debut at Miami Rum Festival.

AfroHead 7
AfroHead XO
Amrut White
Amrut Two Indies
Amrut Two Indies Old Port
Bayou Satsuma Rum Liquor
Bayou Select Barrel Reserve
Blue Chair Bay Banana
Blue Chair Bay Vanilla
Blue Water Ultra Premium
Blue Water Caribbean Gold
Borgoe 8
Bristol Barbados 2004
Bristol Black Spiced
Bristol Port Morant Demerara 1999
Bristol Reserve Rum of Haiti 2004
Bristol Trinidad Caroni 1996
Caray Reserva Del Artesano
Caray Platinum
Citrus Spice
Citrus Chocolate
Club Caribe Silver
Don Papa 10
DonQ 151
Duran
Fwaygo
Lost Spirits Prometheus
Mezan Jamaica 2000
Mezan Jamaica XO
Mezan Panama 2004
Monymusk Special Reserve
Mutineers Gold XO Special Reserve
Nine Leaves Clear
Nine Leaves Half American Oak Cask
Nine Leaves Half French Oak Cask
Opthimus 25
Opthimus Artesanal 25
Opthimus Artesanal 21
Opthimus Artesanal 18
Opthimus Artesanal 15
Opthimus Malt Whiskey 25
Opthimus OportO 25
Plantation Pineapple Stiggins Fancy
Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof
Pusser’s Spiced
Richland Single Estate Artesan Georgia
Siesta Key Distiller’s Reserve
Siesta Key Toasted Coconut
Siesta Key Spiced Beer Barrel Finish
Skotlander Rum III (Sea Buckthorn)
Skotlander Rum IV (Liquorice)
Skotlander Cask
Skotlander White
St. Nicolas Abbey 10
Stroh 160 Spiced
Travellers 5 Barrel
Westerhall Estate 10 XO
Wicked Dolphin Coconut
Wicked Dolphin Crystal
Wicked Dolphin Florida Spiced
Wicked Dolphin Strawberry RumShine
Yolo Gold 10
Yolo Silver

Read all the details about the Rum Renaissance Festival here