Remember when I noted last week that I was in Tampa to judge rum? Well, so I did, and along with several other judges, including friends old and new, we decided on the following medals and awards:
5th Annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition Results:
(Bold denotes Best of Category. Note: Not all categories received a Best of Category award in 2010):
White Rum
GOLD:
Don Q Cristal/Puerto Rico
Diplomatico Blanco/Dominican Republic
SILVER:
Siesta Key Rum/Florida
Ron Barcelo Gran Platinum/Dominican Republic
BRONZE:
Carta Viejo Claro/Panama
Koloa White Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
Gold Rum
SILVER:
Bacardi Gold/Puerto Rico
Koloa Gold Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
BRONZE:
Don Q Gold/Puerto Rico
Old Lahaina Premium Gold Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
Dark Rum
GOLD:
Khukri Rum (Nepal)
One Barrel Rum/Belize
SILVER:
Koloa Dark Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
Carta Vieja Anejo/Panama
BRONZE:
Old Lahaina Premium Dark Rum/Hawaii
Rum Aged Up To 8 Years
GOLD:
Ron Abuelo 7 Anos/Panama
Bacardi 8/Puerto Rico
Ron Abuelo Anejo/Panama
Ron Medellin 8 Year Old/Colombia
SILVER:
Ron Barcelo Imperial/Dominican Republic
Plantation Barbados 5 Year Grande Reserve/Barbados
Ron Medellin 3 Year Old/Colombia
Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 Year Old/Colombia
Ron Viejo de Caldas Grand Reserve/Colombia
BRONZE:
Don Q Anejo/Puerto Rico
Ron Carupano Oro Reserva Especial/Venezuela
Rum Aged 9-15 Years
GOLD:
Ron Abuelo 12 Anos/Panama
Don Q Grand Anejo/Puerto Rico
Ron Carupano Solera Centenaria Reserva Limitada/Venezuela
SILVER:
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva/Venezuela
Plantation 20th Anniversary/Barbados
Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Cuban Style Rum/Dominican Republic
Rum Aged 15+ Years
GOLD:
Zafra Master Reserve 21 Rum/Panama BEST IN SHOW
Ron Anejo Carupano Legendario/Venezuela
SILVER:
Bacardi Reserva Limitada/Puerto Rico
Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial/Peru
Flavored Rum
SILVER:
Don Q Coco/Puerto Rico
Don Q Limon/Puerto Rico
BRONZE:
Aguardiente Antioqueno Sin Azucar/Colombia
On a personal note, I’d like to add my own accolades to two rums that I thought terrific, but out-of-character for the category in which they were judged. Both Carta Viejo Claro, from the white rum class, and One Barrel Rum, from the darks, would have arguably performed better had they been listed with the gold rums instead. In particular, I thought the One Barrel from Belize had outstanding complexity and balance, but was too light in both character and colour for the dark rum category.