Dictador 20

Dictador 20 is a Columbian solera-style rum. In true form to questionable Rum age statements, the product here is aged for 14 to 24 years, so I don’t know where they pulled the 20 from. On the other hand, at least they’ve supplied a minimum age statement at all, huh? Dictador has some good things going for them: their reputation, the fact they don’t backsweeten, their reasonable (if not logical) age statements. But why on earth did they have to water this down to 40%? I would be instantly more interested in a product that does not scream “cash grab” with 40% on the label.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “24 Rums” advent calendar. I have not looked at what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Dictador 20
2. Whisper Antigua Gold Rum
3. New Grove 8yo
4. Cihuatan 8 year Solera
5. Domaine de Séverin VO
6. Novo Fogo Familia
7. NAUD Ron Panama 15yo
8. Enghaven Blackstrap Rum
9. Zuidam Flying Dutchman Dark Rum No. 3
10. Deadhead Dark Chocolate
11. Rum Magec Ron Añejo XO Oloroso
12. Fijian Rum Liqueur 8yo
13. Matugga Golden Rum
14. Cane Island Trinidad Rum
15. Cane Island Jamaica Rum
16. Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo
17. Neptuns Rhum
18. Cane Island Cuba Rum
19. Borgoe 8yo
20. Mombacho Ron Reserva 8yo
21. Old New Orleans Amber Rum
22. Tres Hombres 2017 7 year Solera
23. Travellers 5yo Reserve
24. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
25. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano (Take 2)

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Distiller: Dictador
ABV: 40%
Age: 14-24 years.
Cask type: Undisclosed
Source: “24 Rums” Advent Calendar
Setting: Unblind

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Nose: Dark fruit, fig, molasses, chocolate, pecan, caramelized orange. A really nice sugary orange nose.
Palate: Light and inoffensive, treacle, some sweetness, chocolate cake.
Finish: Dark tropical fruitiness, some mild vanilla oak, ends on a low chocolate tone the lingers for not all too long.
Overall: Brown sugar and chocolate deliciousness, but rather simple. It does not taste sweetened. I would have liked more oaky complexity, and a little more ABV (I am guessing this is low 40s if not 40).
Rank: 5
Reveal: Hah! Always wondered how Dictador tasted, but for some reason never ended up tasting it. Well, here’s my chance. Chocolate! I like it, but I’m going with what I said in “Overall”—it needs to be a higher proof to really be interesting. Even 3-4% more would do it, IMO.