I got this one as a Christmas gift from my dear wife. I had never tried it before and was more than happy to have it

**Rum name: Diplomatico No1 Single Batch Kettle Rum**

**Age statement:** NAS

**ABV:** 47%

**Style:** Dark Rum

**Country/Region:** Venezuela 

**Casks:** American and French oak bourbon and malt/grain casks.

**Chill filtration:** Doesn't say

**Contains caramel colorant:** Doesn't say

On the nose, it shares some similarity with Reserva Exclusiva, but it is harsher and less sweet. Some vanilla, a hint of tobacco, and a hint of dark chocolate. With some time, brown sugar notes appear, followed by cigarette ash and a hint of polished wood. That cigarette ash note gets pretty dominant and turns into an ashtray with just hints of brown sugar, dates, and lime to soften it up.

Despite decent ABV, it feels almost watery on the palate. The burn is harsher than I would expect. You get wood, brown sugar, salt, some tobacco, and a hint of bay leaf.

The aftertaste is medium in length. It starts dry with notes of wood and little brown sugar and continues with cocoa. In the end, there is a lime zest, some cocoa, and a hint of tobacco.

After some time, the smell changes once again from intense ashtray into the lime, bay leaf, vanilla, brown sugar, and a hint of cola. There is also a very subtle, almost elusive hint of saffron that appears shortly.

**Verdict:** If I am honest, this rum smells almost like I mixed two-thirds of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva with one-third of Savanna Le Must, but it is toned down and has a more alcoholic smell. On the palate, it tastes like I added some ash from the ashtray in the mix, but it is less eventful.

The rum isn't too sweet, which I appreciate, but it also tries to pull some tricks, which unfortunately aren't going smoothly. For the price, I don't see the value, and the only targeted audience I can see are Diplomatico fans who want to try something a bit different. I'm not saying it's a bad rum, but if you want something more pleasant, you will stick with the Reserva Exclusiva, and if you want something more unique, you can reach for Savanna Le Must. The price tag just isn't right, and please, don't tell my wife. She doesn't read my reviews.

**Nose:** Vanilla, tobacco, dark chocolate, brown sugar, dates, lime

**Texture:** Watery

**Palate:** Wood, brown sugar, salt, tobacco, bay leaf

**Finish:** Medium. Wood, brown sugar, cocoa, lime zest, tobacco

**Price paid:** 65€ (Got it as a gift, but figured out the price by mistake)

**Score:**>! Solid!<

**Value:** >!1/3!<

Thank you all for taking your time to read the review. If you liked it, feel free to comment, upvote and subscribe. I hope to see you in the next review.

**Previous reviews:** [**https://linkdepos.it/UU7FHwzsePH**](https://linkdepos.it/UU7FHwzsePH)

**Tier list:**

**- Divine Elixir -** The absolute best. Not an everyday pour, but an experience that leaves a lasting impression.

\- **Outstanding -** Whisky that possesses a divine spark yet falls just short of divine status.

\- **Very Good -** Hits many of the right notes, a genuinely enjoyable dram.

**- Good –** Appreciated but not adored.

**- Solid -** At the right price, this could become an affordable regular sipper.

**- Acceptable -** Perhaps worth acquiring a bottle or two from this category at a significant discount, just in case drunken sailors show up on a doorstep.

**- Bad -** Too courteous to decline if offered, but wouldn't purchase, even with a generous discount.

**- Terrible -** Whisky so unpleasant, I would decline it even if it caused offense.



**Value Rating:**

Rated from 1 (poor value) to 3 (excellent value).



Review no: 34 – Diplomatico No1 Single Batch Kettle Rum