Rum Review: El Dorado 15 Year Rum: OLD vs NEW | Ready Set Rum  

I'm glad they're not adding sugar anymore. Let the juice shine. 👍🏼

For people who are really into rum, this is maybe the most important comparison. This issue of adding sugar to rum is a turning point for the industry. Rum not having any uniform standards like Bourbons or other spirits, gives unregulated rum producing countries an unfair advantage. This is why rums like the old El Dorado (Guyana), Diplomatico (Venezuela) & Zacapa (Guatamala) are so popular & have won multiple awards. With this new El Dorado you now get to fairly compare the skill of each company's Master Blender. Jamaican, Bajan & Martinique rums were always "real" rums, by law in each country. As usual, GREAT job brother!

Nice review. My guess is that with price inflation driving whiskey drinkers to search for alternatives, more rum producers will jump on the no sugar added bandwagon. For me at least, as a whiskey drinker exploring rum, a noticeable amount of added sugar is off putting. I ended up giving away a bottle of Plantation because it was just too sweet. I haven’t tried the old El Dorado 15, but am enjoying the new version.

I really enjoyed the approach with the comparisons of new vs old. I find that most often I dislike the changes when they happen, but this trend might be because of the increase attention rum is getting and not trying to become more commercial. If I find a older bottle of the 15 year old I will give it a go, currently drinking the 12 year old and enjoying it a lot, el dorado makes delicious rum!

I just read that new 15 doesn't have added sugar or gave significantly less of added sugar. Which is great for me.

As a fan of both Appleton and El Dorado, I really look forward to getting my hands on the new bottling. I definitely think the high dosing of sugar was the one drawback to the old El Dorado

Nice review! I like that you looked at the rum from a casual/experienced drinker perspective. Now they just need to up the ABV a bit for the experienced sippers - perhaps it would have been a better strategy to create a new rum product (no sugar, higher ABV and keep the age statement), rather than modifying an existing product.

Well done, bro ! I watched + re-watched THIS episode 3 times just to get all the nuances you described ! !

Just bought this again,after 5 months without...its delicious and my favourite rum.😍🥃

El Dorado 12 is my go to sipping Rum. Picked up a bottle of the 15 and am tasting it now while watching your review. It’s very good but for the money the 12 will remain my go to.

I watched this as I tasted the (new!) El Dorado 15, thanks so much! Loved your knowledge and humour 😎 Cheers!

We all love DD and early in my rum journey El Dorado 12 and 15 were a safe bet and I love the bottle too. I'm a rum geek these days and the added sugar made it a no no. It was sweeter than cola without carbonation and you could smell the syrupy sugar. Nevertheless, behind the spoonful's of sugar you could detect some historic stills like Port Mourant. I once added some Vellier White Port Mourant into the 12 to see if it could improve it and whack up the abv but it was a dog's dinner and made me appreciate the blending process in a new light. Seale and Gargano are having some impact at last. If you want sweet stuff there's tons of it but let's stop messing around with DD. The oldest and most incredible pot stills in the world should be put in the service of making the highest quality rum. Buy something else if you want sweet liquor. Take great whisky and pour sugar in it. That's what rum has to reverse. Excellent review. WT

A step in the right direction. Great job, El Dorado! Good rum doesn't need to be sweetened. If I wanted sweet rum, I would sweeten it myself.

I found the new bottling of the El 15 to be very woodsy. Oaky and coffee flavored. Dryer finish.

I just got wife to get me a bottle for Xmas was put off for years because I found 12 way to sweeter then reviews say new ones aren't as sweet so looking forward to it

Hellow Buddy! I just bought two "new" bottles" (12 and 15) While 12 has 40% ABV and 15 has got 43% ABV.) They are both new editions of 2022. Ain't opened either yet.

Thank you so much ! As a whisky fan I struggled with many rums I tried. Had a hard time with the ED 12, a plantation rum I had to give away. Can't stand the overly sweet. Appleton 12 and Flor de cana 12 I enjoyed. Will look for this new bottle ED rums seems well priced in my market. Too bad it is 40%. Is the rum community ok with rums being diluted to minimum legal strength?

That new one sounds delicious! I wonder if added sugar/color hides some of that wood note in the old one. Im excited for the change! Nice video! -Jon

Great vid, thank you for sharing. I guess I prefer a dryer rum? Not sure. I like Mount Gay extra old. Appleton 8. Not crazy about a rum too smooth, needs a bite to it. Sweet rums lately have made me prefer a nice Scotch. Maybe this one should be tops on the list next trip to the store

Great video again, and glad you're bringing this up. I haven't been able to find a new review for the new version on fatrumpirate. Where are people finding the info on the new version of the 15?

Fortunately I already have a new opened one on my shelf 🥃🙏

Nice review, my man! Have you tried the also the new El Dorado 21? If you did,what's your thoughts on it, comparing to the 15?

I’ve had both and definitely preferred the new version. As my rum palate has developed I’m moving from the popular sweet rums toward the dry rums. I can’t drink Diplomatico anymore. Jamaica, Cuba and Barbados are the go to sources.

I just tried the new El Dorado 15 and I have to say I think it’s a bit harsh! Not for me!

Just picked up a bottle and looking forward to reviewing it. Bring on the non sweetened Demerara rums 🙌

It's a good rum, but it tastes a lot like cognac. I was a bit disappointed by it as the first 'good' rum I got was plantation Fiji 2009 and it tasted like peated whisky, and this one tastes like cognac. I was searching for a rum that really feels like rum instead of feeling like something else. I can taste the coconut after taste, woodiness in the finish and it's sweet on the palette, nice almond flavour and brown sugar. I can smell the candied orange on the nose, but nothing like coffee or chocolate I was hoping to find it lol

Banks DIH. The other distiller in Guyana...

Do you recommend El Dorado 12 or 15 for someone who wants to try a good rum for sipping but is new to the game? I like sweet drinks and have drank rum and cola but not quality rum. Best Ive had is Captain Morgan spiced gold. Edit: I dont like tasting alcohol and the alcoholic burn I prefer smooth drinks :)

Why the lovers hate the sweeter ones yo? I like a little bit of weetness of my rum. Not so much where it’s like syrup (Bumbu lovers anyone lol). Warmth...Sweet....can’t beat that

have you had the Blackwell 007 limited edition rum in the black bottle ? I just bought it today for $32.95 and it's a different blend than the regular yellow label and I assume this is more aged. I know it won't be a sugary mess style rum because it's from J.Wray & Nephew and it's probably much older than the yellow label stuff and more of a sipper.

just tasted the 15 years old wow brilliant rum not sweet at all

The new is better on the rocks