It looks like this was bought by the company who makes DonQ, which given the price range certainly makes it a contender against the parent brand (even if it doesn’t mix as well.) Overall though it appears to be another simple (made to profit) cheap bargain rum.
Overall our main complaint here is wishing this was just a tad smoother, it’d make it a nice sipping rum, and make it much easier to be a deceptively dangerous cocktail given how much you can add. Also being 10 bucks means you can’t ignore the value here.
What they Say: “Barcelo Marques & Co. San Juan, Puerto Rico”
Taste: 7.0 – That salty/sweet combo from the aroma actually shows up, and there’s like a tiny bit of citrus or spice. It’s honestly really nice.
Aftertaste: 5.0 – Here you get more of that classic kinda rum taste, nothing bad mind you, but fairly par.
Burn/Smooth: 4.0 – We were so close to greatness here, but while more muted than some, and at points unique – there’s no denying the burn here ruining the chance of this being a smooth shot or sipper.
Aroma: 6.5 – A bit sweet and salty; however while a plastic bottle might scare some we can assure that this does not smell like something terrible. While not super potent or flavorable, what is there – is pleasant.
Honesty: 7.0 – Nothing bad to say. Given the goodness at the price point, we won’t knock points for being plastic either – it knows it’s a budget rum – but it’s a budget rum that’s not shit.
Mixability: 6.0
W/ Rocks: 6.5 – That does remove the burn, however, it also dials up the sweetness. Overall as far as white rums go it’s one of the rare exceptions you wouldn’t mind over ice at all, but unlikely to seek it out.
Mojito: 5.5 – It’s fine. It adds a bit to the mojito and can confirm you are free to make some strong ass Mojitos without sacrificing taste. Sadly it’s just not adding a lot to the taste here.
Rum and Coke: 6.0 – Much like the mojito this is adding only a little, but what’s there is good and can be made quite strong w/o consequence.
Value: 7.5 – It’s a rum you can nearly have straight, and while it doesn’t mix like the best for the cheap rums (Don Q) it is a steal for this price. We’ve had so MANY shitty rums charging anywhere from 14 to 24 and this by virtue is great value for money.
Google Shop Average: $10
Website: http://www.destileriaserralles.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 6.0
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Metric Score: 43/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.14 |+| Reviewer Average: 6.0
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Final Thoughts: It’s not the perfect rum, and being silver means it doesn’t gain as many points here for being neat/rocks as it does as just an above par mixer. We’d love to see if there’s an aged version of this, but it not it will remain a (well they’re outta DonQ – so let’s get this) kinda choice.
