Peruvian rum takes world competition's top honor

William M. Dowd photo

YBOR CITY, FL -- A Peruvian rum can claim the title of world's best for the next year after winning the best-in-show award at the 4th annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition held in this historic Tampa neighborhood.

Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial received a score of 90 or better from each of the judges to win the first-ever designation.

Dori Bryant, president of The Polished Palate, which organizes a variety of spirits competitions and events, said, “It is obvious that rum’s star has already risen. The amazing quality and the significant number of new producers joining the competition including those from Peru, Mexico, Africa, Panama and the U.S. bodes well for the industry. This year’s events were a great success, and I look forward to 2010.”

The competition, held March 26-27 at the historic Ritz complex, featured an international panel of judges who sampled, evaluated and compared 53 (51 of them sugar cane based) of the finest rums, rhums and other spirits to select this year’s honor roll.

The competition was part of the three-day International Rum Festival that included a variety of public events, podcasts, seminars and live entertainment venues. A silent auction benefitted The Sky Ranch Foundation, which has been helping troubled teens for 40 years.

The judging panel was headed by Jack Robertiello, wine and spirits writer and consultant with Drinks Ink of New York; yours truly, representing Dowd On Drinks of Troy, NY; Rick Crossland, recently retired senior vice president of the Bahama Breeze Restaurants chain; Terry Jones, vice president of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits of Florida; Ian Williams, author and correspondent, representing Rum Pundit.com, from Roscoe, NY; Arturo Sighinolfi, director of mixology and education, Southern Wine & Spirits, Florida; Chris Sherman, food critic, Florida Trend magazine, and Delon Cunningham, owner of Carrollwood Fine Wine & Spirits, Tampa.

This year’s event featured 12 categories. The medalists (bold type denotes "Best of Category." Not all categories received such an award):

• WHITE RUM

Gold: Carta Vieja Extra Claro Rum (Panama)
New Grove Plantation Rum (Mauritius)

Silver: Diplomatico White Rum (Venezuela)
Sunset Light Rum (St. Vincent & The Grenadines)

Bronze: Bacardi Superior (Puerto Rico)
Maui Platinum (Hawaii)
Sergeant Classick Silver Rum (California)
Tommy Bahama White Sand (Barbados)

• DARK RUM

Gold: Khukri Rum (Nepal)
Maui Dark (Hawaii)

Silver: One Barrel Rum (Belize)
Tommy Bahama Golden Sun (Barbados)

Bronze: Rogue Dark Rum (Oregon)

• GOLD RUM

Gold: Sunset Captain Bligh Rum (St. Vincent & The Grenadines)

Silver: Bacardi Gold (Puerto Rico)
Sergeant Classick Gold Rum (California)

Bronze: Carta Viejo Claro (Panama)
The Old Mill Gold Rum (US Virgin Islands)

• RUM AGED UP TO 8 YEARS

Gold: Ron Peruano 8 Year Old (Peru)
Diplomatico Reserva (Venezuela)
Ron Barcelo Grand Anejo (Dominican Republic)

Silver: Bacardi Select (Puerto Rico)
Carta Viejo Anejo (Panama)
Mount Gay Eclipse (Barbados)
Prichard’s Private Stock (Tennessee)
Ron Barcelo Imperial (Dominican Republic)
Ron Botran 8 Year Old (Guatemala)
Ron Medellín 3 Year Old (Colombia)
Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 Year Old (Colombia)
Ron Viejo de Caldas 8 Year Old (Colombia)

Bronze: Ron Barcelo Anejo (Dominican Republic)
Ron Medellín 8 Year Old (Colombia)

• RUM AGED 9-15 YEARS

Gold: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum (Venezuela)
Mount Gay Extra Old (Bahamas)
Ron Botran 12 Year Old (Guatemala)

Silver: Ron Medellín 12 Year Old (Colombia)

• RUM AGED 15+ YEARS

Gold: Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial (Peru) BEST IN SHOW

• OVERPROOOF RUM

Gold: Braddah Kimo’s Extreme 155 Rum (Hawaii)

Bronze: Sunset Very Strong (St. Vincent & The Grenadines)

• AGUADIENTE

Gold: Antioqueno (Colombia)

Silver: Cristal (Colombia)

• FLAVORED RUM

Gold: Prichard’s Key Lime (Tennessee)

Silver: New Grove Orange Bliss (Mauritius)

Bronze: New Grove Lime (Mauritius)

• RUM LIQUEURS

Gold: Mauricia Tamarind Liqueur (Mauritius)

Silver: Empire Limonela (Florida)

Bronze: Empire Lemonela (Florida)

• SPICED RUM

Gold: None

Silver: Kilo Kai Spiced Rum (Curacao, Netherland Antilles)

Bronze: Horne Spiced Rum (US Virgin Islands)
Rogue Hazelnut Spice Rum (Oregon)

• OTHER SPIRITS

Gold: Ocucaje Pisco (Peru)
T&W Grappa Di Muscatto (Florida)

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