Aroma visualization from community tastings
DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release)
Sipped neat, this 2020 Demerara pours dark and drinks drier than older El Dorados — several tasters flag that the near-zero sugar really helped. Expect burnt sugar, dark chocolate, dried fruit and a big load of toasted oak, with warm cinnamon and pepper. A "no mix needed" sipper, though a few find the wood and finish a touch flat.
The community says- Less sweet now
- Rich dried fruit
- But: Very woody
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How does DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release) taste?
Aggregated from 91 community reviews.
Dry, woody Demerara sipper, less sweet now Well-liked and much drier than the old syrupy version, with oak, caramel and dried fruit. The recurring gripe: it can lean woody and one-dimensional, and many rate the 15yo just as high.
Fans of dry, oaky aged Demerara rum
Anyone wanting sweet, syrupy old-style El Dorado
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
31 of 91 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release) rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.0 sits in the “Very good” band. 84% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 4% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
52% rate it 8 or higher. 19 selected write-ups from 91 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by LukaŽiga
This super round rhum is made from rums of between 21 and 25 years of age and is very well rounded. 8,7:On the nose it is buttery, with chocolatey notes behind it. Ripe banana and fruity Christmas cake. Airing brings hints of tobacco and sandalwood in the nest of coconut, leading into spent match smokiness. 8,8:On the palate there are dry sultanas, dates, blackcurrant and macadamia nuts, a touch of rose water. The wood is toasted. The mid-palate brings dark chocolate and nutmeg too. 8,6:The finish is long and it just keeps going in! There's fried banana and handfuls of raisin notes right through to the end, with just a little hint of spicy cinnamon.. Quite an upgrade from 15y.This is rum with a big R. A super sipper!
Review by Tyler L
Initial nose is lively. Orange peel and Demerara sugar dominate with perfume suggestions. After some time the orange transitions to coconut and tropical fruits and finally back to that Demerara sugar, now mellowed with time. The taste does not match and I was surprised by assertive cinnamon and pepper notes. There is a hint of that sweetness but this is very dry, toasty and has greenish/menthol faintly appearing every so often with coffee. Med long finish of roasted dried nuts, chocolate and some char. Bourbon-like. This is much much different then the 15 year old which I am more accustomed to. I mean it doesn’t taste like the same rum aged another 6 years, this tastes like a totally different rum. It’s complex and I’ll look forward getting to know it better.
Review by X-Savior
On The Rocks: On the nose Mild fruit, floral and spice notes with a slight alcohol presence. Taste packs a strong spice punch followed by a fruit/floral/oak that evolves into a slightly bitter and then back into a sweetness with moderate fruit and floral notes with a oak undertone. Long in the finish with sweetness and subtle oak evolving into a slightly bitter. This is an very smooth and very enjoyable rum that is developing some complexity. This has developed more complexity once the bottle has had time to breath. Mixed Pepsi Zero: On the nose there is mild spices and oak. Taste is moderately sweet and extremly smooth. Finish is short but sweet. This is also very enjoyable mixed and could enjoy it either way.
Review by Nathan1188 Nath
Bel couleur ambrée dans le verre, le nez s'y plonge avec envie et s'y colle immédiatement les fruits confits, le caramel mêlé au bois, le chêne s'accorde avec les épices légères, la bouche n'est pas trompé ensuite, le solvant met du temps à laisser la place au bois et fruits confis, fruits sec qui tapissent le palais, très agréable sans grande complexité, du petit lait mais chaton je ne suis plus ...
Review by Lupo Alberto
Da una mia vecchia recensione: Questo nettare, facente parte di una serie di lusso invecchiati in botte di quercia (oltre a uno di 12 anni, uno di 15 e uno di 25), è composto da una miscela di Rum selezionati dall'alambicco di Enmore, da quello di Versailles e dall'Albion. Tutti i Rum della miscela sono stati invecchiati in botti di rovere da 45 galloni per un minimo di 21 anni, rendendo questo uno dei Rum di serie più invecchiati al mondo. È importante sottolineare che l'indicazione dell'età indica specificamente il rum più giovane nella miscela, mentre il più vecchio potrebbe avere molti anni in più; questo metodo nell'indicare l'età del prodotto è molto diverso da quei Rum che utilizzano il metodo Solera, dove viene invece indicata l'età del Rum più vecchio nella miscela, mentre invece sono normalmente presenti alte percentuali di distillato molto più giovane. L'El Dorado 21 è stato premiato con un oro all'International Rum Festival 2003 in Canada e con un argento all'International Wine and Spirit Competition del 2003 a Londra; inoltre, è stato il Rum con il punteggio più alto mai ottenuto nel Beverage Tasting Institute di Chicago. La bottiglia, che è la stessa per tutta la serie, riporta la mente ai tempi delle gesta dei pirati, con la sua forma tozza e il collo panciuto; completa l'opera una bella confezione cilindrica che sarà sicuramente molto apprezzata nel caso di un regalo. Nel bicchiere il liquido, di un bel color mogano, al naso rivela profumi di vaniglia, cioccolato e banana, arancia e tabacco, un vero piacere che prelude al passo successivo. Al palato, un inebriante sentore di quercia, caramello e datteri delizia il palato, forse un po' più secco di quanto ci si aspetterebbe, visto che è stato addizionato da un po' di zucchero; un'universo di ulteriori aromi e sapori si continuano a sprigionare, molto equilibrati tra di loro e che conferiscono a questo nettare un gusto eccezionale. Un finale di vaniglia, quercia e banana conclude la piacevole esperienza. Un Rum complesso, mai scontato, che comunque si degusta con estremo piacere anche alle prime esperienze. Consigliatissimo un quadretto di cioccolato fondente.
Review by Michael Schillheim
In direct comparison, the 21 has for me the poles of the 3 standard El Dorados. Pleasant herbal notes, light wood, beautiful dried plum. On the palate, it falls slightly short of the 15. The younger brother is somewhat stronger and spicier. Overall, I still think the 21 is slightly ahead. For me, it's the more harmonious rum in the range. However, the PLV is clearly better with the 15.
Review by VincyPepperPot
This rum has a long lingering beautiful taste of sunshine. As soon as you have your first sip, you know you're in for something special. The smell gives you a hint that you need to take your time. Don't be in a rush, but don't let your ice have all the fun. This is quality which will set you up for higher level. I had the 12year old in my collection, after trying the 21 I gave the 12 away to a good friend. Life is too short "live to enjoy and enjoy to live" . A great classy rum, enjoy
Review by w00tAN
Sehr gut dass nun weniger Zucker enthalten ist. Die Nase ist wirklich eine Wonne, fein süß und würzig. Im Mund dann ebenfalls gute Würze und sehr rund aber leider auch etwas eindimensional und im Vergleich zum 15 jährigen zwar eine bessere Nase aber geschmacklich deutlich dahinter. Für den fast doppelten Preis absolut nicht gerechtfertigt, wenn ihr mich fragt.
Review by Eric Frechin
Mon premier El Dorado. Nez agréable et équilibré , avec un parfum de fruits secs , caramélisé et boisé moyennement soutenu. En bouche , l entrée est spéciale je pense au savon et un peu floral ! C'est peut-être du à l ouverture de la bouteille et le manque d oxydation. Ensuite une amertume , du boisé et réglisse. J ai bien aimé la finale sur du pruneau et figues.
Review by cigares
A rum tasted at the Rum and Gin Festival in Lucerne.the nose is of caramel and dried fruit, with a well-integrated woodiness. The palate is smooth, with a hint of bitterness from the long stay in the wood.the finish is of medium length, with caramel and dried fruit.this rum lacks a little depth and breadth of flavor, a little disappointing.
Review by Rodolphe
Tasted quickly on the El Dorado stand. I find that the fact that there is no more sugar (or very little) is a very good thing. It's an excellent blend from Guyana, very dark and sticky, very good. After that, it is much more expensive than the 15ans and it is not much better... So nice to taste, but it won't replace my bottle of 15ans.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
I love that they have reduced the sugar content to near zero. This has improved the quality of this rum a lot. Nice and fruity with spices and a warm palate. Draws nice curtains and the empty glass is really nice.
Review by Émile Shevek
Al naso è intenso e gustevole, con note arrostite e tostate, zucchero bruciato, barile, pelle, vaniglia, prugne e spezie leggere. Non ricordavo un naso così buono. Al palato è corposo e saporito, ritrovo sostanzialmente gli stessi aromi trovati al naso. È meno dolce delle versioni precedenti. Il finale è abbastanza delicato e pecca di profondità.
Review by Stefan Persson
Tasted the new less sweetened El Dorado 21yo after a better dinner at a restaurant downtown Stockholm. It’s still very tasteful, but drier which suits me better. So they’ve made a good job at DDL to make it such good without much of the sugar.
Review by HenryL
Great nose, in the mouth it is a bit too woody for me. Nose I like a little better than from the 15, taste a little worse, therefore equal points
Review by Viktor Gu
Ром Эльдорадо 21 ,в базовой своей линейки один из самых удачных позиций.Аромат Рома Медовый и немного фруктовы,чувствуешь очень хорошо ваниль и спецый,вкус очень сладкий много спецый и мёда и сухофруктов. Кто любет сладкие Ромы вам сюда 😎
Review by Shaun Abel
Complex tastes...when mixed it's a sweet taste, more of a drink I would mix and enjoy
Review by Rumpalumpa
Da ist ordentlich Holz. An der Nase viele warme, würzige Aromen. Etwas fruchtig, Richtung Rosinen, sowie Nüsse. Am Gaumen dann viel vom Fass, etwas rauchig und bitter. Interessant, aber fast schon zu viel Fasswürze für meinen Geschmack.
Review by ZeroCool
Very nice rum, fruity, long finish, pleasant to sip, no mix needed
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Market value
Avg. community purchase price 90 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release)
A rum from Guyana, distilled by Demerara Distillers Ltd, at 43%.
Which of the wooden stills is behind this rum? The RumX guide →
Community purchases
128 bottles logged by 121 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
35% opened, 8 emptied and repurchased.
What does DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release) cost?
Community paid 58–144 €.
Current best price: 82.90 € – within the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+9 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
128 purchased · 95 tasted · 64 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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