Aroma visualization from community tastings
Abuelo 12 Años
Beginners and anyone who likes their rum sweet and easy will get on well with this Panama bottling. Caramel, vanilla, raisins and a roasted, tobacco-and-smoke edge that comes out the longer it sits in the glass. The attack is almost liqueur-like — several tasters say it drinks like a candy. There's added sugar behind that softness, and many wish it ran drier with a touch more strength.
- Smooth and easy
- Caramel and raisin
- Roasted smoky edge
+10
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Buy Abuelo 12 Años:
Compare all 13 shop offers from 27.44 €
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How does Abuelo 12 Años taste?
Aggregated from 266 community reviews.
Sweet, easy Panama caramel sipper Most call it an easy, well-balanced everyday sipper with caramel, raisin and roasted smoke. The recurring catch: it's sweetened and a bit simple — plenty wish it ran drier and stronger.
Beginners and fans of sweet, soft Spanish-style rum
Anyone avoiding sugar or wanting a dry, bold rum
How is Abuelo 12 Años rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict , 7.1 lands squarely in the "Good" band. 51% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 3% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Rum reviews
Selected write-ups from 266 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 266 ratings
Review by LukaŽiga
8:On the nose, this rum reveals pleasant aromas of smoke, dried fruits, gourmet caramel, milk chocolate and roasted wood.On the next step, there is tobacco, bitter orange, sweet yellow fruits by bourbon ageing and some sweet spices, perhaps some vegetal notes... Nicely balanced. Aeration brings out notes of nuts (hazelnut), maybe nougat and green pepper, as it becomes a bit dry, with a pinch of perfume, after some rest, there is ripe, maybe candied banana and some tea notes! 7,9:On the palate, the attack is supple and even slightly sweet with dried fruits, then come gourmet caramel, nuts, nougat, if we put them together, this would make toffee, some coffee and sweet spices .It is simple, but pleasant, however and round. 7,9:The finish is caramel embelished that has followed us throughout the tasting, a bit dry, the woodiness comes back, as tobacco and nuts, dried fruits, as sweetness abates, complemented with a whiff of smoke. Looking at some reviews, maybe I have some late version of this rum, as it is not so damn' sweet. I like it, as I don't drink, prefer sweetened rums for quite some time. Edit:20.8.25, 3.10.25
Review by Jasper van den Bovenkamp
Beginnende rum drinker hier. Ik vond deze rum zeer aangenaam. Licht zoet, rond en toegankelijk, maar ook rijk aan verschillende smaken: ik rook en proefde honing, drop, hout, een vleugje rook. Een vol mondgevoel en een zachte, warme afdronk die lekker nagalmde op de tong. Aanrader!
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is another of the good low cost rums out there and as time has progressed my score has gone up for this rum. In my mind very well balanced especially if you consider the price tag on it. This one I would also consider a rum for both beginners as well as those more picky in rums.
Review by Mc Pirate
Nez magnifique, sur la vanille et la banane et une pointe d’Esther, étrange pour un 40 degrés… Bouche ample et chaleureuse avec un le très belle touche de bananes flambées. Finale courte mais sur le grillé
Review by Tim
Solider Panamarum ohne großen Überraschungen. Wenn er lange genug im Glas ist, bekommt man zusätzlich zur Rosine, Kakao und braunem Zucker, auch eine ordentliche Ladung Röst-/Raucharomen ab (Tabak, Kaffee). Im Mund etwas süß, vor allem aber würzig, röstig und rauchig. Preis-Leistung insgesamt gut! Fazit: Nase recht gut, Mundgefühl mittelmäßig.
Review by Stefan Persson
I think it’s a quite mediocre rum relaying on sugar. It has definitely tastes similar to other Panama rums, but it’s weaker than the ones I like. Picture: From a blind test with Ian Burrell at Birka Cruises.
Review by Rumpalumpa
A very sweet candidate, but a tasty one. Typical Panamanian roasted/smoky nose and flavor. I'm a big fan of this style that comes through very nicely here. It's also really affordable at around 25€. Would be great to try it with less sugar though
Review by Rummiamo
A quite plain rum, not badante, but i raccomand it to people who are user to very smooth rum on the sweet side. Some spice, vanilla and not so much further. The little brother, 7 years old, is more and more interesting.
Review by Gregor
Für mich leider viel zu süß. Aber ein spannendes Destillat. Würde mir wünschen den mal ohne dosage zu probieren. Und vor allem mit ein paar mehr umdrehungen. 37,5 ist viel zu schwach. Von daher gibs für den keine Kaufempfehlung von mir
Review by Jacques etdom
Du sucre, du sucre et du caramel.
Review by Oliver
Pleasant and drinkable Spanish beer. Excellent in the "Cuba" Libre.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Solid Panama sipping rum. Good price performance, not too overly sweet and makes great cocktails like Mojito, Cuba libre, old cuban and co. Can be bought without hesitation. For me the best from abuelo in terms of plv.
Review by MarcT
Typical Panama Spanish style.
Review by TheRhumhoe
A key figure in Hispanic rums, Abuelo offers here a smooth, inexpensive rum with a sweet, vanilla, caramelized, slightly roasted nose of tobacco and dried fruit, with a hint of exotic fruit. A very comfortable nose for beginners. The attack on the palate is almost liquorish, with notes of sherry, chocolate, caramel, dried fruit, nuts, sweet spices and smoky oak. It's like sipping a sweet. The finish is syrupy, with sugar, chocolate, spices, wood and smoke. It's not a revolutionary rum, but it has the merit of being drinkable and of offering a few flavors that other rons don't have.
Review by Johannes
Etwas süß, aber gut trinkbar.
Review by Werner10
It's ok for what it costs, but i prefer to spend more to get something better. Sweet, molasses, caramel. Also a tiny bit of a bitter twist in the finish.
Review by Torsten vom Endt
Nicht mein Fall zu süß und wenig fruchtig. Kein wirklich klarer Geruch von etwas besonderem. Eigentlich von allem zu wenig um zu überzeugen. Eine 6.5 mit Mühe und Not weil er als "Cuba Libre" okay ist aber nur dafür zu teuer.
Review by Blaidor
Smell 7,5/10 Taste 7/10 Aftertaste 7/10 Image 6,5/10 (info about rum, bottle, carton-box, sugar free, marketing....) Total impression 7/10 ------------------ BTL Added sugar 👎
Review by Vincent D
J'attendais un rhum très standard et sans caractère. C'est finalement un Ron plutôt plaisant. Facile et sans grosse surprise mais plutôt agréable : vanillé, boisé, caramel, fruits secs, etc. plutôt sympa.
Review by Tupiaz
On the nose, there is dark dried fruit raisin and a clear sweetness. Together it offers it all. However, it's not very deep.
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Details about Abuelo 12 Años
A Column Still Rum from Panama, distilled by Varela Hermanos, at 40%.
Community purchases
464 bottles logged by 442 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
42% opened, 70 emptied and repurchased.
What does Abuelo 12 Años cost?
Community paid €24–€47.
Current best price: €27.44 – 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+ →
+5 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months.
464 purchased · 290 tasted · 124 wishlist · as of
About the Varela Hermanos distillery
The Varela Hermanos distillery is located in Panama. Rums from Varela Hermanos have been reviewed 1,346 times with an average of 7.5/10.
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
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