Aroma visualization from community tastings
DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release)
Most people agree the 2020 release fixed the old problem: it's far less sweet, so you actually taste the Demerara — roasted wood, vanilla, dried fruit, dark coffee and chocolate. The split is over the 43%: fans call it an easy daily sipper, while others find it thin and a touch bitter, wishing for more punch and a longer finish.
- Classic Demerara profile
- Less sweet now
- Easy daily sipper
+10
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How does DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) taste?
Aggregated from 228 community reviews.
Easy Demerara sipper, coffee and dark wood Loved as an honest, less-sweet Guyana sipper with coffee, wood and dried fruit. Many wish it were stronger — the low ABV leaves it thin with a short finish for some.
People wanting an honest, less-sweet entry into Guyana rum
Those who want a powerful, long-finishing dram
How is DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict , 7.9 lands squarely in the "Good" band. 87% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Rum reviews
Selected write-ups from 228 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 228 ratings
Review by Tim
After finding out that Guyana rum without added sugar was on offer here, as a Guyana fan I simply had to try it. It was more than worth it. Roasted coffee with caramelized fruit and chocolate shavings. For me, this is THE rum profile par excellence. A little more mature and woody/"older" than the 12y. An absolute highlight for the price and a hit for those looking for an unsweetened rum to start with or as a sipper.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Compared to the old sweeter version this one is a step forward. Instead of the sugar covering your palate you get a more hones and slightly spicy palate. The wood is there and so are the spices and semi heavy caramel, but it is a far better version. If you get the chance then give it a try. Price to quality is very good.
Review by BTHHo 🥃
Intense and balanced taste of grilled tropical fruit and with notes of oak and spices - lots of sweetness and with good pressure on the flavors 👍 Long lasting and smooth aftertaste 😁
Review by Rumpalumpa
This rum simply meets my taste very well. The toasty, woody aromas with red fruits and licorice are particularly great on the palate for 43%. A little alcoholic on the nose. Quite sweet for being completely sugar-free
Review by w00tAN
Also an evergreen for me, the sugar reduction has definitely made it better than the old version. Wood, vanilla, dark chocolate and a hint of fruit. I always have it in my cupboard, it always goes down well and the PLV is also great! P.S. For the sake of fairness, I have to reclassify it ;) still an evergreen but no longer an 8
Review by MarcT
Much better. Much much better than the sweetened variant of earlier times. That's all I want to say. Revusited again, and must say I did not care as much for this as I do for the classic 8yo Hampden that is my 8/10 Benchmark.
Review by LukaŽiga
7,8:The nose is largely roasted, so much so that you can almost guess the powdery side of coffee grounds. The rum's core is relatively light, as evidenced by the fruit candy notes that begin to pass between the toasted oak fibers. With aeration, the profile remains relatively taut, with ethereal flights that seem to clean the surface of the barrel. They carry with them notes of varnish, toasted wood and flame-roasted nuts. 8:On the palate, the first impression is of a rather fluid attack. It's like a rum with a toasty woodiness and a slightly diluted maple syrup. The mid-palate then takes us to the heart of the Demerara style, albeit with a great deal of restraint. Toasted, caramelized nuts, ripe exotic fruit, sweet spices and a slightly mineral, powdery edge are all present, again with nuances. 7,8:The finish is slightly sweet, gently spicy, dry, with the rum fading rather quickly from the palate. Run with a bit lack of smoothiness and roundedness. Otherwise everyday sipper. Nice, but not top.Nose 7,8, a bit repressed, on palate 8, it opens, but it is more agressive than 12 y which is more elegant, 7,8 on finish... Edit:20.6.25, an upgrade due to deeper tasting, 2.9.2025
Review by zabo
Edit: I also used this to make rum balls. It goes really well with dark chocolate. For me, it's still a good classic as an introduction to the Guyana world. The rum has everything that a good rum should have, at least for the price that is asked for it. There are clearly better and more complex rums, but not for this price. Not incredibly complex, but a welcome addition to my cabinet as an easy sipper.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Dry El Dorado at last! Really nice and spicy with notes of malt, licorice, dark chocolate and espresso beans. I like it surprisingly well! A positive surprise! I wouldn't have thought it possible 😃 now a big cross comparison would be exciting!
Review by Timo Groeger
I find the nose very pleasant, exuding a lovely aroma of caramel and vanilla. The palate is also relatively sweet with vanilla and caramel flavors. It is also slightly spicy and you can taste the barrel. A little too sweet for me though.
Review by Johannes
Good unsweetened rum for starters!
Review by lukasdrinkinghabits
Very nice rum this is without the sugar. It's like a tropically aged Port Mourant that has had its edges sanded off with some soft Demerara Colum Still. As a blend wonderfully harmonious, soft and yet strong and spicy. At cask strength or at least Navy Strength, this would be an outstanding everyday rum. But even so I will get myself a bottle. Well done DDL!
Review by Serge
Today a small comparison of the two newer, less sweetened El Dorado standard bottlings 12yo (rx9644) and 15yo (rx9643) Both benefit from the reduced sugar content ... you can now taste some of the rum - although unfortunately not much, as both are quite heavily (too heavily) diluted. The robust pot characteristics of the 15yo may come across a little better on the palate. Nevertheless, I like the 12yo better, as the Diamond Column profile appeals to me more and the nose is thin but nice. A high proof of the 12yo would certainly be a great niche.
Review by Jussi Piirainen
On the nose: Pretty sweet. Main note for me is maple syrup. Then there is woody notes, light vanilla and light caramel notes. Light dark chocolate notes. Roasted woody notes become stronger as the rum sits in the glass. Pretty good for a 43% abv rum. Taste: Light. Woody, roasted darker spices notes. Light vanilla. Light coffee and dark chocolate. Light dried fruits. Still sweet, but not as sweet as i expected after the nosing. Again, pretty good notes for a low abv rum. Finish: Woody, spicy, roasted. Light vanilla and chocolate notes. Dry finish. Short-medium finish. Pretty good for a low abv rum. Good starting point towards more high abv Guyanese rums
Review by Frank
In my rum beginnings about 10 years ago, I inevitably had to go through the El Dorado. Found the 15yo at that time really good. Today, the no longer goes. At least the old sugared. But how is actually the new one, without sugar? I had to try it. Nose: has a good start, but quickly loses power at the back. Stop diluted to 43%! Spicy and slightly woody, immediately caramel and vanilla. Seems sweet. Light aroma of orange and currant. With deep draw come allspice and curry. Goes well, actually. 70Palate: in the following order: thin, spicy-woody, slightly peppery and salty, herbs, vanilla, fat pecan, anise. Herbal, thin. 60Surely better than the old one, but still way too thin. El Dorado could do so much more!
Review by Gregor
Super price performance ratio. The new bottling has become super exciting. Hardly any sugar compared to the predecessor. Very pleasant and clean. The demarara style is very nicely recognizable without much schick schnack
Review by DosenZorn
Finally, the 'almost' unsweetened version of El Dorado 15 in the glass. The nose is pleasant, somewhat one-dimensional and could be a bit more intense. Still pleases me quite well. On the palate, initially a lot of wood and burnt sugar, thus a bit more bitter than hoped for. Later comes ne decent portion of vanilla to it. Considering the price and the good availability, then I must admit that I like the rum very well. As a recommendation for all who can overlook the somewhat prominent bitterness or even like it.
Review by Rumantisch
Aktuell einer meiner liebsten Rums. Mit seinen 43% ist er nicht zu stark noch zu schwach sondern wie ich finde genau richtig. Der schöne fruchtige-Holzige Geschmack ist absolut top abgestimmt. Und das er zuckerfrei ist freut mich am meisten
Review by Lukas Jäger
Quite a good standard blend for good money. In contrast to its sugared predecessor, this can also be recommended as a real rum to the average drinker who is looking for something better than the usual "supermarket rum".
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
Read full review →
Expert review by New World Rum Club
"I love el dorado and this is a great upgrade from the sugary predecessor. More wood and vanilla coming through, nearly too much wood but it’s balanced ok. I’ve avoided these rums for a few years and pleased to see they’re back with a good upgrade - definitely would recommend and a nice sipper for the £50 bracket."
Details about DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release)
A rum from Guyana, distilled by Demerara Distillers Ltd, at 43%.
Community purchases
363 bottles logged by 334 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
39% opened, 55 emptied and repurchased.
What does DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) cost?
Community paid €34–€60.
Current best price: €45.90 – 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+ →
+30 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months.
363 purchased · 237 tasted · 168 wishlist · as of
About the Demerara Distillers Ltd distillery
The Demerara Distillers Ltd distillery is located in Guyana. Rums from Demerara Distillers Ltd have been reviewed 3,544 times with an average of 7.8/10.
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DDL El Dorado 15
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