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DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release)
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Most people agree the sugar-reduced 2020 release beat the old sweetened version — you can finally taste the rum. Expect roasted wood, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit with a dark chocolate and coffee edge, classic Demerara. The catch: at 43% several tasters find it thin, a bit bitter, and short on the finish. An easy, honest daily sipper rather than a deep one.
The community says- Classic Demerara profile
- Less sweet now
- But: Thin body
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The look inside the bottle
How does DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) taste?
Summarized by AI from community reviews.
Easy Demerara daily sipper, wood-forward Widely liked as an everyday Demerara sipper and a clear upgrade on the sweetened predecessor. Common gripes: thin body, short finish, and a touch of bitterness from the wood.
Aroma profilePeople wanting an easy, less-sweet entry into Guyana rum
Those chasing bold, full-bodied cask-strength depth
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
94 of 263 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
Buying advice
Is it right for you?
Yes, if you're after characterful, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
Similar in style and available now.
More intense
Hampden Pure Single Jamaican Rum 8 Years Old OWH8.0/10 (259)63.94 €
50 rated both: 23 scored it higher, 18 scored El Dorado higher, 9 gave both the same score.
Similar rating, cheaper
DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release)7.7/10 (121)37.42 €
56 rated both: 11 scored it higher, 40 scored DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) higher, 5 gave both the same score.
Drier
DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release)8.0/10 (96)93.85 €
44 rated both: 18 scored it higher, 22 scored DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) higher, 4 gave both the same score.
Fruitier
DDL El Dorado 217.6/10 (151)97.90 €
30 rated both: 8 scored it higher, 19 scored DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) higher, 3 gave both the same score.
What does the community say?
263 community reviews
49 selected write-ups on this page, all of them in the RumX app
One of the community's most-rated rums
Rate it in the appPositive from 8.0 · Mixed 6.0–7.9 · Critical below 6.0
Review by Tim
Most helpful positive review
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 w00tAN
Most helpful mixed review
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Eugene227
A relatively dry and balanced rum with a profile of dark fruits, coffee, wood, and spices. A well-rounded overall picture with a lot of Demerara character. Not the most complex Guyana rum in its class, but a very harmonious sipper with good depth and high drinkability.
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
Currently one of my favorite rums. With its 43% it's neither too strong nor too weak but just right in my opinion. The beautiful fruity-woody taste is absolutely perfectly balanced. And that it's sugar-free makes me happiest.
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".
Review by Rodolphe
What a pleasant discovery that this 2020 version without sugar! It's everything I love, a really nice dark demerara at a great price. The danger: the rum that is easily sipped every day 😁... My quality/price rum of the year.
Review by Maxi
Nose: First impression: Woody like oak barrel. Recognizable whiskey notes. Taste: Distinct spiciness. Light sweetness combined with vanilla, dark chocolate, cocoa, and mocha along with roasted nuts and woody barrel notes. Slightly earthy, reminiscent of whiskey. Finish: Pronounced barrel notes (wood/oak).
Review by Rumbaer
I like the El Dorado 12. That great Guyana aroma and this one takes it up a notch. Nose and palate are full of vanilla and red fruits. Plus nice Guyana wood notes, soft and smooth.
Review by Rum man
This is a nice rum. The kind of rum that you hope your non rum loving friend keeps in his cabinet to keep you hydrated. It is well balanced but more towards the sweet side. It can be a daily sipper for anybody.
Review by Cédric C
On a value-for-money basis, this rum is clearly a must-have at home. It's easy to drink, no fuss and, in my opinion, suitable for everyone. It's perfectly balanced, neither too sweet nor too light. The finish is long and pleasant. A rum I can recommend without hesitation.
Review by Vincent D
Perhaps a little more woody and spicy than its 12-year-old equivalent. But it's still very sweet and not very interesting for me.
Review by HenryL
Beautiful nose dominated by coconut and raisin, coupled with molasses and dark chocolate.In the taste quite woody and spicy, coconut persists and is underpinned by a sweetness of burnt caramel.Very tasty, a few percent more would have harmed him but not taste. Then the alcohol integrated here already only mediocre but if necessary would be too dominant.
Review by Decky Hicks Doughty
The nose has strong dark chocolate notes that dominates but there's also some spice and fruit. The palate is a lot less spiced and chocolate driven than the nose would suggest. A strange kind of licorice and caramel dessert. The finish is quite long, warming. The dark chocolate is back from the nose. A very nice rum to sip. I think that I prefer the 12 year old.
Review by Gyuli
The bottle is cute and looks like something a pirate would carry around :) Aroma: Sherry, raisins, caramel, brown sugar and a hint of alcohol. Cool pear flavors harmonize with the alcohol. Similar nuances to Diplomatico, but more raisins than tropical fruits. Dates are also present. Taste: moderately sweet. The texture on the tongue is satisfyingly chewy and cool. Caramel, raisins and a touch of oak. Clean but simple, the slight sweetness is more like brown sugar or melted vanilla ice cream. In terms of balance, a light floral note would have been nice. Heavy texture. Finish: Almost no finish. Not much spiciness either. It's mild and easy, with only a brief burst of flavor.
Review by Peter Škabla
Flavorful, interesting entry and finish with spicy middle. Provides more complex sipping experience.
Review by Lutz Lungershausen
First impression: strong, mature Nose: spicy, wood, vanilla, dried fruits Palate: strong, spicy, matured, cask, coffee, dark chocolate Finish: lingers medium-long, occasionally bitter Overall impression: impressively strong, a real milestone rum
Review by St. Dubs
Dark and roasted flavor (but not smokey per se), with a tarry and semi-sweet finish. Notes of coffee and tobacco leaves. It's a pleasant sipper, and makes for a satisfying introduction to Demarara rums.
Review by Big Greasy Daddy
Very solid rum that is a great sipper. Earthy, spicy, wood and warm. No sugar added but it is like a rich dessert.it is held back by its low ABV but other than it is great.
Review by rumiub
Light fruit, caramel. You can clearly tell it's 15 years old. Slightly reminds me of tropical dried fruits, similar to mango. A bit light-bodied, but mild. Classic rum profile.
Review by Pandemonia
Compared to the 12-year is less sweet sweet and has less of the savoury notes of dark, full chocolate and burnt caramel. It is drier and more woody, especially on the aftertaste. Still, it retains quite a bit of spice especially on the nose and even to a substantial degree on the tongue but is certainly drier and less chocolate and caramel-leaning than the 12-year, and thus becomes more woody, more spicy, and a bit hotter in comparison. It even loses a bit of depth and complexity. Still in the end it is a very good rum and a crowd-pleaser for sure. I prefer the 12-year but this can be served with confidence to anyone.
Review by Jiří Gajdos
Beautiful on nose, nice balance of spices and woody notes with bittersweet notes on palate. Overall very nice rum.
Review by Andreas Renöfält
Retasting my old favourite. Have to downgrade due to more experiance. My reference rum.
Review by Nicola Zagolin
One of my first bottles of rum, spectacular and sweet just right.
Review by Onkel_Ig
A delicious drop, with a classic Demerara profile.
Review by PapaZulu
On the nose, vanilla comes first. It is followed by spices, dried plums and orange peel. This is followed by aromas of sugar cane, walnut and oak, and the overall aromas are closed by cocoa, coffee and tobacco. Honey, caramel and vanilla dominate on the tongue. A hint of spices surrounded by chocolate and roasted bananas. After time, a coffee flavor emerges. Finish of medium length with gentle oak, creamy sweet.
Review by Fuwi
For 40€, this bottling brings a lot of what makes Demerara special. On the nose, it’s initially toasty and woody, and that carries through to the palate. Burnt sugar, spicy influences with some bitter notes, but it stays quite light and lacks that final punch. But where would that come from at 42%? So it’s an affordable entry into the world of Guyana.
Review by JanL
Very nicely integrated alcohol that makes the rum nice and smooth and easy to drink. On the nose, the dark aromas of coffee and chocolate quickly come through, on the palate you can then clearly taste the wood and even a bit of licorice. It reminds me of a good, lightly sweetened espresso. The finish is rather short, although the slight sweetness lingers a bit longer. Overall, a great rum that, in my opinion, is a real recommendation in this price range.
Review by Michael Grünfelder
A somewhat uneven rum in my eyes. With a relatively low percentage, the alcohol taste still comes through clearly. With its woody and spicy aroma, the fruity and floral come a bit short. The taste is short-lived. But overall a very interesting rum.
Review by Tyler L
This is so nice. Everything from nose to tail seems dripping in something dark with suggestions of wetness. Coffee leaves on a cool morning, a barrel of molasses washed up on shore. Decadent and rich tasting with bits of coffee and orange peel. Lots of general woodiness. The finish is too short, but then you just need to keep sipping I guess.
Review by Jan Králík
Taste-wise I find it very similar to the 12 year old version, only the flavours are more pronounced and it is a bit drier. Lots of citrus, spice and oak in the aroma. Too much citrus for me and I like the 12 year old version a bit more.
Review by Abrahan Reyes
The nose is intensely sweet, reminiscent of various candies, which initially raised some concern as I typically don't favor such flavors. However, on the palate, it transforms into a richer combination of dark coffee and caramel notes, resulting in a very enjoyable experience. Adding a few drops of water seems to exacerbate the sweetness, possibly due to its already modest 40% (ABV).
Review by akkisz
A bit citrusy, a bit more subtle than the 12 year, round and nice but similar.
Review by Markus Fjellstad Israelsen
Nose: woody, roasted/smoky with a hint of tobacco, also some molasses and dried fruits Palate: roasted wood, molasses, just a touch of licorice and tobacco. It certainly has that characteristic demerara taste. Finish: mostly just a toned down version of the palate. All in all, a very good sipper.
Review by X-Savior
On The Rocks: On the nose it has a mild musty spice and oak aroma with hints of brown sugar. Taste has a tempered slightly bitter brown sugar that evolves into a moderate oak with a moderate spice building. There is not any heavy sweetness as it stays more neutral to slightly bitter overall. Finish is medium with the spice and oak slowly fading away. Mixed Pepsi Zero: On the nose it smells like a dusty old Pepsi zero warehouse. Taste is smooth but nondescript. Finish is short. It does not really taste like anything. Don’t waste your time mixing it.
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Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 8.0/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
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.
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
444 bottles logged by 413 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
38% opened, 60 emptied.
What does DDL El Dorado 15 (2020 Release) cost?
Community paid 36–58 €.
Current best price: 45.90 € – within the typical community range.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 46 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
+57 additions in the last 3 months.
Additions per month over the last 12 months; dark bars: the last 3.
444 purchased · 284 tasted · 247 wishlist · as of
Details about DDL El Dorado 15 (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 ›
Read on in the RumX Guide
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