Aroma visualization from community tastings
DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release)
Newcomers and anyone who wants an easy Demerara sipper will feel at home here. Think caramel, toffee, raisins and dried figs with a light oak edge — sweet but, in this newer release, not the sugar bomb the old 12 was. Most find it mild and pleasant; a few wish the 40% wasn't quite so thin. One taster even catches a faint "model glue" note on the nose.
The community says- Caramel and dried fruit
- Smooth and easy
- But: Added sugar
View price history
10 more payment methodsSecure payment Sold by delicando Returns & cancellation
- Secure payment. You pay via RumX with PayPal, Klarna or card. Your payment data is encrypted and we never store your full card details.
- Clear seller. Sold and shipped directly by the partner shop. And you're never on your own: RumX handles support and communication with the shop, so you always get excellent service, whichever shop you order from.
- Honest shop ratings. The stars show your service experience with the shop, not the rum score. They come from RumX users, and critical ones stay visible.
- Returns & cancellation. Your purchase contract is with the shop, so returns and cancellations run through them under their own policy and your statutory rights. If anything goes wrong, RumX helps you sort it out.
Buy DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release):
Compare all 16 shop offers
Prices & availability last updated on
The look inside the bottle
How does DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release) taste?
Aggregated from 118 community reviews.
Easy, caramel-and-raisin Demerara sipper Most people like this newer, less-sweetened 12 as a gentle Guyana sipper — caramel, raisin and wood, easy to drink. The recurring gripe is that 40% leaves it a touch thin.
People new to rum who want a soft, sweetish Demerara sipper
Anyone wanting bold, high-proof, complex rum
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
49 of 118 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
First choice: 37 of 52 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release) rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.7 sits in the “Good” band. 84% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
64% rate it between 6 and 8. 19 selected write-ups from 118 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Aussierumfan
Quite a nice rum and great value for what you get! I had a few glasses of this on ice with non-rum drinking friends and we all agreed that it was a great sipper. Not massively complex but not a sugar bomb like the previous version, I'm getting caramel, brown sugar and some wood on the nose, same again on the palate with some fruits mixed in as well. A good rum for those new to the spirit I would say.
Review by Tim
Most helpful positive review
Wahnsinn, was man hier für so wenig Geld bekommt. Von wegen ein typisch süßer Rum, nein! Leckeres Guyanaprofil ohne Zuckerzusatz, sogar mit Kräuternoten im Mund, das man von dem einen oder anderen Diamond kennt. Intensiv Süßigkeiten/Konfekt/Karamell an der Nase mit Vanille, Eichenholz und etwas Frucht. Röstig, jedoch weniger röstig als der 15y. Dieses Gesamtpaket hätte ich nicht erwartet!!
Review by rum_sk
Most helpful critical review
I am not a fan. I do not like it very much. I would rather go with pusser's all the time. It is similar but there is something in the taste that I particularly do not like and cannot describe.
Review by Stefan Persson
Had 6cl of it after a better dinner at a local restaurant. It’s long time ago since I tasted the old 12yo with 35gpl sugar, but I’m pretty sure I like this new one with 6gpl sugar better. Overall an pleasant well balanced rum with a certain complexity.
Review by Rumpalumpa
A really lovely Rum. Without added sugar in the new bottling, but still a pleasant sweetness. and pobaply the best value for money in my opinion. the 15 yo is quite a bit more expensive but not much superior
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#5363 30.05.2025 Running a few samples at home while watching a TV series about American football murders. Nose Wood, light roasted, dried fruit, spice, orange, sweet, light honey, light caramel. Palate Oily, wood, faint smoke, light caramel, dried fruit, light orange, light vanilla, sweet, light apple. Finish Medium long, wood, raisin, light chocolate, light caramel, light orange. Empty glass Vanilla, chocolate, toffee, sweet, light honey, faint coffee. We usually use this over ice cream or when baking chocolate cake.
Review by HenryL
Great with a cigar, somewhat flat on its own due to the low alcohol content. Edit: Now tried again on its own. A simple and pleasant rum that is not boring. Even a newcomer can probably be seduced by it, even if the alcohol is a little too present for the 40%.
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 Joachim Guger
"Real" rum in Austrian supermarkets? 3 bottlings are available, this is one of them. Caramel, dried fruit and light spice. Very well balanced, not very complex and easy to drink. At 43%, you shouldn't expect a tour de force. The 15 is a lot spicier, but this one is more caramel-oriented. A reasonably priced introduction to the wonderful world of tropically matured demerara and a guest rum that I prefer to drink myself 😅😅😅😅
Review by Timo Groeger
Überraschend das mir der echt nich gefehlt hat. Ist zwar überwiegend süß, aber noch einigermaßen erträglich. Viel Vanille, Karamell, Zuckerbund Toffee, am Gaumen auch noch etwas Holz. Kann man nicht jeden Tag trinken, aber ab und an ok.
Review by Chrischi78
Ganz angenehme Nase mit den typischen dunklen Noten. Am Gaumen wird es dann aber schwierig. Zwar hat man die schlnen Guyana-Notem von dunkler Schokolade und Leder, aber dem Knaben fehlen die Prozente wodurch er zum einen dünn wirkt und die vorhandenen wenig komplexen Noten leicht ins stumpfe bittere und unangenehme umschlagen. Mixer? Guyana-Sipper? Für mich ein Fehlkauf
Review by Decky Hicks Doughty
On the nose there's lots of plum, raisin and almond backed up with a good amounts of toffee, cocoa and oak. The palate is smooth and quite subtle. Cocoa, raisins and caramel. Lots of wood towards the end. The finish is medium in length and has herbal, eucalyptus notes along side the wood and caramel from the palate. Overall, this is a great rum. Something to sip with good company. A shining example of Guyanese rum.
Review by paulgi86
Another sample to get through! One of many so will have to blitz through them over the next couple of months so that room for full bottles can be made! For a rum, it tastes awfully bourbon like to my palate - heapings of caramel, brown sugars, caramelised sugars, touch of vanilla and the faintest touch of oak. Not really much in the way of fruitiness - if there’s fruitiness then it’s very well hidden as my palate has been blasted with caramel! I don’t dislike it - in actual fact I do like it! I do feel however it doesn’t scream “rum like” to me - would probably have to try a high or cask strength version to really understand the DDL signature if there is one Enjoyable sipper - I wouldn’t be annoyed if either someone gave me this bottle as a gift or if I even bought it myself Revised score after sampling other DDL rums
Review by Schorgelorsch
Immer noch sehr süß. Er besticht vor allem durch den ersten Geschmack im Mund. Dann flacht er zunehmend ab. Ist alles in allem aber ein wirklich guter Sipper zu dem Preis und ist wahrscheinlich für die allermeisten ein Einstieg und Begleiter in den Rum gewesen
Review by Mr Return
Ein ziemlich guter Rum mit guten Preis/Leistungsverhältnis. In der Nase Karamell, ein wenig Holz, etwas Vanille und Orange. Am Gaumen Karamell, brauner Zucker, Trockenfrüchte und ein wenig Holz. Im mittellangen Abgang Piment und dunkle Schokolade.
Review by Jan Králík
I was a little worried when I learned that this icon of sweet rums is now made with minimal sugar. However, my fears were unnecessary - the rum is beautifully smooth and the taste is just slightly sweet. There's a hint of spice, honey, oak and a pleasantly light citrus. I like it very much. The over 15 year old version, which is similar in flavour but more pronounced overall, especially after the citrus, and that doesn't sit so well with me anymore.
Review by Marc 48531
Wunderbar unkomplizierter Einsteigerrum mit angenehmer Süße und den typischen Rum-Aromen von Rosinen und Toffee. Für den Preis ein schöner Tropfen, den man auch unbedarften Gästen bedenkenlos servieren kann.
Review by Strassi 🇦🇹
ausgezeichneter rum mit einem richtig guten preis-leistungsverhältnis. der verminderte zuckerzusatz hat dem gesamteindruck in keinster weise geschadet.
Review by Motte
Rundes Geschmackserlebnis mit einer angenehmen, aber nicht übertriebenen Süße. Pflaume und Rosinen gepaart mit Karamell und Toffee werden abgerundet mit einer wunderbar holzigen Note, wie von frischen Sägespänen. Ausgezeichnetes Preis-Leistungsverhältnis - aktuell mein daily sipper, wenn mir nach einem leichten, süßen Rum ist.
No reviews match this filter.
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 →
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
Avg. community purchase price 32 €
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 12 (2020 Release)
A rum from Guyana, distilled by Demerara Distillers Ltd, at 40%.
Which of the wooden stills is behind this rum? The RumX guide →
Community purchases
191 bottles logged by 169 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
43% opened, 31 emptied and repurchased.
What does DDL El Dorado 12 (2020 Release) cost?
Community paid 27–40 €.
Current best price: 31.52 € – 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+ →
+34 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
191 purchased · 122 tasted · 96 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
You may also enjoy
Rum enthusiasts who like this rum have also given the following rums high ratings:
DDL El Dorado 12
DDL El Dorado 12Soft, sweet caramel-and-vanilla starter Demerara
Foursquare Doorly's 5 Years
Foursquare Doorly's 5 YearsClean, easy Barbados rum for mixing
DDL El Dorado 8
DDL El Dorado 8Sweet Demerara mixer, simple sipped neat
DDL El Dorado 15
DDL El Dorado 15Sweet, caramel-rich Demerara starter sipper
DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release)
DDL El Dorado 21 (2020 Release)Dry, woody Demerara sipper, less sweet now
Never miss a price drop.
Set a target price in the app, and we'll let you know as soon as the rum becomes available at that price from one of our partner stores. This works for any rum on your wish list.
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.
What began as my digital tasting diary is now the world's most comprehensive platform for rum fans, today carried by a small team with Jakob, Lukas and Katharina, with Robert supporting us as a freelancer. We combine the collective intelligence of our community with an integrated marketplace, so you can choose with confidence, without paperwork, detours, or expert jargon.
Oliver, Stuttgart
About RumX →YouTube channel (in German)
