2015 RumXP Best in Class and Gold Medal Winners

 

2015 Judging Room

     The 2015 RumXP International Panel of Judges include Dirk Becker of Germany, Javier Herrera of Spain, Leonardo Pinto of Italy, Bernhard Schäfer of Germany, Forrest Cokely of California, Tatu Kaarlas of Australia, "Bahama Bob" Leonard of Key West, Paul Senft of Georgia, Juan del Busto of Miami, John Gibbons of Sweden, Rene van Hoven of Holland and Ingvar Thomsen of Denmark all spent six session totaling many hours in the judging rooms to give you these very fair and unbiased results for the RumXP Competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the final results for each of the Catagories

 

White Rum
Best in Class Gold: Skotlander White
Gold Awards went to: Blue Chair Bay White, Carta Vieja Silver, Brugal White Extra Dry

Premium White Rum
Best in Class Gold: Fwaygo White
Gold Awards went to: Plantation 3 Star, Nine Leaves Clear, Skotlander Rum III

Gold Rum
Best in Class Gold: Bacardi Gold
Gold Awards went to: Brugal Anejo, Ron Carta Vieja Gold, Don Barrilito 2 star

Aged Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Original Dark
Gold Awards went to: Ron del Barrilito 3 star, Pusser's British Navy, Bundaberg Small Batch 4

Premium Aged Rum
Best in Class Gold: Cartavio XO
Gold Awards went to: Plantation 20th Anniversary, Mezan XO, Brugal 1888

Aged Rum 5-8 Years
Best in Class Gold: Cartavio 5
Gold Awards went to: Plantation Barbados 5, Bacardi 8, Real McCoy 5

Aged Rum 12-15 years
Best in Class Gold: Pusser's 15
Gold Awards went to: Yolo 10, Don Q Gran Anejo, Real McCoy 12

Aged Rum 18-25 years
Best in Class Gold: Opthimus 25
Gold Awards went to: Opthimus 21, Opthimus 18, Carta Vieja 18

Aged Rum - Special Cask
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Jamaica 2001
Gold Awards went to: Plantation Guyana 2005, Opthimus Malt Tomatin Whiskey Barrels 25 yr, Opthimus Oporto Barrels 25

Spiced Rum
Best in Class Gold: Siesta Key Spiced Limited Edition
Gold Awards went to: Siesta Key Distillers Reserve, Siesta Key Spiced, Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced, Bayou Spiced, Blue Water Caribbean Gold Premium Spiced

Flavored Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Pineapple
Gold Awards went to: Bayou Satsuma, Blue Chair Bay Banana, Caray Cafe

Overproof Rum
Best in Class Gold: Plantation Overproof Original Dark
Gold Awards went to: Don Q 151, Lost Spirits Colonial American Inspired Rum, Wicked Dolphin Strawberry RumShine 100 Proof, Stroh 80

Rhum Agricole Blanc
Best in Class Gold: Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 55%
Gold Awards went to: -- Trois Rivieres Cuvee Speciale 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Blanc Agricole 50%

Rhum Agricole View
Best in Class Gold: Trois Rivieres Rhum Vieux VSOP
Gold Awards went to: Trois Rivieres Rhum Ambre 40%, La Mauny Rhum Vieux X.O. 40%, Trois Rivieres Rhum Vieux Martinique 12yr

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Consumer Rum Jury

For 2015, a new edition of the competition was introduced: The Consumer Rum Jury was comprised of 20 enthusiastic rum collectors and experienced consumers, offering the perspective of the active and engaged rum buyer in their evaluations.

Best in Class Gold

Ron Cartavio XO

Gold Awards went to: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Opthimus Ron Artesanal Solera 25 Anos, Siesta Key Distillers Reserve Solera Spiced Rum

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You can learn more about the RumXP's online at www.rumxp.com.

Plantaton Breakfast and the Trade Show Today

Plantation Poolside Breakfast

Guillaime Lamy

   What a great morning as usual with Guillaume Lamy and Plantation Rums.  Guillaime always seems to come up with so many new expressions that are coming from the mind of Alexander Gabriel and the magic of the barrels they have to work with.   Today we were taken through the process that gave us the new pineapple rum.  I really can't call this a flavored rum, because some of the ingredients are a distillation of the skins of the pineapple that were macerated, fermented and distilled to provide a 40% alcohol essence of pineapple.  The flesh is then placed in the 75% alcohol to infuse the flavor of the pineapple into the base.  The essence is then added and the entire mix is cut and laid into the cognac barrels before bottling.  The flavor of the rum is not covered over by the flavor of the pineapple, but instead the two are complementing each other.


     During the down time between the breakfast and the show, I was able to wander through the 
convention center and watch the rum people setting up their booths.  I find this to be fun and it is a good chance to have a conversation with the rum producers and learn what they have been up to during the past year.



Don Pancho and Family

Serralles Booth

     Show time is upon us and fun of the show gets underway.   Tasting of all of the rums and 
especially the new expressions to the show as well as some of the old favorites.   I love to get to know so many new producers and expressions on this day when there are only people that work in the trade here at the show.

And the Winners Are...

Winners Celebrate

When the show shuts down for the night at six pm, the attention turns to the center stage where the announcement of the winners of the RumXP Competition is announced.  Each category will be awarded the medals and the producers will pick up their awards.  The Award presentations wet off well with a large number of really happy rum producers.