Aroma visualization from community tastings
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
"Back to the roots" is how a lot of members talk about this one — it's the bottle that pulled them into rum before their palate moved on. Vanilla, caramel and raisin over a soft, syrupy body, and no mistaking the added sugar. Beginners and sweet-tooths still love it; experienced drinkers now find it too sweet, thin and one-note. Nice on ice or after dinner.
The community says- Easy entry point
- Soft caramel body
- But: Added sugar
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The look inside the bottle
How does Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva taste?
Aggregated from 3,957 community reviews.
Sweet, mild starter rum that many outgrow A true beginner's classic that splits the room over one thing: the sweetness. Newcomers find it easy and welcoming, seasoned drinkers call it one-dimensional and over-sugared.
rum newcomers and fans of sweet, mild pours
experienced drinkers avoiding added sugar
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
275 of 3,957 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
Diplomatico Seleccion de Familia
7.6/1044 €
More intense
Pampero Aniversario
6.9/1023 €
Similar rating, cheaper
Diplomático Mantuano
7.0/1022 €First choice: 81 of 138 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.0 sits in the “Good” band. 32% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 23% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
54% rate it between 6 and 8. 46 selected write-ups from 3,957 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
The community's most-rated rum
Review by RUMpelstilzchen
A great rum for beginners. Smells really delicious, tastes quite sweet, but also brings enough flavor variety, so for my taste just right, (I think for professionals too sweet). Makes you want more.
Review by SzczepanXO
Most helpful positive review
great sweet rum. to be drunk solo or in cocktails. Use translate 👀
Review by Stefan Persson
Most helpful critical review
It’s much too sweet for me, sugarbomb. It’s more of a liquor than rum.
Review by Oliver
With this rum, many have discovered their love for rum. By the sweetness and complaisance the ideal entry. Meanwhile, however, it is clearly too sweet and one-dimensional for me. Nevertheless, a recommendation for all who want to collect their first steps in the pure enjoyment of spirits.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is a very nice reserva from Diplomatico. Well balanced in the spices and fruit. Let it rest in the glass first and then rest in your mouth as well. Smooth and very good with a cigar. This one is definitely asking for seconds.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
solider Durchschnitt im süßen Bereich und für Einsteiger ideal. Intensive leicht künstliche Aromen nach orange und Bananen Gummis. Leicht rauchig irgendwie auch. Find ich im Vergleich zum plantation xo eher etwas anstrengender.
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
Very sweet, but well balanced in flavors. A good rum to start with. Unfortunately, the rating is penalized by the choice to sweeten it with sugar... and I think I was too generous with the score.
Review by RumBarfly
One of my favourite rums, exceptional flavour and finish, especially for its price point. Brilliant sipping rum.
Review by BTHHo 🥃
In mouth this rum is very velvety with a small hint of spice at the end. The taste is full of vanilla, cacao and orange. The finish is long, mild and sweet with a little bit of spice. A sipper that also goes well as a blender.
Review by Adrian Wahl
I was allowed to try it at a friend's house. So I expected it to be much worse. Tastes yet quite still after rum.
Review by Tim
Once again made a detour to the beginners and it is very sweet.... It dominates and covers a lot. I am curious how this rum will change with the new EU laws on added sugar. According to the manufacturer, there should be a new recipe.
Review by Surbiton Man
A loverly soft velvety sweet nose with the slightest hint of banana. Mellow brown to burnt sugar complete the nose. A wonderful smooth sweet and silky mouth feel with a long finish that remains full of flavour throughout. Punches well above its price. This is a nice mellow sipping rum.
Review by Eugene227
Ein süßer unspektakulärer Einsteigerrum. Da Nase und Geschmack recht flach sind, eignet er sich eher zum Mixen von Drinks als zum Purgenießen. Das Aroma von reifen Bananen entfaltet sich, wenn er etwas ihm Glas atmen durfte. Holzeinflüsse sind kaum spürbar vorhanden. Der Preis geht allerdings vollkommen in Ordnung. Wer ihn noch nicht verkostet hat, hat auch nichts verpasst.
Review by Korkennase🥃
Mir war der Rum zu süß. Ist aber für Einsteiger gut geeignet. Für mich kein must have... Habe den Botucal gestern erneut verkostet, da jetzt weniger Zucker zugefügt wird. Ich habe meine Bewertung etwas angepasst, da sich das Geschmacksprofil leicht verändert hat. Ich würde einen Louis Santo 8Y single Cask 🥃empfehlen. Der Botucal eignet sich auch für einen Grog: 4 CL Rum, 1-2 Teelöffel Rohrzucker und optional eine 1/2 Limette/Zitrone in ein Glas und mit 80 Grad heißen Wasser auffüllen... fertig. 😋
Review by Vincent D
Tasted as an aperitif to please and remind me of my first rum discoveries. It's too sweet and aromatic. It's not much of a rum, more like a Bailey's or similar liqueur. I understand why it's appealing, but unfortunately it doesn't capture what rum is all about.
Review by abaker-rum
Like most, this was an entry rum for me that got me down the path of exploring rum. It is very approachable due to its sweetness, and before tasting more rums and changing my palate preferences, I probably would have rated this very good. I drop to to just a solid rum now, because it still has its place. Put it in a glass with ice and you pretty much have a ready to drink rum old fashioned, which is quite tasty.
Review by J Solis
Best I've tasted, sweet ? Yes but sensational. Offers a seductive, long-lasting finish. Drink neat, unbound. Origin: Venezuela Raw material: Molasses Age: 2 to 12 years Price: $35 Alcoholic density: 40% pure life
Review by HenryL
Still a lot sweeter than the Zacapa 23, yet I can understand the popularity. It is a pleasant sweet dessert rum which can be drunk well especially in the cold season on the sofa.kaufen I would not buy it again and I find the lack of transparency with regard to the addition of sugar a pity, but he has earned his popular in my opinion anyway.
Review by RumTaTa
If you're used to enjoying rum at cask strength, this one just seems lackadaisical and thin. The nose is still quite interesting with banana and fruit gum, but has an artificial impact. On the palate, it's over: too sweet, too mild, too one-dimensional.
Review by heckto🥃
I treat myself to this classic every now and then, especially since it's relatively inexpensive. I like it because of its chocolate and caramel notes. One of the better sweet entry-level rums. I've reevaluated it and revised my rating slightly downward, as I've since found some better sweet rums. Nevertheless, it's still a good choice.
Review by Werner10
So much better than Mantuano imo, ok it's a lot sweeter but also has a lot more flavors and richness. I love the caramelised burnt sugar taste. This one isn't for those that hate added sugars.
Review by Gregor
Nice smell also quite pleasant in taste. But unfortunately much too sweet. Recommended for beginners. Since also by this rum only came to drink rum. At that time it was very tasty for me. However, my taste is then but rather changed to the dry variants
Review by Frank
Back to the roots! We didn't have anything in the past. If you searched the web 10 years ago for the 10 best rums, you got a list that I would give a wide berth today. First and foremost the Botucal, at that time still Diplomatico. It was one of my first rums. And I liked it at the time. Nice and sweet. So that's how rum must be. Today it's clear: no way! Please no sugar or other additives. And please with significantly more %%. But good. Let's see how the rest from the bottle tastes to me now.Nose: spicy, slightly woody, lots of caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate and some nutmeg. Gets sweeter with time, candied, still removes some orange. Goes even.Palate: oha, 41% sugar is heavy. Way too sweet. Behind it vanilla, dissolved sugar pearls, caramel. Artificial, nothing else. 10🫣
Review by Rumpalumpa
So yes this is very sweet. but it has some nice rum notes to it, too, like fruit and wood. the aftertaste almost seems similar to some kind of liqueur. I've heard that the sugar content has been reduced now, so I'm curious to try a new bottling.
Review by Patrik Onderka
The only rum available on Greek islands except Bacardis. I’d never imagine how I’d be glad for it. This venezuelan classics is available in most of the bars in Czechia, but in greek, well thats a different story.
Review by Dunzi
Was soll man zu so einem Klassiker noch viel schreiben. Wohl einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Rums. Mir schmeckt er sehr gut und für mich passt das Preis/Leistung Verhältnis sehr gut. Der Rum hat aus meiner Sicht ein sehr ausgewogenes Aroma und gehört zu meinen persönlichen Favoriten.
Review by Chrischi78
Wat soll man denn dazu schreiben. Liest sich eh ja keiner durch und so könnte man vermutlich den code für die atombombe in dieser Rezension verstecken. Wer diesen rum trinkt darf sich auf jeden fall auf alll das freuen, was der herrgott, oder wer auch immer, an reichhaltigem rum-portfolio parat hält und der plörre im marmorkuchen zur existenzberechtigung verhelfen. Tschuldigung hab jetzt sodbrennen
Review by Rene Pfeiffer
Sehr süß. Man merkt die enorme Nachzuckerung.
Review by LukaŽiga
8:On the nose, first of all, there is a lot of sweetness. The caramel and vanilla complete each other with added tropical fruits, toasted wood and roasted coconut, dried red fruits. A light aroma of cinnamon is also noticed.Airing adds coffee, grapes at first, tiramisu with cookies after and at last a note of a Violet.👌 8:On the palate, it's really smooth. Here too the aromas of caramel and vanilla dominate, then a there is a little peppery note that completes the profile, certainly tropical fruits, dried fruits and roasted/woody taste, a bit after a while bitterness at midpalate ruins great roundedness from the beginning. Otherwise still 👍. 7,5:The finish is quite long and is divided between aromas of caramel, honey and vanilla, a wisp of drieness is felt, quickly overridden with toasted sweetness. Great sipper, smooth, gentle and of course, sweet. Nice price /performance. Great for an entry level. Probably the greatest rum for all kind of drinkers....No comment needed any longer... 👌
Review by Insta: spiritofbernard 🇫🇷
A classics to learn about the world of ron.
Review by Decky Hicks Doughty
The nose has lots of sweet notes but alot of alcohol too. The palate is sweet. Very sweet. For me way too much. It is rather creamy and easy to drink though. The finish has a less sweet notes (It's still there though, no getting away from that sugar). Lots of woody and cocoa notes. It's not very long though. I don't think I'd restock but it is something to try if you're into your sweet rums.
Review by Jakob Deiner
Sehr mild, rund, angenehm. Fruchtig aber auch etwas holzig und schokoladig, cremig. Süße genau richtig für meinen Geschmack. Vanille und rote Früchte. Drinks: - Pur: 4/5 - Rum Fashioned: 4.5/5 - Rum Cola: 4/5 - Rum Mule: 4/5 - Rum Punch: 4/5
Review by Nicofr
Qui n'a pas débuté dans le monde du rhum par le Diplomatico ? C'est le rhum des débutants par excellence, un passage obligé pour tous. Doux, vanillée et caramélisé à souhait. C'est un excellent point de départ mais qui devient vite beaucoup trop sucré par la suite
Review by kudzey
It's just sugar with water. Years ago it was my favorite rum, rating it low shows how much I learned and changed.
Review by Rumbaer
Ich fand ihn vom Geruch her stark alkohollastig, im Geschmack der alkohol dominant mit etwas Rosine und Gewürzen. Vom Abgang als auch im Geruch, der im Glas verbleibt erinnert er mich etwas an Whiskey.
Review by epicsune 🇸🇪
Alot of sweet banana, vanilla and tropical fruits om the nose. Taste is nice and sweet with tropical fruits, a hint of spices and a smooth finish. A nice sipper!
Review by Filip Šikula
Another rum from the "rum world opening" group. I drank it years ago and today I poured it just for the "rumx comma". It's sweet as fuck, no alcohol integration to speak of, but compared to don papa it's an "amateur rum boss"
Review by Blaidor
Smell 7/10 Taste 6,5/10 Aftertaste 7/10 Image 6,5/10 (info about rum, bottle, carton-box, sugar free, marketing....) Total impression 6,5/10 ------------------ BTL Added sugar 👎👎👎
Review by Godspeed
Dosed rums that pass themselves off as “premium” by basically manipulating the sugar content are annoyingly ubiquitous these days. Diplomatico RE is perhaps the most shining example of this, they really have the whole world fooled with this one. People mistake sweetness for judicious aging and they assume the price to equal quality. To use some drug terminology, what you actually have here is a stomped on mediocre column still rum which dissipates incredibly fast from the palate. It’s fine to have rums in many different variations. What I dislike about Diplomatico is that it manipulates its products to feed into the stereotype of rums being overly sweet not-quite-real spirits. This bottle cynically manipulates that erroneous perception to cash in from people who don’t know any better.
Review by Rafael Gonzalez
This rum and angostura 1919 were the first bottles i compleatly finished by myself.they were intros and for that they will always have a soft spot in my liver
Review by Marcel.
Dark Fruit, cinnamon, pepper, sugar, some bitter citrus. Without all the sugar and water this would be a decent rum.
Review by Business Liner Ralf
Mainstream, aber zu Kennenlernen guter Einsteigerrum🤠
Review by TheRhumhoe
Un classique parmi les classiques quand on débute dans le rhum. On sent direct que c’est très sucré, marqué par le caramel, ces notes mielleuses et sirupeuses qui font qu’on ressent presque la texture au nez. Le fruité est assez lourd sur le raisin sec, la banane et l’orange, avec ce côté chimique et trafiqué. A noter tout de même des arômes ronds et gourmands de bois toasté, de chocolat, de café, de vanille et quelques épices douces en tout genre qui élèvent un peu le profil olfactif. C’est en bouche que j’ai compris à quel point j’avais changé et évolué avec les années dans le monde du rhum. Ce qu’on décrivait au début comme un « bon rhum » ou une « base » est en réalité tellement synthétique, sucré et insipide que je n’ai pas pu finir le verre. Le mélange de vanilline, d’orange et de banane fait penser à un mauvais médicament périmé. Ce ne sont pas les quelques saveurs chocolatées, caramélisées, rôties et caféinées qui vont remédier à cela. On sent limite un peu l’alcool qui ressort comme pour donner du caractère, mais l’association ne fait qu’empirer les choses. C’est juste pas bon en fait, de A à Z et sur tous les points. La finale est du même calibre, courte, peu expressive, peu complexe et ne varie pas beaucoup dans les arômes : orange et banane chimiques, sucrosité au maximum, quelques notes de chocolat et de bois et le tour est joué. Un produit artificiel dont il n’y a rien à tirer. Si on peut comprendre l’engouement initial, il faut vite passer à autre chose pour découvrir le rhum avec un grand R.
Review by Luuzi
Für mich der perfekte Einsteiger-Rum.
Review by Marijke Rum & Spelletjes
Heerlijke rum, koop deze rum met plezier vaker. Gezellig met spelletjesavond en eventueel gemixt met cola.
Review by Maxi
Vor einiger Zeit hatte ich mir schonmal eine Flasche vom Botucal gekauft. Da dies aber zu lange zurückliegt habe ich heute nochmal ein Sample verkostet. Die Nase ist fruchtig nach Rosinen. Nach ca. 5 Min stehen kommen weitere Aromen wie Vanille , Zimt und Karamell durch. Geschmacklich kommt zunächst die an Karamell erinnernde Süße zum Vorschein. Daneben sind auch Vanille und Gewürznelken zu erkennen. Trotzdem wirkt der Rum sehr dünn und verwässert. Keine sonderliche Tiefe ist vorhanden. Der Abgang ist kurz und mild. Das Augenmerk dieses Rums liegt für mich klar darin mit dem geschmeidigen und sanften Mundgefühl Einsteiger zu erreichen. Für meinen Geschmack zu dünn und wenig aromatisch.
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Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 6.6/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by RumRecenze.cz
Read full review →
Expert review by Rhummer
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Expert review by RumRock
Read full review →Nutno říct, že tento rum získal už nespočet ocenění, stejně jako značka samotná či její Maestro Ronero pan Tito Cordero. Rozhodně to není omylem a moc dobře vědí, co dělají. Jediné "mínus" bych viděl, že je u nás tento rum až příliš zpropagovaný.
Expert review by Zucker und Zeste
Der Rum ist natürlich viel zu stark gesüßt und wahrscheinlich auch aromatisiert, ein guter Türöffner in die Rumwelt ist er aufgrund seines gefälligen Aromas trotzdem.
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 18 € – 34 €
from 68 sales, latest 09/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
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 Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
A Pot & Column Still Rum from Venezuela, distilled by Destilerías Unidas S. A., at 40%.
Diplomático Deconstructed
What’s behind the most popular rum on RumX? Data from 1,400+ reviews, three distillation methods, and community voices.
Read more →
Old Fashioned with Rum
Recipe, history, and four builds from a bar professional: why the ur-cocktail gets bigger with rum, with a video to mix along.
Read more →Community purchases
5,177 bottles logged by 4,360 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
38% opened, 844 emptied and repurchased.
What does Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva cost?
Community paid 27–45 €.
Current best price: 28.08 € – 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+ →
+111 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
5,177 purchased · 4,225 tasted · 1,200 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
The Gold Standard of Modern Rum.
Winner of the 2025 RumX Community Award. Explore the heritage, the craftsmanship, and the soul of this beloved rum from Venezuela.
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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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