Diplomatico Seleccion De Familia. At one time Diplomatico was perhaps second only to Ron Zacapa in terms of “Premium” rum. For many, rums such as Ron Zacapa, Diplomatico, El Dorado and Bacardi are still seen as the very pinnacle of rum production.

Lets be honest in certain Rum Circles, the likes of A.H Riise and Don Papa are heralded as King of the Rums. The “outing” of these rums in terms of additives has made people think twice about what they are paying for. Unfortunately the sad reality still remains. Pretty bottles, promotional gimmicks and sweetened, easy going rum still sell by the truckload.

Don’t worry I’m not going off on another tirade about sweetened rum. I’ve covered that issue more than enough.

In line with recent changes to EU Regulations rum producers now have to adhere to a limit on additives allowed in any product they wish to label as rum. Some producers have simply dropped the “rum” from their label such as the aforementioned A.H.Riise. Thus continuing to sell their ultra-modified “rum” concoctions.

I don’t know exactly what Diplomatico will be doing going forward. There will still be a lot of their product available within Europe, which was produced and imported long before the new regulations.

However Diplomatico Seleccion de Familia is a more recent addition to the portfolio. It was released late in 2020 and it complies with the new EU Regulations of 20g/L for a spirit to be labelled “Rum”.. Readings for this rum show around 18g/L of sugar/additives. So they are sneaking just under the limit. Which is what people always suspected they would do.

Which if fair enough. This is an addition to Diplomatico’s “core” range which consists of Planas, Manuato and Reserva Exclusiva. Price wise this offering sits at around £50 for 70cl bottle. So its the most Premium of the core range of rums.

Diplomatico Seleccion De Familia is bottled at 43% ABV and is said to be a blend of rums aged up to 12 years. I’m sure I’ve heard that one before. The rum is made up of Pot and Column distilled rums from the distilleries “Scottish” Pot Still, “French” Barbet Column Still and the “Canadian” Batch Kettle Still. What ratio of each is unknown to me. 90% of the rum is produced using the know mythical “Sugar Cane Honey” and 10% from the less mythical and rather more honest staple which is molasses.

The rum is also a blend of rums aged in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels/casks. Though I have seen it noted as being aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry seasoned casks rather than actual ex-sherry casks.

Presentation wise the rum used the traditional rounded stubby bottle favoured by the other expression in the core range. Presentation is very similar to Reserva Exclusiva just with a different colour scheme. Once again the renouned 19th century rum lover and explorer Don Juan Nieto Melendez or Don Juancho, is pictured on the label. A nice chunky cork stopper and a nice “cannister” complete the Premium look of this particular rum. It is easily available here in the UK and you can pick it up at Master of Malt for £49.95.

As is the way with these heavily branded products, I don’t really have any inside information or anything interesting to add. I have noted though that due to the success of Diplomatico in France, this rum is said to have been produced with the French heavily in mind. Which is interesting.

The rear label as pictured does seem to have some “information” of some sort but sadly, I’ve been unable to re-size the photo well enough to read it. Yes I am reviewing this from a sample, I don’t have the bottle. It’s not something I would buy nowadays.

Anyway I think we may as well move onto a little nosing and tasting to see what this rum has to offer. I may well be wrong about the rum and maybe I should have bought a bottle?

In the glass I am presented with dark bronze liquid which may (or may not) be coloured. In all honesty it doesn’t bother me that much if it is……or isn’t. Rum has many issues more serious for me than a bit of colour adjustment……

The nose is light and unassuming. There is a kind of strange perfumed sherry type aroma. I’ve only experienced this once previously with a sherry seasoned cask finish rum. It’s not quite the same as an ex-sherry cask. I wouldn’t say it is artificial but it’s certainly a lot lighter and more flowery with a kind of weird banana chew like note (?). I don’t know if this is what “Paxarette” smells like? A kind of boiled grape must used to season casks.

At 43% ABV it’s very easy going on the nose and it isn’t pulling up any trees to try and get my attention. It’s pleasant enough in a kind of “Plain Jane” sort of way. I’ll even that up and say its quite an “Average Joe” kind of nose. I don’t want the Cancel Culture posse getting on my back and calling me sexist.

It’s sweet – notes of a kind of sweet sherry aroma, Floral Gums (really not very nice “perfume” smelling gummy sweets), Cherry Lips (as before only with a hit of Cherry). There is an almost Bubblegum note on the nose as well.

Further nosing reveals a smattering of peanuts and some peanut brittle. A touch of light chocolate and maybe a little raisin. Hints of toffee and caramel.

It’s all very “nice” and I guess balanced in its own rather meek way.

In all honesty, it’s bloody boring.

Sipping Diplomatico Seleccion De Familia is pretty much the non-event that the nose suggested it would be.

The initial sip goes down really easily and there is minimal burn or any kind of “kick”. It has sweet, almost artificial kind of taste to it. It doesn’t really taste of anything in particular. I’d love to expand upon the notes on this rum but there is just not much really going on!

I won’t be as rude about as I have with other rums and suggest it is just sugar water. It does have a little more beyond that. But in all honesty – not a great lot.

Your treated very briefly to a little bit of a kick on the mid palate and a very short explosion of something approaching spice or oak ageing. There’s a little burst of something oaky and spicy. A little ginger and some signs of wood or something a little more challenging.

Sadly, these sensations and flavours are fleeting. The rum quickly returns to the sweet, slightly artificial sweetener like notes.

This rum hasn’t given me any cause for excitement. At the same time it is relatively inoffensive. It’s still a little too sweet for my tastes but it’s certainly better than the likes of Don Papa and A.H Riise.

That isn’t really praise though. This is bang average. Doesn’t even have enough about it to even annoy me.

Just very boring.