The Venezuelan rum has 89 points from VinePair and Tastings.com, a gold medal at a 2026 competition and a sweetness that divides opinion
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is made by Destilerías Unidas (DUSA) in Venezuela and reached the market in 2004, according to Difford's Guide. The blend is about 80% pot-still rum and 20% light column rum, aged up to 12 years, and is bottled at 40% ABV. The British guide also records the detail that most divides critics: master blender Tito Cordero adds a little cane sugar to some of the rums before blending, which gives the rum a slight sweetness.
At VinePair, Tim McKirdy gave the rum 89 points in the list of the 30 best rums of 2025, in the section for bottles under US$50, with an average price of US$40. He described a nose of stone fruit cooked with Demerara sugar and vanilla, with a touch of licorice, and a more savory palate with more oak. For McKirdy, two or three more proof points would give the rum more definition, but it is hard to argue with how much it pleases a crowd.
The Beverage Testing Institute, which publishes on Tastings.com, also gave it 89 points and a silver medal, with a "Highly Recommended" rating, in a 2014 review that the site itself now marks as archived.
In 2026, Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva won a gold medal, with 91 points, at the Bartender Spirits Awards. The competition's sheet mentions candied honey, caramel and black tea on the nose; bruléed banana, toasted almonds and ginger on the palate; and a long finish with hints of vanilla.
American writer Matt Robold, of the Rum Dood site, gave the rum 4 out of 5 bottles in a 2010 review. He described caramel, molasses, dried fruit and spice on the nose, toasted sugar on the palate and a long, sweet finish he did not find cloying, and recommended the rum both neat and in cocktails. In the comments on the same page, a reader disagreed and called it too sweet.
The Difford's Guide tasting note, recorded in 2010, cites sandalwood, leather and chocolate with coffee on the nose; on the palate, coffee, milk chocolate, licorice, orange peel, brown sugar and maple syrup, with a lightly spiced finish.
Sources: VinePair (September 4, 2025), Tastings.com (July 3, 2014), Bartender Spirits Awards (2026), Rum Dood (January 7, 2010), Difford's Guide (October 14, 2026).
