Diplomático is a prestigious rum distiller from Venezuela located at the foothills of the Andes mountains. This brand has garnered worldwide acclaim for the rich flavour profiles of its rum offerings.
From their decadent but crystal-clear Planas rum to its smooth Reserva Exclusiva or opulent Ambassador, the best Diplomático rums are full of hidden delicious depths.
Best Diplomatico Rums
Rich with fruits, spice, and delicious sugarcane flavours, here is my take on the 9 best Diplomatico rums every rum-lover needs to discover.
1. Diplomático Planas Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Clear
Review
In contrast to unaged white rums, Diplomático Planas is a blend of rums aged for six years in ex-bourbon barrels, then charcoal filtered six times to strip out the colour.
On The Nose
Tropical, with hints of coconut, vanilla, lemon, and spice.
On The Palate
Vanilla and coconut on the opening, with creamy tropical fruit and caramel, giving way to mild chilli heat. A lingering coconut cream finish with spicy apricot and oak woodiness.
Best Served
This complex white rum will overpower a mojito; conversely, it will not stand up to ginger beer. However, it is superb in Piña Coladas and Between the Sheets cocktails.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Diplomático Mantuano Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Dark Golden
Review
Mantuano is a mix of sugarcane honey rums distilled in kettle stills and molasses rums distilled in columns, yielding a good balance. Aged for at least eight years.
On The Nose
Dried fruit, caramel, and spiced-oak.
On The Palate
A silky mouthfeel displays roasted nuts, caramel coffee, and delicate spice, with light oak notes paired with subtle vanilla sweetness and a whisper of spice.
Best Served
I’d recommend Mantuano rum in long drinks such as rum mules or cocktails such as daiquiris, Mai Tais, and Negroni.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Amber
Review
The brand’s most popular offering, Reserva Exclusiva, is composed entirely of sugarcane honey rums aged in ex-whiskey barrels for up to twelve years!
On The Nose
Toffee meets ginger, cloves, sultanas, orange peel, and a touch of liquorice.
On The Palate
Complex, seductive toffee notes, ripe banana, plum, and orange backed by plenty of spicy oak. A long finish reveals sweet coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Best Served
I prefer this complex and rich rum neat. It can elevate classic, simple cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, El Presidente, and Sidecar.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Diplomático Seleccion De Familia
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Amber
Review
As its name suggests, Seleccion de Familia is a robust yet elegant blend using the best molasses rums in Diplomático’s reserves. The ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks lend potent notes of oak and fruit.
On The Nose
Light honey and tropical fruit lead to vanilla fudge and oak
On The Palate
Opens with luscious plums and figs, leading to caramelised bananas dusted in ginger and dipped in toffee. Vanilla oak emerges with a bittersweet plum finish.
Best Served
Serve this outstanding rum neat or on the rocks. Pair it with jerk chicken, tropical fruit salads, Cuban sandwiches, ceviche, or a cheeseboard.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Diplomático Ambassador
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Chestnut
Review
Ambassador is blended exclusively from pot still heavy rums that have aged at least 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels, plus another two years in Pedro Ximénez dessert sherry casks.
It is not colour-corrected, dosed, chill-filtered, or fined (diluted with water), ensuring a decadent depth of flavour originating entirely from the rum and the wood (in which) it has matured.
On The Nose
Stewed apricot and banana fruitiness enveloped in sherry and caramelised brown sugar is balanced by oak tannins.
On The Palate
Sun-kissed dessert sherry top notes enlivened by subtle pepper lead you to the smoky oak, cinnamon and caramel heart, with subtle dark chocolate, dates, and liquorice flavours.
The long finish shows a melange of spices shot through with honey, liquorice, demerara sugar, toasted oak, and subtle tobacco smokiness.
Best Served
Serve neat. I feel that adding anything to this superb rum, even a single block of ice, would be a travesty.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Diplomático Single Vintage
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Mahogany
Review
Diplomático Single Vintage is only initiated in years when the sugarcane crop is exceptionally good, and I find it shows.
Twelve years’ maturation in ex-bourbon and malt whisky barrels, plus a year’s finishing in casks used for Oloroso sherry, lend continuity to each vintage.
On The Nose
Floral and acidic notes mingle with ripe, jammy fruits, caramel, smoked oak, nutty hints, and dark coffee.
On The Palate
Sweet, velvety vanilla caramel, ripe fruits, coffee, chocolate, and roasted nuts with hints of sherry fruitiness mid-palate. An effortless finish with oak, caramel, and vanilla.
Best Served
Sip neat. Savour every nuance. Let it be only a square of high-quality dark chocolate if you must have anything with it!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Diplomático No. 1 Batch Kettle
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Dark Gold
Review
The Diplomático Distillery Collection is a limited edition sugarcane honey spirit distilled in a batch kettle still from Canada, previously used for whiskey.
It matures for six years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch barrels. Each bottle is dated and serialised by number within each batch.
On The Nose
Complex and intense cherry, strawberry, banana, vanilla, and wildflower aromas.
On The Palate
A robust rum opening is soothed by sweet vanilla, cream, and salted caramel before delicate oak, cherry, and strawberry emerge. A long and subtle vanilla finish.
Best Served
Sip this rum neat, savouring the fruity, floral flavours and how the high ABV complements them. It’s also good in a classic rum and coke or a Hurricane cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. Diplomático No. 2 Barbet Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Rich Gold
Review
Another limited-edition expression is this molasses-based rum distilled in a column still invented by Frenchman Emile Barbet. It‘s aged in American white oak ex-bourbon and whiskey barrels.
On The Nose
Tropical fruit, flowers, and vanilla underpinned by rich, honeyed notes and spicy toasted oak.
On The Palate
This elegantly structured, pleasantly dry rum opens with mango and green apple and deepens to nuanced charred oak, fresh citrus, and baking spice. The velvety finish shows lingering citrus.
Best Served
Appreciate this superb rum by sipping it neat. However, I would suggest No.2 Barbet Rum would make a tasty Rum Old Fashioned.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
9. Diplomático No. 3 Pot Still
Overview
- Distiller: Diplomático
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: Venezuela
- Colour: Dark Rust
Review
Also produced from sugarcane honey and aged in small-batch American white oak for around eight years, many praise Diplomático No.3 Pot Still as the best of the trio.
On The Nose
Jammy fruits with hints of toffee, banana vanilla, and dark chocolate.
On The Palate
A complex opening of dried fruits, toasted oak, and hints of caramel that deepen to bitter coffee and cocoa mid-palate. The medium finish is balanced with honeyed spices.
Best Served
Savour this rum neat to appreciate how its distinct, unusual character plays a key role in many Diplomático rum blends. Some bitter dark chocolate or fresh cherries make a great complement.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
David’s Top Pick
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
My top pick is Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva due to its rich flavours of ripe fruits, wood and spice that are versatile to be sipped neat, with coke, or in a rum cocktail.
History of Diplomático
The Diplomático distillery was established in the Andes foothills of Venezuela in 1959. The location provides access to high-quality sugarcane by-products from surrounding plantations and pure water from the rivers of Terepaima National Park.
Their facility boasts three stills: a batch kettle, a Barbet column, and a pot still. Accordingly, a considerable proportion of their output is heavy rums, an unusual distinctive for a Spanish-speaking nation.
Interestingly, all Diplomático rums conform to the strict rules of Venezuelan rum’s Denominación de Origen, including at least two years of ageing. The current master distiller is Nelson Hernandez, who replaces the renowned Tito Cordero.
Conclusion
With plenty of choice, the best Diplomático rums are aged for at least eight years, with a small percentage aged at least two years.
The ageing occurs in small casks previously used for bourbon or malt whisky, creating a complex rum ideal for mixing.
Also read: Best Doorly’s Rums Unveiled: 5 Parrot-Tastic Picks
Interestingly, the choice of raw material (molasses or sugarcane honey), distillation methods, and the stringent regulations concerning Venezuelan rums have made Diplomático rums unique.
I find that unlike other “Spanish rums,” which are nearly universally light, Diplomático favours heavy rums. But the sweetness of many of their rums is typical of the Spanish rum-style.
Also read: 7 Best El Dorado Rums: A Journey Through Time & Taste
Further Reading
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