Papa's Pilar Blonde & Dark Rums Reviewed

[@degmar]

This review has been eating away at me, so I went and bought both bottles. Wow. Not sure how to describe how much flavor is in these two bottles. My wife described the dark as drinking pecan pie. Good rum and good review.

[@detroyt232323]

Now you gotta get to Key West for the REAL experience 😎🏝🐠🦩

[@holiday1277]

I've sampled every rum I can get my hands on from every region and for me, I can say that this is my favorite rum of all time. The dark especially. Love the peppery finish, reminds me of Key West every single time, and I order it online all the time just to get it up here in Cleveland Ohio.

[@UFMarco]

Excellent review! Blown away with how knowledgeable you are as a reviewer. Thank you. Picking up a gift for a friend who is getting married and I actually can’t decide what to get. Will buy both. Easy decision.

[@robertobonano7828]

You are right! There's a video two years old of a couple touring the distillery in Key West, Florida. Both the Dark and the Blonde are amazing, but now their came out with the Sherry one a couple months ago. It spent more time on the Sherry Cask barrels than the Dark one planning to buy that one too. Hopefully they come out with a Cream one like Bumbu did a couple months ago. Bailey better get ready for some competition for Xmas.

[@mr.rothstein461]

My go to rum when I find it! SOOOOO good. drink it straight easily!

[@williamneill5441]

I am brand spanking new to rum (switching over from beer). Picked up a bottle of each Pilar tonight. Sipping the dark now as I watch your review. Great review and I’m enjoying the Dark. Thanks!

[@gerberbernstein7360]

Just purchased the blonde one, can't wait to try it.

[@butzbach1]

Good job. I have both. My go to rum.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

I love the rum, but HATE the way the bottle pours. It looks wonderful, but I had to move it to another bottle. That aside, it tastes great, and is well worth the price.

[@gefingeerdbetweenthedots6092]

the only blond rum in my stock love the brand hope my online store gets stocked with the new 1 only see us stores so far

[@johnquillan4626]

Dude!! At first I thought i was looking at a top end liquor store.. Til i noticed the bittles had been opened.. Damn dude!! You have my dream of liqour heaven!!.. Wow.. Not sure who you are yet because this all happened at 4:16 when it dawned in me!! I look forward to your opinion on spirits.. I just found Bumbu. ( not the dark) and completely fell over when i tasted it for the first tine.. Though its a bit sweet for me.. Im more of a light & dry Bacardi drinker for the past 40+ years.. But recently decided it was time to venture out as the clock is tick-tocking.. Would be curious as to your recommendation..

[@LiquorHound]

Thank you! It sounds like you should be a fan of Barbados rums (they don’t add sugar). Mount Gay and Foursquare would be solid starting points. Cheers!

[@honkytonkinson9787]

Just got the blonde last night, except that my bottle has a 7 and not a 3; recipe 7 is not an age statement. It’s also 86 proof. Tastes like lemon frosting with fresh sugar. An interesting sip and probably great in cocktails. I tried their overproof bottling of their dark rum; can’t remember exactly what it was called. It was very intense liquid brown sugar with a complex finish. Too much brown sugar for me, but blended with a nice lighter rum becomes a lot of fun! I wouldn’t recommend these as sippers unless you’re really into drinking sugar but they aren’t bad and make good cocktails, and make great additions to a diy rum blend!

[@LiquorHound]

Thank you for the great information and notes! Cheers!

[@ReadySetRum]

I wish I got the old bottle with that chain. The new ones don’t have it.

[@LiquorHound]

That's sad to hear they did away with that. I agree it was a nice touch. Cheers!

[@mouthpeace01]

I just opened my bottle with the chain and “Never a Spectator” written on the bottle. What a great tasting Rumbur!

[@mushmouth2029]

tried the dark a while back. i thought it tasted like maple syrup haha. was really good though. scary smooth and pretty sweet.

[@degmar]

I'm looking for a rum for those times when I'm not in the mood for scotch or bourbon. Something to drink neat, that has some complexity. What would be your top choices that are readily available down here in TX?

[@LiquorHound]

+degmar - Well if you don't like sweet spirits (as most Bourbon's and Scotch whiskies aren't), I'd probably suggest something like Mount Gay Extra Old ($40) or their "1703" rum (if you don't mind the $120 price). Another option would be the Angostura 1824 which has been good for a long time (although I haven't sampled a recent bottling - since the reintroduction and bottle design change). Cheers!

[@mattbaxter1413]

great vid as always!!!

[@tompeebles6273]

You might just be the guy to ask. When they make rum, do they blend in the dunder or backset from the still into the spirit for flavors then age in oak?

[@LiquorHound]

I’ll try to help. Only some rum distilleries from certain islands use dunder. They’re most notably known for coming from Jamaica. Dunder is different from typical fresh “backset” that’s more often used in that it’s allowed to open ferment in dunder pits. When it has soured (spoiled) enough, it’s then added to the fermenting molasses wash to create a rum with deeper/funkier flavors than your standard rums. Of course once it comes off the still as white rum, it can then go into oak barrels for maturation. Cheers!

[@burywes]

I have always been a whiskey guy until I tried this rum. Discovered it on the distillery tour in Key West. Really love these rums! As a person new to whiskey do you have any recommendations for something similar to Pilar at a cheaper price point?

[@LiquorHound]

The one that jumped to mind was the Dos Maderas 5+5 but it's only a couple dollars cheaper. Cheers!

[@ReadySetRum]

I agree with the Dos Maderas 5+5z The Appleton Rare Blend has a similar bitter note. But it is closer to the Dos Maderas.

[@robingalo2388]

Zacapa good stuff

[@troyflores5459]

have you tried pinkerton's Platinum rum. from Lubbock Texas

[@LiquorHound]

+Troy Flores - Sorry, I haven't seen it in my area yet. Cheers!

[@AngryBassist66623]

Bought a bottle of the dark rum earlier in the year. Very flavorful yet somehow lacking. I guess i was expecting too much when I made a novice mistake of thinking the 24 on the bottle was its true age statement (as in single malt scotch). Appreciate the review nonetheless!

[@gefingeerdbetweenthedots6092]

scotch has worse taste

[@LOUDsigh]

Guess im late but imma give it a try

[@peterwhite507]

Excellent review as always. How does the Dark compare to say Dos Maderas PX 5+5 since they both have the Spanish Cask influence? I ask because the 5+5 is like a Liqueur Rum and I have not been able to warm up to it at all as a Rum sipper.

[@LiquorHound]

+peter white - Thanks! Well it's still a sweet style rum, but it's not as sweet as the 5+5. Cheers!

[@oldedominion8782]

You have to know how to pour a GI canteen to pour this rum, lol, Papa Hemingway had plenty of practice with it