Wow, a rum from India! To be honest, it's not incredibly surprising that India produces a lot of rum, but it never really crossed my mind until I saw Old Monk at the liquor store. What caught my eye was the big 20 on the box and how it was only $20. Kind of sus for that price, I figured some solera shenanigans might be going on, but I have never had an Indian rum before, so I was excited to give it a try! > Note: This rum itself is a blend of the original Old Monk 7Yr XXX rum, and a 20-year-old rum. Review Smell This rum smells like no other rum I've smelled before. Vanilla, oak, butterscotch, caramel, brown butter... it literally smells like a buttered rum or a butterbeer! Taste Holy vanilla! Very vanilla forward. It's also spicy, not like in a hot way, but it's definitely borderline a spiced rum. Quite sweet but not terribly so, with butterscotch, anise, cardamom, and notes of dark chocolate, cumin, and orange peel. It's quite smooth, has some decent body, and is only a little bit bitter, with a bit of burnt rubber on the back end. But, it's not like an artificial industrial rubber, but more like a bitter burnt spice. But, again, the overall dominant flavor is vanilla and butterscotch. It makes probably the best spiced rum & coke I've ever had. I'm sorry if this rum is supposed to be too fine and delicate for mixing, but I really think that a rum and coke is the best way to consume this. Verdict {rating}/10 I wish I had Old Monk 7Yr XXX to compare it to, but it was only $3 cheaper, and I didn't want to buy both, lest I don't like one and regret buying a second. Overall, this is definitely not a fine rum, and the 20 on the box is definitely misleading, but if you ignore the fancy box it's in, if you ignore the claims of it being "premium", and judge not as a high quality dark rum, but from the perspective of it being a spiced rum, then it's a darn good spiced rum. Seriously! Admiral Nelson, Captain Morgan, and Sailor Jerry have roamed the seas for so long on their quest for spices, and didn't think to add anything other than cinnamon and cloves this whole time‽ This mix of Indian spices is actually really good, and actually more complex than the rum itself! 6/10 would rum and coke again.

(formerly J. Wray Jamaica Silver Rum and Appleton White Jamaica Rum) I got this bottle of Kingston 62 at duty free for cheap. I don't think I have ever seen this elsewhere in the US, though I have seen Appleton white and J. Wray Silver, so my guess is that it's just a slow rollout. I got this 1.14L bottle for a mere $17 tax-free, but my local liquor store has J. Wray Silver in stock at 750mL for $18 + tax, so that's probably closer to the actual price you'll encounter. So, obviously when it comes to a lightly aged white column still rum, I'm comparing it to Bacardi, as it seems to be a direct competitor. Review Smell Not very strong on the nose, but I get sweetness, coconut, vanilla, and some alcohol harshness. In comparison, Bacardi smells the same way, but much stronger, including the harshness of the alcohol. Taste Drinking it neat, the primary sensation is the harshness of the alcohol, followed by coconut and vanilla. It is slightly smoother than Bacardi, which is rather rough to drink neat, but honestly, the flavors are pretty much the same. In a daiquiri, there is a slight difference in taste, where the Kingston 62 is a bit less strong on flavor, but also being slightly less harsh as well. This difference is pretty tiny, though. If I ordered a Bacardi daiquiri and you gave me one with Kingston 62, unless I was literally trying them side by side like I am now, I'd never pick out the difference. Verdict {rating}/10 I gave it the same score as Bacardi, because if I wasn't literally trying them in a side-by-side comparison, I couldn't tell the difference. Kingston 62 is slightly less flavorful, but also slightly less harsh, but it's really not a huge difference. Also, in terms of price, they don't seem to be much different. I got it for $17 at duty free, and right next to it was the same 1.14L of Bacardi for $16. The same liquor store that has 750mL bottles of J. Wray Silver for $18 has Bacardi right next to it for $17. So you're basically paying $1 more for a very similar rum.

Mamajuana is a Dominican blend of rum, wine, herbs, honey, and other fun stuff. It's sort of a ready to drink cocktail. While not really a rum, it was in the rum section of the liquor store when I was in Little Dominican Republic, so I figured it was worth a try. Also, Kalembú calls itself a "rum with natural flavors", and Hispaniola calls itself a "specialty rum", so to be fair, if it calls itself a rum, I will review it like a rum. > Note: Yes, one of the additives is "breast extract". That's exactly what it says on the website.(https://ronhispaniola.com/en/mamajuana/) More like mommy-juana, am I right? Review Smell It actually smells like a urinal cake, but, like, in a good way, you know? Like the janitor just popped a fresh one in and you're the first to pee on it. Notes of lavendar, perfume, and laundry detergent. Taste Very sweet as well, but much more floral. A bit of lavendar, a bit of licorice/anise, maybe a bit of rose water. It burns less than Kalembú, but it still burns a lot more than I'd expect from something that's only 30%. And, of course, what spiced rum/spirit drink tasting is complete without a rum and cola? I did 1:1 for the mamajuanas and 2:1 for kraken to compensate for the higher ABV. On its own, it was a vibe. I liked it about equal, maybe slightly less than Kalembú. But in a cola, it just doesn't work. And kraken just tastes like... kraken. Even when all 3 were watered down to around 15% ABV with cola, kraken still has the most noticable burn of alcohol, and there's nothing to the flavor other than vanilla and a hint of spices. It's not nearly as complex and interesting as the two mamajuanas. Verdict {rating}/10 When it comes to spiced rum, these are not half bad. Of course, I took a quick swig of Foursquare spiced rum, and it was a significant step up from these, and I go back to them, and the rum burns more, and they're veeery sweet. But then I try it against Kraken, and now Kraken is the one that's disappointing. Harsh, bitter, and the predominant flavor is vanilla extract. Overall, as far as spiced rums go, I like them. 5/10.

Mamajuana is a Dominican blend of rum, wine, herbs, honey, and other fun stuff. It's sort of a ready to drink cocktail. While not really a rum, it was in the rum section of the liquor store when I was in Little Dominican Republic, so I figured it was worth a try. Also, Kalembú calls itself a "rum with natural flavors", and Hispaniola calls itself a "specialty rum", so to be fair, if it calls itself a rum, I will review it like a rum. > Note: I just thought it was interesting that their website also is super heavy on the health benefits of drinking Mamajuana(https://kalembu.com/unveiling-mamajuanas-ingredients). That just sounds super illegal if it were in the US. Review Smell Very strong on cloves. It tastes kind of like an apple pie, but with extra cloves. Big on Cinnamon as well, and something medicinal smelling. Taste Tastes pretty much how it smells. Very sweet apple pie, heavy on cinnamon and cloves. There's also something that tastes like lavendar. I will say that, despite being only 30% and being full of sugar, you really feel it. I think the rum is just super cheap and young. And, of course, what spiced rum/spirit drink tasting is complete without a rum and cola? I did 1:1 for the mamajuanas and 2:1 for kraken to compensate for the higher ABV. I like the Kalembú and coke. It's like an apple pie cola with some sweetness, cinnamon, and cloves. Goes down very smooth and the flavors go together well. And kraken just tastes like... kraken. Even when all 3 were watered down to around 15% ABV with cola, kraken still has the most noticable burn of alcohol, and there's nothing to the flavor other than vanilla and a hint of spices. It's not nearly as complex and interesting as the two mamajuanas. Verdict {rating}/10 When it comes to spiced rum, these are not half bad. Of course, I took a quick swig of Foursquare spiced rum, and it was a significant step up from these, and I go back to them, and the rum burns more, and they're veeery sweet. But then I try it against Kraken, and now Kraken is the one that's disappointing. Harsh, bitter, and the predominant flavor is vanilla extract. Overall, as far as spiced rums go, I like them. They're not bad on their own, and Kalembu is slightly better. It is better in a cola, and just in general, I prefer the spice mix that's in it. 5.5/10.

WELCOME TO RRRRRRUM RRUUUUMMMBLLLEEEE!!!! In the green corner, straight out of Jamaica, the defending champion since 1825, ladies and gendlemen, give it up for WRAY & NEPHEW! The godfather of funk, the heavyweight of ABV, this old grandpa will still slam your ass on the ground! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's the fruity, the flavorful, the unforgettable— THE FUNK! Packed with flavor that is out of this world, this rum just might be your kryptonite! Stepping into the ring next, clad in black, the one who doesn't even need super powers. It's Worthy Park Overproof! Worthy Park's own champion has come with no flash, no theatrics, just cold, precise punches of funk. And finally, can you feel the heat? It's the one known only as RUM FIRE! It doesn't even need to fight. Take the cap off, and it just takes over the room like a raging inferno. Alright, writing that and making the image was fun. Tasting them all was fun too. There's a few faces missing from this contest, and I'll explain why. Rum-Bar OP: I simply couldn't find it. I swear I saw it around before, but now it's gone and I haven't seen it since. Monymusk OP: I see it in nearby stores, but I heard a lot of bad stuff about it, and they don't sell it in sizes smaller than 1L, so without the ability to taste it first, I decided to hold off for now. Kingston Queen / any others: I have never seen this one in stores, ever. Review Smell Wray & Nephew: Very distinct classic fruity funky Jamaican white rum smell. Pineapple, rotten bananas, a bit of gym sock. The Funk: Very bright and fruity, and a bit grassy. It's actually very similar to the smell that I remember from Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold. Worthy Park OP: The weakest on the nose. A bit fruity, a bit grassy, a bit alcohol burn, and a bit industrial rubber. Rum Fire: By far the strongest on the nose, and the cleanest fruit smell. Some others have some grassy, or industrial, or other weird smell, but this is just the cleanest smell of mango and pineapple. So far, on the nose, I like Rum Fire the most and Worthy Park the least. Taste Wray & Nephew: Classic taste. Kinda harsh, kinda industrial, but lots of pineapple and rotten banana. It's sort of the baseline for the category. This taste is the taste to beat. The Funk: Grassy, fruity funk. It very much reminded me of Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold, so I took it out and smelled the two and tasted the two side by side, and The Funk really is like a more concentrated version of it. And actually, it's kind of similar to Worthy Park 9th floor cane juice, but less concentrated. That said, as much as I didn't like the Hamilton, for some reason, I love this flavor. Worthy Park OP: By far the harshest. Not as fruity as the previous two rums, yet about as industrial tasting as Wray & Nephew. Rum Fire: Clearly the most flavorful. Bursting with pineapple, tropical fruit, though it's by far the most concentrated, to the point where it's hard to drink it without a lot of saliva, otherwise I just get overwhelmed. So far, on the palate, it's a close call. I like Rum Fire the most flavor-wise, but it's just hard to sip. --- That's ok, because none of these are sipping rums, so our next match is the daiquiri! Wray & Nephew: Solid. A bit of an industrial taste for sure, but the fruity funk is great. I'd drink a Wray daiquiri and be happy. The Funk: Even better. Fruitier, a bit grassy, not even a bit industrial, just a good daiquiri. Worthy Park OP: Way harsh, way industrial, way bitter. It's not even that fruity. Rum Fire: Crazy strong funk. Not even a daiquiri tames it. I'd have to do a split base with some more neutral rum. It's incredible that the funk manages to completely outshine the rest of the daiquiri— I can barely taste the lime. I can't lie, I can't give Rum Fire the win. It's just not a balanced daiquiri. The one I actually enjoyed most was the one with The Funk. As usual, Worthy Park is last. --- And last, but certainly not least, is the Ting-off! Actually, I just tasted Ting, so maybe it is last and least. I grew up drinking Squirt, and that's my baseline for how a grapefruit soda tastes, and I am not going to lie, Ting just sort of has less grapefruit flavor, and actually has a metallic taste. Maybe the bottle is just super old. Anyway, I am using a 3:1 Ting to rum ratio, as that seems like approximately what is standard. Wray & Nephew: I just don't like this combo. Sweet, bitter, boozy... but it's not my vibe. The Funk: Way better! More fruity, less bitter, and actually I enjoy this. Worthy Park OP: Ew. Tastes like a skunky beer was poured in the last one. Harsh, bitter, worse than Wray. Rum Fire: Really good. Sweet, light, and fruity. I think I like it about equal with The Funk. The funky flavor definitely comes through stronger, but at 3:1 dilution it's now drinkable. Verdict {rating}/10 Wray is just Wray. It's the baseline. It was one of the first rums that I rated, and it sat at a 6/10, and I think that it still sits at a 6/10. It's very good. Classic fruity Jamaican funk, bold, flavorful, but dragged down by its unrefined nature and industrial off-tastes. The Funk is the overall winner with 7.5/10, and it was hard picking it over Rum Fire, but it just consistently had the edge by being enjoyable in the regular proportions. Now, looking at things another way, maybe you have a way higher tolerance for funk than I do. Or maybe, you see that Rum Fire is not only cheaper than The Funk, but also more flavorful, so you can do a split base with Bacardi and have an equally good daiquiri for almost half the price. That's a very valid argument, and I am only evaluating these rums as they are presented in their original form. For example, I didn't really like Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold straight or in a daiquiri, but I loved the Jungle Bird that I made with it. I am sure that Rum Fire has its place, and I look forward to revisiting this review at a later date. Maybe even with some of the other Jamaican white overproofs. For now, Rum Fire gets a respectable 7.25/10. And Worthy Park shit the bed, making him tonight's biggest loser. 5/10.

WELCOME TO RRRRRRUM RRUUUUMMMBLLLEEEE!!!! In the green corner, straight out of Jamaica, the defending champion since 1825, ladies and gendlemen, give it up for WRAY & NEPHEW! The godfather of funk, the heavyweight of ABV, this old grandpa will still slam your ass on the ground! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's the fruity, the flavorful, the unforgettable— THE FUNK! Packed with flavor that is out of this world, this rum just might be your kryptonite! Stepping into the ring next, clad in black, the one who doesn't even need super powers. It's Worthy Park Overproof! Worthy Park's own champion has come with no flash, no theatrics, just cold, precise punches of funk. And finally, can you feel the heat? It's the one known only as RUM FIRE! It doesn't even need to fight. Take the cap off, and it just takes over the room like a raging inferno. Alright, writing that and making the image was fun. Tasting them all was fun too. There's a few faces missing from this contest, and I'll explain why. Rum-Bar OP: I simply couldn't find it. I swear I saw it around before, but now it's gone and I haven't seen it since. Monymusk OP: I see it in nearby stores, but I heard a lot of bad stuff about it, and they don't sell it in sizes smaller than 1L, so without the ability to taste it first, I decided to hold off for now. Kingston Queen / any others: I have never seen this one in stores, ever. Review Smell Wray & Nephew: Very distinct classic fruity funky Jamaican white rum smell. Pineapple, rotten bananas, a bit of gym sock. The Funk: Very bright and fruity, and a bit grassy. It's actually very similar to the smell that I remember from Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold. Worthy Park OP: The weakest on the nose. A bit fruity, a bit grassy, a bit alcohol burn, and a bit industrial rubber. Rum Fire: By far the strongest on the nose, and the cleanest fruit smell. Some others have some grassy, or industrial, or other weird smell, but this is just the cleanest smell of mango and pineapple. So far, on the nose, I like Rum Fire the most and Worthy Park the least. Taste Wray & Nephew: Classic taste. Kinda harsh, kinda industrial, but lots of pineapple and rotten banana. It's sort of the baseline for the category. This taste is the taste to beat. The Funk: Grassy, fruity funk. It very much reminded me of Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold, so I took it out and smelled the two and tasted the two side by side, and The Funk really is like a more concentrated version of it. And actually, it's kind of similar to Worthy Park 9th floor cane juice, but less concentrated. That said, as much as I didn't like the Hamilton, for some reason, I love this flavor. Worthy Park OP: By far the harshest. Not as fruity as the previous two rums, yet about as industrial tasting as Wray & Nephew. Rum Fire: Clearly the most flavorful. Bursting with pineapple, tropical fruit, though it's by far the most concentrated, to the point where it's hard to drink it without a lot of saliva, otherwise I just get overwhelmed. So far, on the palate, it's a close call. I like Rum Fire the most flavor-wise, but it's just hard to sip. --- That's ok, because none of these are sipping rums, so our next match is the daiquiri! Wray & Nephew: Solid. A bit of an industrial taste for sure, but the fruity funk is great. I'd drink a Wray daiquiri and be happy. The Funk: Even better. Fruitier, a bit grassy, not even a bit industrial, just a good daiquiri. Worthy Park OP: Way harsh, way industrial, way bitter. It's not even that fruity. Rum Fire: Crazy strong funk. Not even a daiquiri tames it. I'd have to do a split base with some more neutral rum. It's incredible that the funk manages to completely outshine the rest of the daiquiri— I can barely taste the lime. I can't lie, I can't give Rum Fire the win. It's just not a balanced daiquiri. The one I actually enjoyed most was the one with The Funk. As usual, Worthy Park is last. --- And last, but certainly not least, is the Ting-off! Actually, I just tasted Ting, so maybe it is last and least. I grew up drinking Squirt, and that's my baseline for how a grapefruit soda tastes, and I am not going to lie, Ting just sort of has less grapefruit flavor, and actually has a metallic taste. Maybe the bottle is just super old. Anyway, I am using a 3:1 Ting to rum ratio, as that seems like approximately what is standard. Wray & Nephew: I just don't like this combo. Sweet, bitter, boozy... but it's not my vibe. The Funk: Way better! More fruity, less bitter, and actually I enjoy this. Worthy Park OP: Ew. Tastes like a skunky beer was poured in the last one. Harsh, bitter, worse than Wray. Rum Fire: Really good. Sweet, light, and fruity. I think I like it about equal with The Funk. The funky flavor definitely comes through stronger, but at 3:1 dilution it's now drinkable. Verdict {rating}/10 Wray is just Wray. It's the baseline. It was one of the first rums that I rated, and it sat at a 6/10, and I think that it still sits at a 6/10. It's very good. Classic fruity Jamaican funk, bold, flavorful, but dragged down by its unrefined nature and industrial off-tastes. The Funk is the overall winner with 7.5/10, and it was hard picking it over Rum Fire, but it just consistently had the edge by being enjoyable in the regular proportions. Now, looking at things another way, maybe you have a way higher tolerance for funk than I do. Or maybe, you see that Rum Fire is not only cheaper than The Funk, but also more flavorful, so you can do a split base with Bacardi and have an equally good daiquiri for almost half the price. That's a very valid argument, and I am only evaluating these rums as they are presented in their original form. For example, I didn't really like Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold straight or in a daiquiri, but I loved the Jungle Bird that I made with it. I am sure that Rum Fire has its place, and I look forward to revisiting this review at a later date. Maybe even with some of the other Jamaican white overproofs. For now, Rum Fire gets a respectable 7.25/10. And Worthy Park shit the bed, making him tonight's biggest loser. 5/10.

WELCOME TO RRRRRRUM RRUUUUMMMBLLLEEEE!!!! In the green corner, straight out of Jamaica, the defending champion since 1825, ladies and gendlemen, give it up for WRAY & NEPHEW! The godfather of funk, the heavyweight of ABV, this old grandpa will still slam your ass on the ground! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's the fruity, the flavorful, the unforgettable— THE FUNK! Packed with flavor that is out of this world, this rum just might be your kryptonite! Stepping into the ring next, clad in black, the one who doesn't even need super powers. It's Worthy Park Overproof! Worthy Park's own champion has come with no flash, no theatrics, just cold, precise punches of funk. And finally, can you feel the heat? It's the one known only as RUM FIRE! It doesn't even need to fight. Take the cap off, and it just takes over the room like a raging inferno. Alright, writing that and making the image was fun. Tasting them all was fun too. There's a few faces missing from this contest, and I'll explain why. Rum-Bar OP: I simply couldn't find it. I swear I saw it around before, but now it's gone and I haven't seen it since. Monymusk OP: I see it in nearby stores, but I heard a lot of bad stuff about it, and they don't sell it in sizes smaller than 1L, so without the ability to taste it first, I decided to hold off for now. Kingston Queen / any others: I have never seen this one in stores, ever. Review Smell Wray & Nephew: Very distinct classic fruity funky Jamaican white rum smell. Pineapple, rotten bananas, a bit of gym sock. The Funk: Very bright and fruity, and a bit grassy. It's actually very similar to the smell that I remember from Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold. Worthy Park OP: The weakest on the nose. A bit fruity, a bit grassy, a bit alcohol burn, and a bit industrial rubber. Rum Fire: By far the strongest on the nose, and the cleanest fruit smell. Some others have some grassy, or industrial, or other weird smell, but this is just the cleanest smell of mango and pineapple. So far, on the nose, I like Rum Fire the most and Worthy Park the least. Taste Wray & Nephew: Classic taste. Kinda harsh, kinda industrial, but lots of pineapple and rotten banana. It's sort of the baseline for the category. This taste is the taste to beat. The Funk: Grassy, fruity funk. It very much reminded me of Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold, so I took it out and smelled the two and tasted the two side by side, and The Funk really is like a more concentrated version of it. And actually, it's kind of similar to Worthy Park 9th floor cane juice, but less concentrated. That said, as much as I didn't like the Hamilton, for some reason, I love this flavor. Worthy Park OP: By far the harshest. Not as fruity as the previous two rums, yet about as industrial tasting as Wray & Nephew. Rum Fire: Clearly the most flavorful. Bursting with pineapple, tropical fruit, though it's by far the most concentrated, to the point where it's hard to drink it without a lot of saliva, otherwise I just get overwhelmed. So far, on the palate, it's a close call. I like Rum Fire the most flavor-wise, but it's just hard to sip. --- That's ok, because none of these are sipping rums, so our next match is the daiquiri! Wray & Nephew: Solid. A bit of an industrial taste for sure, but the fruity funk is great. I'd drink a Wray daiquiri and be happy. The Funk: Even better. Fruitier, a bit grassy, not even a bit industrial, just a good daiquiri. Worthy Park OP: Way harsh, way industrial, way bitter. It's not even that fruity. Rum Fire: Crazy strong funk. Not even a daiquiri tames it. I'd have to do a split base with some more neutral rum. It's incredible that the funk manages to completely outshine the rest of the daiquiri— I can barely taste the lime. I can't lie, I can't give Rum Fire the win. It's just not a balanced daiquiri. The one I actually enjoyed most was the one with The Funk. As usual, Worthy Park is last. --- And last, but certainly not least, is the Ting-off! Actually, I just tasted Ting, so maybe it is last and least. I grew up drinking Squirt, and that's my baseline for how a grapefruit soda tastes, and I am not going to lie, Ting just sort of has less grapefruit flavor, and actually has a metallic taste. Maybe the bottle is just super old. Anyway, I am using a 3:1 Ting to rum ratio, as that seems like approximately what is standard. Wray & Nephew: I just don't like this combo. Sweet, bitter, boozy... but it's not my vibe. The Funk: Way better! More fruity, less bitter, and actually I enjoy this. Worthy Park OP: Ew. Tastes like a skunky beer was poured in the last one. Harsh, bitter, worse than Wray. Rum Fire: Really good. Sweet, light, and fruity. I think I like it about equal with The Funk. The funky flavor definitely comes through stronger, but at 3:1 dilution it's now drinkable. Verdict {rating}/10 Wray is just Wray. It's the baseline. It was one of the first rums that I rated, and it sat at a 6/10, and I think that it still sits at a 6/10. It's very good. Classic fruity Jamaican funk, bold, flavorful, but dragged down by its unrefined nature and industrial off-tastes. The Funk is the overall winner with 7.5/10, and it was hard picking it over Rum Fire, but it just consistently had the edge by being enjoyable in the regular proportions. Now, looking at things another way, maybe you have a way higher tolerance for funk than I do. Or maybe, you see that Rum Fire is not only cheaper than The Funk, but also more flavorful, so you can do a split base with Bacardi and have an equally good daiquiri for almost half the price. That's a very valid argument, and I am only evaluating these rums as they are presented in their original form. For example, I didn't really like Hamilton Jamaica pot still gold straight or in a daiquiri, but I loved the Jungle Bird that I made with it. I am sure that Rum Fire has its place, and I look forward to revisiting this review at a later date. Maybe even with some of the other Jamaican white overproofs. For now, Rum Fire gets a respectable 7.25/10. And Worthy Park shit the bed, making him tonight's biggest loser. 5/10.

Like always in my rum journey, I thought "oh, Australian rum? Like, a one-off thing like with Iceland?" and then it turns out that Australian history is as closely tied to rum as the Caribbean's or the British Empire's. >Note: State no color, no filtering, no additives, bottled at barrel proof Review Smell Crazy strong smell. My first thought is cognac. It's woody, oaky, maybe whiskey-like, with a bit of pear, anise, and herbs. Taste Extremely flavorful. Wow. Yeah, it's 66% ABV, but when it hit my tongue, the burn of the alcohol was only my second thought. My first thought was, wow, this rum goes crazy. Very woody, oaky, strong green apple and fennel notes, floral and pear, herbal, spicy, and it's dry as can be. I don't have very much that I can really compare it to, but I grabbed some Doorly's 14, since that's the most dry and oaky rum that I have that's pretty close to the same age. But compared to TCRL, Doorly's tastes light and sweet. TCRL is just that deep and rich and dry and herbal. Quite frankly, it's not easy for me to sip, despite how interesting it tastes, just because it does burn so much and it's so dry. But am I really going to do it? Am I going to demote this rum to a mixer, and make a daiquiri with it? It feels like sacrilege. But then, a little devil popped up on my shoulder. Well, he looked more like a fat rum pirate. And he told me to do whatever I want, and poured some HV Foursquare 2015 into his coke(https://thefatrumpirate.com/habitation-velier-foursquare-2015-white-pure-single-rum). So I did it. And, you know what? It was the best daiquiri that I have ever had. In fact, I think that I actually tasted the rum better in the daiquiri, since I wasn't burning my taste buds off, and the dilution and sweetness overall just enhanced the flavor for me. It's everything that I love about a punchy jamaican daiquiri, but with this crazy herbal green apple pear floral 15 year australian rum instead. Verdict {rating}/10 Like that critic from Ratatouille, sometimes I have flashbacks to a meal that I had. One of them is when I tried a $20 organic hamburger for the first time. This was before covid, so paying $20 for a hamburger was still obscene. But they hand-ground the bison meat in the shop, and served it with the craziest array of toppings. I remember ordering a burger with onion jam, a slice of green apple, and some fancy cheese that I couldn't even pronounce, much less remember to this day, and maybe some other things. But that burger was incredible. There's something magical about just closing your eyes and trying to understand what is even happening with this combination in your mouth. I don't think I can call that burger my favorite. I went and got it several more times, and over time, I just kind of got used to it, and it's still good, but equally as good was a proper cheap greasy smashburger, and it was 4x cheaper, so I went with that most of the time. That's Smith & Cross for me, and TCRL Australia 2007 is like the organic burger. I don't know that I can really call it my favorite. It's not easy to sip, except maybe with some ice and simple syrup, and it's not very versatile for mixing my favorite tiki cocktails (even if it wasn't $130), and honestly, I think that I just prefer the Jamaican flavor profile. But man, am I glad to have tried it at least once, and enjoyed the ride.

This was part of a sample shipment, so I don't actually have pics of the bottle. So instead, have a poorly photoshopped picture of a bird opening the bottle. >Note: No age statement, but appears to be aged for 2-3 years in Fiji in ex-bourbon casks, then finished for a year in France in Ferrand cognac casks. Review Smell I'm getting vanilla, caramel, a slight earthiness, and an even lighter fruitiness, along with a good hit of acetone. The nose doesn't really give away too much. Taste It's quite sweet, has a mild alcohol burn, and actually has somewhat of a decent body. The flavor is predominantly vanilla and caramel, but I can also definitely slightly taste something earthy and bitter, like maybe a burnt sugar or a cooked-down honey. I suspect that this rum is a blend of column and pot still, because it's light and pleasant, and there's a bit of fruity funk, a bit of body, but it's not nearly as full-bodied as a pure pot still rum. It being watered down to 40% doesn't help it either. It's a bit of a Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva situation here, where overall, I think that the rum itself is solid, but the only flavors that I am getting are sweetness and barrel, and I have to really dig deep for anything more complex than that. I guess the palate goes a bit long, since as I am sitting and writing the review, I am getting some floral pear flavor on the back end, similar to what I get from drinking Ron Santiago de Cuba. Verdict {rating}/10 Damn, I bet this rum would be amazing if it was sold at cask strength. It's decent, but it's just not that interesting. The price is not terrible at $25, I certainly would not feel scammed by this rum, but also, you could just get Appleton Estates Signature for even less money and get a product with even better body and even better fruity funk. Or, if you really want a Planteray rum, Xaymaca is almost certainly sitting right beside it for the same price. A lot of rums find themselves below 6/10 for being controversial. This rum has absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's smooth sipping, it's just the right amount of sweetness for my palate, it's not too young but also not too oaky and tannic, it's just incredibly forgettable. It might be a nice introductory rum for someone who isn't sure if they really like rum, a la Diplomatico.

Well well well... Richard Seale, gladiator for rum purity and transparency, has an offering of "spiced" rum with a "secret family recipe". How the mighty have fallen! Stooped to the level of Captain Morgan and Kraken! Someone update the Foursquare Wikipedia page! Eh, what's this? Mount Gay, WIRD, and even St Nicholas have Wikipedia pages, but what about the best distillery in Barbados? Well, as of yesterday, now they do! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FoursquareRumDistillery it's pretty bare bones, but feel free to take a look and fix any issues or add any additional info that I may have overlooked. It would also be nice if you had a picture of the distillery that you'd like to donate to the public domain. But don't think for a second that I'm going to go easy on a spiced rum, just because I wrote the wikipedia page for the company! Also, this rum was part of a sample shipment, so I don't actually have pics of the bottle. Review Smell It smells like an apple pie! Strong notes of sweetness, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, and not much of an alcohol smell. Taste First off, I feel like it's really interesting that, unlike most spiced rums, that use a really neutral cheap rum and then bury it in spices, Foursquare spiced rum tastes, first and foremost, like rum. You actually get Bajan rum flavor, and the base rum itself is actually really tasty. But, I will also say that the spices themselves are rather bitter, and alcohol is bitter, and overall, there's a reason why spiced rums are usually heavily sweetened. It just makes them taste better. The nice part is, though, that I can just sweeten it myself! After adding a little bit of simple syrup, it's much more aligned with what I was expecting. It's actually a fantastic spiced rum. With a bit of sweetness, the spices really come together, and the base rum continues to just be a cut above most other rums. You can taste cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some other spices, and they don't completely overpower the rum flavor. I have a bit of Kraken kicking around, and moving from Foursquare spiced to Kraken is like... how does this rum manage to be both too sweet AND too bitter at the same time? Verdict {rating}/10 This is the best spiced rum that I've ever had, and, I fear, might be as good as it gets in terms of mass-market spiced rums. The only thing that I think can top this is if I maybe soak some spices in some Smith & Cross, which, actually, sounds like some interesting weekend plans. With that said, I don't think that the spices really improve upon the rum. I think that, if I just had the base rum before it was spiced, I'd also think that it's a 6.5/10 rum. I may even be conditioned to dislike the spices without the proper amount of sweetness, just due to how much Kraken I drank in college. On top of that, the base rum is good, but also, not really anything to call mom about. I am not a huge fan of spiced rum in general, so I don't think that I'll be buying the bottle. Finally, I would like to thank /u/CocktailWonk , because the Wikipedia page was actually rejected for lack of notability, and when I appealed, the editors noted that the PUNCH article was so high-quality that it convinced them of the notability of Foursquare, and reversed the rejection. In general, it unfortunately seems that rum wikipedia is not as well maintained as some of the more respected wines and spirits.

Here it is. The myth, the legend. Smith & Cross. I first had this at a friend's housewarming party, and I am genuinely curious if it would have kicked off my rum journey had Myers's not come first. At the time, it was the best rum that I have ever had by a country mile. But, after all the rum that I had since then... could it still be the best rum that I have ever had? I'm going to have to compare it to so many rums! Also, a bit of a funny story. It calls itself navy strength, and it's sitting across from Pusser's Gunpowder proof in my rum cabinet. And yet Pusser's is not gunpowder proof, as that is the same as full proof, or 57% ABV. It is watered down to 5° below proof (54.5% ABV), which is navy strength. And so, Smith & Cross is not navy strength, as it is 57% ABV, which is full proof strength. > Note: "Wedderburn" component is aged for less than a year, and "Plummer" component is aged for 18-36 months. Review Smell Incredible jamaican funk. Overripe bananas, caramel, and just very fruity and very banana forward. Xaymaca smells more light, fruity, and sweet, while Smith & Cross smells more rich and caramelly, although both are very fruity on the nose. Taste Very funky, banana, and surprisingly noticable vanilla and oak notes. It's very smooth, not bitter at all, maybe even slightly sweet, which is a significant jump in smoothness and depth compared to Xaymaca. Despite being 57%, I can easily sip it, and I never noticed the bitterness in Xaymaca until I tried it next to Smith & Cross, and it just becomes clear, despite how good I think Xaymaca is (and it does still hold up well), Smith & Cross is just superior. So now Smith & Cross is in the running to be my favorite rum. I need to try it against the ones currently tied for first place in my ratings. First up, sipping Doorly's 14 and Smith & Cross side by side. Doorly's is excellent, but I just prefer the Jamaican fruity funk of Smith & Cross a little more. Next, I made daiquiris with Hvitserkur and Smith & Cross. These two rums taste surprisingly similar. I wouldn't be surprised if they shared the same marks. And, maybe it's just the slight bit of age, or maybe it's the higher proof, but Smith & Cross pulls ahead here as well. It just tastes like Hvitserkur, but bolder. Finally, I made Jungle Bird cocktails with Smith & Cross vs Planteray OFTD. This one was a bit more difficult, as the cocktail really disguises the rum itself. That's not a bad thing, and that was something that gave me pause to think. Smith & Cross has the punchier flavor, such that it shines through even the larger amount of other juices and bitters added, while OFTD does disappear, but just makes an overall more well-rounded cocktail, though maybe a very strong one. I thought that maybe I prefer Smith & Cross by a hair here. Verdict {rating}/10 We used to have a 4 way tie for my favorite rums: one from Barbados (Doorly's 14), one from Haiti (Clairin Sajous), one from... Iceland of all places (Hvitserkur), and one black overproof blend (OFTD). It would be so nice to have a Jamaican rum be an equal among them, but Smith & Cross is just too good. This was the rum that I feared when I gave OFTD a 10/10 with my previous rating scale, because I knew of the existence of Smith & Cross, and it was only a matter of time before I bought a bottle. Congrats to the new king! Let me set you down in the rum cabinet. Here are your two neighbors, Hampden Great House and Papalin 5Yr Jamaican High Ester. I am sure that you have nothing to worry about!

This was the first rum that I had at the first NYC rum club bottle share that I attended, and it might be the one that I spent the most time on because it was just so... different. Review Smell Obviously very deep oak and vanilla scent, as well as an orange peel note, kinda citrusy but also smells kind of bitter, but the nose is mostly the typical oak and vanilla of a long-aged rum. Taste It's hard to even explain because, much like the first time that I had a clairin, or an agricole, I just had zero reference points to compare it to because I haven't had any rums in that genre. The body is very rich and complex, and it tastes very dry and bitter. This rum was begging for a few drops of simple syrup just because I'm sure that a lot of fruity flavors were hiding behind the lack of sweetness. Otherwise, it was very herbal. I got very strong notes of fennel, licorice, and oregano, as well as, of course, oak and vanilla, and there was a citrusy bitter aftertaste, maybe like a grapefruit. Verdict {rating}/10 This rum was a bit of a rollercoaster and I'd love to revisit it sometime, especially if I can drop a bit of simple syrup into it. It's so complex and herbal, and it's like no other rum that I've had. I can't say that I found it super enjoyable, but it's very interesting to just have a sip and swirl it around and try to understand everything that you're tasting. I've peeked at a few other reviews of the 2003 Trinidad, and I think we're drinking two completely different rums, because people were saying that it's very funky and very sweet, and I absolutely did not get that at all. It was very herbal, very dry, very oaky, and slightly bitter.