a Saw a lot stellar reviews, but i think the style isn't for me. It's good, no doubt. But to me it ended up tasting a little flat or bland

I would have expected more. But compared to the 12-year, i don't sense much difference. Except it's a bit more 'Closed' compared. I would recommend the 12-year

This punches above it's weight. With a spicy and warm taste that lingers just for a while before dissipating and leaving a pleasant aftertaste of caramel.

This Rum is quite dry and packed with a strong finish, it's delicious.

This has become my go to.
Decent for sipping, good for drinks and just overall a decent package.
There are other rums, that would be better to sip, but this is an all-rounder at a decent price

This is good, but i would probably use it for cocktails to spice them up, rather than use it for sipping

This is a solid rum no doubt. But i feel that in its price range, you can get others that pack a bit more.
Its sweetness works against it to hide some of that wonderful complexity. I find myself always close, but unable to reach all the notes, before my mouth is awash in sweetness.

Strong notes of orange, and i couldn't find much more than that.

Wanted to try something different. And then i found this one from Australia. Has a bit of a burn, But once you get past that, You're met with sweet spices, caramels and a long lingering soft heat. A really good sipper.

This is a perfect middle of the range rum. Good enough for sipping, and not too expensive to use in your cocktails. Perfect for something to have in your cabinet to bring out.

This rum is something special. Very deep and complex in its taste. Albeit a little alcohol burn. Long aftertaste of caramels and vanilla

Was a little sceptical before buying. But it really surprised in a good way. This is very sweet. Might be too sweet for some. if you're new to sipping rums or sipping alcohols, this could be a good starter

Would simply use this for mixing. you could sip it, but it would be more enjoyable to mix it

It might be because this was hyped up for me. But, it didn't really live up to what i expected. Very snappy and having an edge when ingested.
Would prefer the 18 or maybe even 12 year to this one

Not much to say here, it's a sweet base rum. I'd recommend using for cocktails.

pretty decent taste. You get the familiar XO reserve taste, but with a hint of cinnamon and baking spice. Overall pretty decent. However, not much else is going on.

On the nose: on top is bright fruit, zesty orange peel, something else I can't get with the old nasal appraisal. Middle is darker with the molasses, and bottom is the wood and bite. On the palate is a light, not syrup or thick, lovely sip with layered tastes deep with flavor. Well worth the C note.

Nice rum. Tickles the tongue a bit. Sweet with a hint of smoke.

Boozy aroma, which to be fair belies the first sip which is smooth and fruity, big alcohol burn builds afterwards, softening to a warming aftertaste

Nose: Tobacco, ripe fruits with leather & oak.

Palate: A bit of cacao, black pepper, leather and tobacco adds to the fruit.

Finish: Long with the tobacco and leather still punching through.

Nose: Ripe tropical fruits

Palate:Combine the tropical fruit with nutmeg, caramel, and dark chocolate

Finish: Lon, balanced and not lacking. Hints of cocoa, and pepper.

Nose: Dried fruit with a touch of oak/spice. As it settles in the glass, you get a bit of cognac.

Palate: The nose comes through very balanced but a bit more complex. Also not much heat for 61%. Vanilla, leather and tobacco play cheerfully with the fruit.

Finish: Consistent throughout and still delivers on all the flavors.

A random dram I felt drawn to try as yhe only Mezan I've had was their regular Jamaican offering that just tasted like bananas to me.
Smell is light, perhaps I'm influenced by the 15yo Cuban I've just had, but this has something of that citrus and tobacco vibe on the nose, just very lightly so.
Taste is pretty much the same. Floral, citrus, leather and tobacco. Light. Tastes unsweetened, yet not too fiery for what I figure is pretty young.
If this isn't Cuban, it tastes Cuban adjacent to me. Spanish style, but ptetty flavourful for 40%. Not too much on the finish, I imagine it would be easy to polish the bottle off. Don't know what a bottle costs, but I could happily pass this around a fire with friends.

Don't often see Cuban rums that aren't ubiquitous Havana Club, and a 15 year to boot!
Smell has something of the leather and tobacco I've come to associate with Cuban rum, along with orange and boiled sweets.
Taste has all that with a bit of burn. Not complex but has a nice long finish, woody tones underneath a sweetness I suspect is added.
Overall, it's straightforward, rich, citrus and leather, with an intense finish. Distinct, flavourful, particularly considering the 40%, and enjoyably different.
No idea what a bottle would cost, but very glad I bought a dram.

Destilováno / Nalahvováno: listopad 2015 / prosinec 2022
Sud MON-1719

Rum zrál 7 let ve specificky vypáleném dubovém sudu z lesa Montpensier. Tento les se nachází ve střední Francii u Vichy na ploše 5500 ha. Podloží tohoto lesa je jílové.

Aroma: Květiny, slanost, závan opáleného dřeva, kyselé ovoce (zelená jablka, pomeranče) s vanilkou.
Chuť: Chvíli nasládlá, poté hutná travnatost, pepřovitost a dřevo.
Dozvuk: Silná dřevitost, dozvuky pepře, travnatost a na závěr sušené ovoce (meruňky) stále se mísící s nahořklou dřevitostí. Dlouhý.
Sladkost: 0/3
Ochutnán vzorek
Dva HSE, stejný ročník, dva rozdílné dubové sudy ze dvou lesů... Co se týče vůně a chuti jsou zde drobné rozdíly, avšak nejmarkantnější rozdíl je v dozvucích. Oba jsou výrazně dřevité - Chantilly je zakulacenější, nehořkne, Montpensier je hodně dřevitý, nahořklý, ale ne nepříjemně - vše se hezky promíchává.
Výsledkem je plichta - i když jsou v jednotlivostech odlišné, základ zůstává stejný. Oba jsou vynikající a velmi jsem si u obou pochutnal.

a Saw a lot stellar reviews, but i think the style isn't for me. It's good, no doubt. But to me it ended up tasting a little flat or bland

I would have expected more. But compared to the 12-year, i don't sense much difference. Except it's a bit more 'Closed' compared. I would recommend the 12-year

This punches above it's weight. With a spicy and warm taste that lingers just for a while before dissipating and leaving a pleasant aftertaste of caramel.

This Rum is quite dry and packed with a strong finish, it's delicious.

This has become my go to.
Decent for sipping, good for drinks and just overall a decent package.
There are other rums, that would be better to sip, but this is an all-rounder at a decent price

This is good, but i would probably use it for cocktails to spice them up, rather than use it for sipping

This is a solid rum no doubt. But i feel that in its price range, you can get others that pack a bit more.
Its sweetness works against it to hide some of that wonderful complexity. I find myself always close, but unable to reach all the notes, before my mouth is awash in sweetness.

Strong notes of orange, and i couldn't find much more than that.

Wanted to try something different. And then i found this one from Australia. Has a bit of a burn, But once you get past that, You're met with sweet spices, caramels and a long lingering soft heat. A really good sipper.

This is a perfect middle of the range rum. Good enough for sipping, and not too expensive to use in your cocktails. Perfect for something to have in your cabinet to bring out.

This rum is something special. Very deep and complex in its taste. Albeit a little alcohol burn. Long aftertaste of caramels and vanilla

Was a little sceptical before buying. But it really surprised in a good way. This is very sweet. Might be too sweet for some. if you're new to sipping rums or sipping alcohols, this could be a good starter

Would simply use this for mixing. you could sip it, but it would be more enjoyable to mix it

It might be because this was hyped up for me. But, it didn't really live up to what i expected. Very snappy and having an edge when ingested.
Would prefer the 18 or maybe even 12 year to this one

Not much to say here, it's a sweet base rum. I'd recommend using for cocktails.

pretty decent taste. You get the familiar XO reserve taste, but with a hint of cinnamon and baking spice. Overall pretty decent. However, not much else is going on.

On the nose: on top is bright fruit, zesty orange peel, something else I can't get with the old nasal appraisal. Middle is darker with the molasses, and bottom is the wood and bite. On the palate is a light, not syrup or thick, lovely sip with layered tastes deep with flavor. Well worth the C note.

Nice rum. Tickles the tongue a bit. Sweet with a hint of smoke.

Boozy aroma, which to be fair belies the first sip which is smooth and fruity, big alcohol burn builds afterwards, softening to a warming aftertaste

Nose: Tobacco, ripe fruits with leather & oak.

Palate: A bit of cacao, black pepper, leather and tobacco adds to the fruit.

Finish: Long with the tobacco and leather still punching through.

Nose: Ripe tropical fruits

Palate:Combine the tropical fruit with nutmeg, caramel, and dark chocolate

Finish: Lon, balanced and not lacking. Hints of cocoa, and pepper.

Nose: Dried fruit with a touch of oak/spice. As it settles in the glass, you get a bit of cognac.

Palate: The nose comes through very balanced but a bit more complex. Also not much heat for 61%. Vanilla, leather and tobacco play cheerfully with the fruit.

Finish: Consistent throughout and still delivers on all the flavors.

A random dram I felt drawn to try as yhe only Mezan I've had was their regular Jamaican offering that just tasted like bananas to me.
Smell is light, perhaps I'm influenced by the 15yo Cuban I've just had, but this has something of that citrus and tobacco vibe on the nose, just very lightly so.
Taste is pretty much the same. Floral, citrus, leather and tobacco. Light. Tastes unsweetened, yet not too fiery for what I figure is pretty young.
If this isn't Cuban, it tastes Cuban adjacent to me. Spanish style, but ptetty flavourful for 40%. Not too much on the finish, I imagine it would be easy to polish the bottle off. Don't know what a bottle costs, but I could happily pass this around a fire with friends.

Don't often see Cuban rums that aren't ubiquitous Havana Club, and a 15 year to boot!
Smell has something of the leather and tobacco I've come to associate with Cuban rum, along with orange and boiled sweets.
Taste has all that with a bit of burn. Not complex but has a nice long finish, woody tones underneath a sweetness I suspect is added.
Overall, it's straightforward, rich, citrus and leather, with an intense finish. Distinct, flavourful, particularly considering the 40%, and enjoyably different.
No idea what a bottle would cost, but very glad I bought a dram.

Destilováno / Nalahvováno: listopad 2015 / prosinec 2022
Sud MON-1719

Rum zrál 7 let ve specificky vypáleném dubovém sudu z lesa Montpensier. Tento les se nachází ve střední Francii u Vichy na ploše 5500 ha. Podloží tohoto lesa je jílové.

Aroma: Květiny, slanost, závan opáleného dřeva, kyselé ovoce (zelená jablka, pomeranče) s vanilkou.
Chuť: Chvíli nasládlá, poté hutná travnatost, pepřovitost a dřevo.
Dozvuk: Silná dřevitost, dozvuky pepře, travnatost a na závěr sušené ovoce (meruňky) stále se mísící s nahořklou dřevitostí. Dlouhý.
Sladkost: 0/3
Ochutnán vzorek
Dva HSE, stejný ročník, dva rozdílné dubové sudy ze dvou lesů... Co se týče vůně a chuti jsou zde drobné rozdíly, avšak nejmarkantnější rozdíl je v dozvucích. Oba jsou výrazně dřevité - Chantilly je zakulacenější, nehořkne, Montpensier je hodně dřevitý, nahořklý, ale ne nepříjemně - vše se hezky promíchává.
Výsledkem je plichta - i když jsou v jednotlivostech odlišné, základ zůstává stejný. Oba jsou vynikající a velmi jsem si u obou pochutnal.