Boardroom Spirits Ship's Cat American White Rum

It's been some time since my last review, so this seemed like an easy pick for the return; it's been long enough since I've been to the distillery to have any bias, but it's also fresh in my mind again, since I will have to return for business in the near future. I know I purchased a full size bottle of the navy strength white rum, but don't quite remember that flavor. If I know myself, the only reason I picked this nib up is to compare the effects of adding the maximum amount of water to bring this down to the standard 80 proof. I'm not a fan of low proof spirits or unaged rum, so I'll be keeping in mind the comparison I'm really focused on here during the process. There's a thick note of molasses on the nose, but it's also very raw and vegetal, almost like Vegemite, but slightly diluted. There seems to be a very faint spiciness as well, but it too is vegetal, like a green peppercorn. The proof plays it's part, as it's not only light and approachable for the nostrils, but even smells watery, giving it an almost refreshing and thirst quenching character. Finally, there is a mixture of bitter citrus peels present, but highly concentrated, like an oleo saccharum or strong amaro, but after it's been watered down. The initial flavor reflects that of the initial nose, with the vegetal and molasses both well present. The body is easy and approachable, as predicted, but the finish is both raw and strong, with the same concentrated vegetal notes noted before making themselves well known here; it doesn't penetrate the gums, but the flavor still sticks to the surface all around the mouth. Repeated sips provide a blending effect to the more raw flavors, sanding off the more rough edges, and making things slightly more approachable to this novice rum enjoyer. There's only a very quick and small hit of cleaning chemicals here, which I find I usually taste in cheap rums from mainstream distilleries. Instead, this fades into a surprisingly hot finish, although it doesn't linger all that much. Overall, this is not at all what I would describe as an American rum, at least in the sense of USA-style, because it really embodies the raw sugarcane and molasses focus of many Central America style rums, but still retains a craft feel to it. I would be comfortable saying that most well-known white rum cocktails are fruit-forward, and either don't allow or aren't designed to let the rum flavors shine through, but this is unique yet familiar enough to try more rum-forward concoctions with it. I wouldn't want to drink this neat again, only because I don't like this particular flavor profile, but what is smelled and tasted in this spirit is very consistent, and what it does, it does well and confidently, so if that works for you, neat is still a very real option.