Duppy Share XO

Nose: Oak cask, mild hogo, dried dates and figs, tobacco, leather, caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, dark cherries, dried cranberries and raisins. On the dry glass you notice the same mango and strawberry notes you get in the Duppy White rum. Palate: A fine, dry, fruity arrival that segues seamlessly into a sweeter and more fresh-fruit focused development. This is dangerously easy stuff to quaff! Some light baking spices, coconut, golden syrup, vanilla and sweet cinnamon. The texture is pleasantly mouth-coating but not at all heavy. Finish: Medium: Lightly spiced dark fruits that linger. Christmas pudding. Duppy Share is an English rum brand which has recently appeared in the Australian market. It is widely available in supermarkets in the UK but don’t let that fool you – this is not a cheap bargain basement spirit. There are currently four expressions available in their range and all are sourced from Jamaican and/or Bajan distilleries, notably Worthy Park and Foursquare. This “XO Caribbean Rum” is a blending of aged dark rums from Barbados, mainly from the Foursquare distillery (which produces Doorly's). The components are apparently 5, 8 and 12 years old and it has a very small amount of sugar dosage, but you can hardly notice it. Like the two Duppy Share rums I’ve reviewed previously this is absurdly easy to drink and enjoy neat. It also works over ice or in long drinks, but it’s a pity to use such a nice rum in any context where its personality is diluted. In many ways it reminds me of a slightly lighter version of the Doorly’s XO. Very good rum and well worth a try. It is more expensive than the other Duppy Share bottlings and is priced at a point where there is solid competition. Still, this stands up well in comparison and I'm giving it the same rating I gave their "Aged Caribbean" rum - both are equally good but have slightly different profiles. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)