Jamaican Lion Dark Rum

As the temperature plummets, I'm reminiscing about Caribbean adventures. What about you? I recall stopping in my tracks when I saw this heavy, embossed glass bottle in a small tourist shop near Negril. I enjoy a good dark rum, so this majestic "king of the jungle" Jamaican Lion Dark Rum came home with me. My first smell of Jamaican Lion Dark Rum provides malt, caramel and rubbing alcohol. After ~10 minutes, there's an added tangy funk, like dirty socks after a workout (appealing to imagine, I'm sure). Drinking this neat melts my face. I get a blast of burnt caramel and charred spices with heavy heat. While the label says 40% ABV, it hits much harder. The aftertaste is the best part over a long, drying finish. I can taste nostalgic burnt sugar on the top of crème brûlée that makes my dessert-loving self excited. This is what tricks me to go back for another sip.  I wouldn't choose to drink this by itself. I'm sure it would be fine in the midst of a punch, cola or cocktail that is able to rise to its "roar." The bottle is aesthetically fun for the bar but I wouldn't recommend the purchase.  4.5/10