Kirk and Sweeney 23 Year Rum

While better than its younger brethren it's not as good as it should be. Light vanilla, caramel, and cola aroma. Flavor is a bit more caramel than vanilla, ending in an orangish alcohol heat. I think it tastes better as a quick sip than one that you would let linger in your mouth. Gives mixed drinks a more alcoholic flavor and a feeling of more sweetness, like an enhancement or boost. Not bad at all. Rating is based on neat sipping.

Recently acquired this bottle, and was immediately hit with grilled fruit and warm baking spices, especially cinnamon, from the nose through the sip. Pleasant color in the glass. This strikes me as a good fall/winter sipping rum, although I need to dig into further to render a more complete opinion of it.

I have had a few 20 plus year aged rums, but none that were this cheap. To say I am skeptical that this is 23 years old is probably an understatement. I still picked up a bottle to try for myself and while I still dont believe it's that old or at least all of it is that old, it's not bad. On the nose I get toffee and oak, but neither is all that pronounced. The palate is solid, if not a bit of a one trick pony, with hints of oak along with vanilla and spice. It's pretty rich and seems to come off as a well aged rum, but not 23 years, maybe closer to 15. It's not all that sweet which is a pleasant surprise (others have done tests and have found no additives). The finish unfortunately is a letdown. Its quick, with some spice, but a surprisingly harsh burn, especially for an 80 proof rum. I still dont believe its 23 years old but regardless it's a solid rum just not very complex. For the price though it's a very good value.

A steal of a Caribbean extra old aged rum at roughly $80 a bottle retail for a 23 year old non-solera pirate juice! Smooth, slightly sweet, with a touch of wood on the back end. As a dedicated DDL produced Guyanese pancake syrup (Demerara) addict it can't be my favorite rum, but I'll take it over Flor de Cana 21yr any day of the week.

There are strong aromas of burnt sugar and sweet tropical fruits. This a truly decadent sipping rum with flavors of rich caramel, Caribbean spices, orange, and cloves. This is a flavor bomb with the silkiest of mouth feels and a long lovely finish.