Bacardi 8 Years is an excellent beginner's sipping rum. It showcases what the world of rum has to offer while remaining extremely accessible and palatable. More experienced rum drinkers may find this one a tad boring but for the price it's a great option. On the nose it smells like their white rum with some more character, showcasing the smell of dried fruits and oak barrels though you do have to tease them out as they're surprisingly understated. There may even be a hint of a tobacco smell though I'll admit I didn't immediately pick it up until I read the Expert Review. Like other Bacardi products this is a very sweet rum which I actually adore as it's sweet without feeling cloying. After the initial burst of sweetness and fruits you can find some vanilla, brown sugar, a bit of leather and earthy notes at the finish. I will note there is a bit of an "off" taste that other online reviewers have picked up on. It isn't unpleasant. It's just hard to describe and feels a bit out of place. There are plenty of more complex sipping rums out there but few that are this affordable let alone finding that perfect soft spot of sweetness. Recommended if you're wanting to broaden your rum horizons.