This is an extremely weird alcohol. It definitely tastes better than Bacardi Superior which is an exceedingly simple offering. On the nose it smells of caramel, vanilla, and fruit. It also has a more interesting taste with nice woody undertones, a stronger molasses profile than it's white brethren and sugar and caramel rounding out the experience. It definitely packs more of a boozy punch than the Superior but that's not necessarily a good thing. The time in the barrels definitely gives it more character but it hasn't been in the barrels long enough for the flavors to really develop and set in. In a cocktail I imagine that the faint flavors melt away by the other ingredients which functionally wouldn't make it too different from it's White counterpart. There are other offerings, including Bacardi 8, that are able to provide a more robust sipping experience. Which leaves me wondering what role is this supposed to play? If I want something more sophisticated to sip on, why not shelve out $5-7 more dollars for another offering or $10 for the 8 year which has a profoundly more refined experience to savor? Hell, if I want something more boozy why not just add a touch more of Bacardi Superior? I don't want to say this is a bad product because it isn't. It's very drinkable and offers some welcome complexity lacking in Bacardi Superior. It just sits at a weird angle where it's not the best mixer, sipper or shot. I enjoyed drinking it but it isn't a product I'm compelled to have.