Bottle-kill review: starting neat in a Glencairn…we’ll see how I finish. On ice? On the floor? In the doghouse? I honestly enjoy the backstory and label. Contrived or otherwise, Gabriel inviting these cocktail/rum gurus to help him develop a new blend (or accidentally doing so on a purely social call) feels very genuine and these are people with a passion for their industry and (most notably) a sense of humor, even when money is on the line, which I respect greatly. Surely colored (as is typical for a dark rum), however the deep brown hue is enticing and makes some bold promises to your tastebuds… but promises are fulfilled, as this stuff is 100% the chief underwriter at the loan office. Nothing new to report here, but your nostrils get slapped with molasses, pineapple rind, rosewater and fusel notes before the ethanol twinge builds, obscuring other scents, and eventually pushes you out of the nosing after 3-5 seconds. Traditional oak vanillas and butterscotch get absorbed seamlessly by the tropical fruit, flowers, and hogo. Really nice and noses nowhere near 138 proof. Palate leads with classic high-ester Jamaican – a sweet wallop of ripe tropical fruit, then the Guyanan molasses washes over, then whoooa! The proof builds quickly and singes the sides of the tongue. Again, 3-5 seconds, tops. Extremely concentrated and sweet. Molasses and oak are driving the bus, but the funky fruit and petrol fumes are blaring over the loudspeakers. Unsurprisingly, the finish lingers forever, tingling the cheeks and tongue with oaky tannins and saccharides and allspice berries drawing saliva and celebrating holidays and hosting a beach-side bonfire all at the same time. This is not a perfect rum. Brought down to everyday proof, it would show a number of warts. But honestly at $25-$30/L this is nearly faultless, and a standout example of what rum is all about. I have used this liter in half-ounce floats and split-rum bases working through the tiki pantheon and it never fails to deliver loads of flavor and unmatchable value. This is not a replacement for 151-proof demerara rum, simply a great bottle that stands on its own merits. Highly recommended. (price adjusted for 750ml basis)