Nose - overripe banana, mango, earthy mint, fresh cut grass, instant mashed potato, pineapple, cherry, coriander, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - medicinal cherry, overripe banana, burnt sugar, sour pineapple, black pepper, bitter herbal notes, lemon pith, ginger, grass, menthol, clove, anise, yeast, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with medicinal cherry, sour fruit, bitter herbal flavors. Wow, these tasting notes are pretty wild. I struggled with this more than with most spirits I review. It has a really interesting profile. If you can power through the ethanol fumes, there’s the telltale funky, overripe banana, a nondescript mango-like tropical fruit quality, some strongly vegetal and herbal grassy notes, and oddly enough, an aroma that reminds me of sticking my nose in a bowl of instant mashed potatoes. The palate arrives hot and bright, with some mentholated, medicinal cherry, more vegetal and herbal flavors, and a rotten, sour, yeasty note that I can only assume is part of that elusive hogo attribute. I imagine ratings on this are all over the place. While I appreciate its uniqueness, I don’t see myself sipping this neat from a nosing glass again anytime soon. And that’s perfectly fine with me. It’s not meant to be a sipper; it’s a $25 mixing rum. And you owe it to yourself to track down some Ting and mix up some classic Wray and Ting cocktails. They’re super refreshing during summer, but be vigilant as they go down a bit easier than their 126 proof payload should permit.