Breaking the fast on my dry month (2nd of the year) and I’m grabbing a…rum? Well it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been taking a hard look at other brown spirits, specifically armagnac and rum. I’ve picked up some bottles based on reviews and hoping to either expand my horizons or renew my whiskey vows 💯. To the experience we go! Nose: I’m hit with a vapor of cherry cola cough syrup mixed with some oaky vanilla and caramel. The sugary/cough syrupy smell has never been my favorite and has been the main reason I haven’t been a rum fan to this point but @ContemplativeFox and others swear by this product so going in with an open mind. I’m now dreading the initial taste but the community’s vote of confidence keeps me hopeful. About 10 minutes in the glass and the nose opens up quite a bit. The cherry cola cough syrup note is now almost gone and what you’re left with is this deep caramel and sweet vanilla goodness, much akin to a well made bourbon. Hope springs! Now to the taste. Palate follows the caramel vanilla nose but now enveloped by a velvet cloud of Molasses funk, which is also surprisingly well-integrated. Like in a cloud frappachino kind of way. There’s a noticeable alcohol bite for a 40% abv. Some oak tannins in the mid palate but it’s balanced with the “sweetness”. Mid to long finish that lingers. The cherry cola now shows up again to remind you it’s a rum but this time it’s complementary and is more amenable to my taste. This drinks a lot ike [american] whiskey finished in rum barrels. It’s pretty good. Factor in the sub $20 price and this is a no-brainer for any whiskey drinkers looking to dip their toes into the rum pool. Not gonna say I’m a full convert but I can see going back to this when I’m a mood for something different that doesn’t stray too far from bourbon or single malt whiskey. I picked up Appleton estate 21yr and a cask strength 25Yr old Kirk & Sweeney, which will either reinforce my apathy or move me closer to expanding my horizons…to rum. Who knew. Cheers PoD!