Background: Showed up for friend’s birthday celebration this past weekend, which started off with a private screening of The Legend of Shang-Chi at a local AMC (the movie was decent but storyline and dialogue seemed contrived in spots. Overall good entertainment value), then back to his place for a hangout with friends. On the drink menu, a “full” bar with some wishlist-level collection. No limit to what you can sample but since I have work the next day, I kept it small and only went with 8 😉. First up, Joy Blend. To the experience we go! Nose: Rich, concentrated caramel syrup, mixed with concentrated vanilla extract. Sweet nail polish. Toffee. Fragrant tobacco. Tropical wood varnish. Palate: Follows lock step with the nose. Oily. Rich. Delicious. The experience of tasting this juice while also inhaling the incredibly fragrant vapors was almost other-worldly. Finish: Long. The wood makes its presence known. Leaves a tobacco oil coating on the tongue. In a blind taste, this could pass for a well-aged, well-made, well-integrated, honey-barrel bourbon. I have to say that I was somewhat on my way to changing my less-than-complimentary PoV on rums after trying Doorly’s 12Yr…and this here pour…pushed it way over the edge. I’m a mini convert! Take me to your [rum] dealer! I mean, I’m not switching teams but I’ll root for some “good” well-aged rum whenever my taste buds call for something other than whiskey. As mentioned, I tried this pour with a few others. See below for my first impression summaries and rough order of magnitude ranking for the rest of my choice lineup for the day… Sláinte PoD! F.I.Ds 1 - Joy Blend: 4.25 - 4.5 stars Wow! Incredible nose, incredible palate, incredible finish…delicious! Completely changed my perception of rum. Wishlist worthy. Buy on sight. 2 - Hakushi 18Yr: 4 - 4.25 stars Refined nose, refined palate, decent finish…classic. 3A - Makers Mark Private Select (LA Whisky Womxn barrel select): Solid 4 stars Balanced nose, balanced palate, nice finish. Possibly a victim of name recognition bias. Could easily be the best of the night in a blind taste. Wishlist worthy (if you can find exact stave combo and barrel select) 3B - Parker’s Heritage Promise of Hope - 3.75 - 4 stars Classic bourbon nose, classic bourbon palate, classic finish…all excellently-executed. 5 - Glendronach 21Yr Parliament: 3.75 - 4 stars Classic sherry nose and palate. Initial taste was so-so but subsequent tastes brought a balanced, well integrated sherry bomb. Pleasant finish. Need more time with this. 6 - Cowboy Balmorhea: 3 - 3.5 stars Intense nose, intense palate, intense finish. [ Acquired taste] flavor bomb. Not for the faint of heart. Hit or miss wishlist worthy. 7 - Parker’s Heritage Cognac Finish: 2 - 2.25 stars Confused nose, confused palate, confused finish…overall came across disjointed, unbalanced and not well-integrated. Possible victim of rushed, end bin tasting for the night. Surprising least favorite of the night. 8 - Michter’s Single Barrel 10Yr: No rating for fairness Smelled, tasted and finished like well-made rye but nothing stood out. To be fair, my palate was prolly tired by this point. Need to try again.