Brown sugar, gingerbread, anise/licorice & cloves aroma from the bottle. Smells sweet. Dark, unmistakably rum. Sweet taste. Brown sugar. The anise flavor upsets the rum taste experience. If you're not into port wine and want a desert drink then here you go. Mixed with cola it was just too sweet for me so if looking to sweeten a drink this would be your "go to" rum. Tasting based on neat sipping.