Nose: Fruity, demerara sugar, cane sugar, vanilla pods and a touch of barrel character. The merest hint of hogo – nothing to be scared of, it's faint and just adds character. Palate: Sweet and spicy entry – assertive but not overbearing. It develops into brown and raw sugar notes with some vanilla. The texture is a little thin, but that’s actually not a negative – it’s equally not cloying or over-sugared, and the profile is dry overall, which is fine by me. Finish: Short. Mild and a little underwhelming. As a sipping rum it’s OK, about on a par with entry-level blended scotch so nothing horrible, just ... OK. However as a mixer this nails it and it’s brilliant in a Cuba libre. The character of the rum shows through but without being sickly or dominating and I look forward to using it in other mixed drinks and cocktails. I think this could successfully substitute for a white rum in many contexts, where it would contribute a little more character but not change the essential nature of the drink. Good stuff at a fair price. The official notes and rating are on target. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)