Dos Maderas 5+5 Rum

Amazing sipping rum. Incredibly sweet and drinkable. Haven't noticed the smoke, or complex flavors, but I'm not an expert whatsoever. On the nose, I get raisins, nuts, brown sugar, with hints of vanilla. On the palate, I taste a lot of brown sugar, caramel, oakiness, typical rum notes, and hints of pineapple/tropical fruits on the finish, so sweet and amazing, not incredibly thick, but has a really good texture for a 40%, and easy to drink. Much sweeter/more sugary and approachable than Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva without sugar being added in because the barrels that were used for the sherry have leftover sugar that transfers into the rum through additional years of aging, which makes it authentically sweet and more velvety, especially if you are purist about spirits; it's also better priced than the Diplomatico! The things I do not like so far, but hope to find throughout finishing the bottle is, the complexity of flavors, and smoke that was listed as well as the spices. Also, the finish is extended, but very light and medium length, or intensity of flavors, I'd say, but so far, this is a really underrated rum priced incredibly well, and doesn't need anything done to it to enjoy, just drink it straight up! Might be my new favorite rum! Update: This has grown on me after opening, getting more creamy buttery vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, and cinnamon raisin bread as well as coca cola notes. There's a nostril burn, spiciness, sourdough and savory quality that compliments it. More raisin and wine notes come out after putting in coffee (just to test the flavor). When drank out of a warm cup, it brings out more creamy and buttery vanilla, and I have yet to try it chilled, but it seems like either warm, or chilled, will bring out different texture, and characteristics, but seems more weirdly versatile than it seems.

Very sweet. Significant sherry/brandy taste to it. Pretty much only a sipping rum. Doesn't work with the majority of cocktails, including old fashions or sours. El Presidente is the only cocktail, that I found, that tasted good with it. (However, I am only a self taught mixologist, who only mixes for family and friends... so please dont interpret my mixing abilities for that of a professional). Club soda, or slightly diluted with water brings out a whole host of earthy flavors and cuts back on the sherry/brandy taste. Bourbon flavors come out with that dilution. It is still a very pleasurable sipping rum, but unfortunately doesn't have much to offer beyond that. I feel the flavor profile, even though it reminds me slightly of Plantation Xyamaca complexity, is too varied for most cocktails (unlike Plantation Xyamaca).

An elegant, triple aged Rum originates from aged Rum stocks of Barbados & Guyana. It is aged in three steps. First for 5 years in the Carribean in American oak casks, then 3 years in the Spanish facilities of Bodegas Williams & Humbert in their sherry casks which previously held "Dos Cortados" Palo Cortado Sherry. And finally, aged for another 2 years in casks used for the 20 years old "Don Guido" Pedro Ximénez Sherry. It has an aromatic birth with notes of caramel, Sherry, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & fruit, while a rich & spicy life adds notes caramel, chocolate, tobacco, leather & honey; that led to a long & balanced death with notes of Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask, licorice, caramel & nuts. October 2017 / May / October 2018 / November 2019

Very smooth, and certianly on the sweet side. Hides the natural rum flavors a bit, but still very enjoyable and quite unique. Update: after a few tastes on different days, I’m significantly downgrading this. It’s too sweet for my sensibilities, and more problematic still, it just doesn’t taste enough like aged rum. Instead, I get another flavor taking over midway through the taste that I assume is the sherry, which fights with the rum enough to confuse itself. Wanted to like this more, but just not for me.

Gentle vanilla & raisin smell. Tastes of dried apricot, raisins, & hint of vanilla caramel. Sweet but doesn't have that "rum" flavor I like. While smooth on the tongue, after swallowing there is spice along the sides & back of the tongue and down the throat that lingers -- while not necessarily harsh it's too much for me and tips the scale for me to not enjoy this as a sipping rum. Would be fine for a cocktail that needs sweetness and a slight [spicy] kick. Rating is based on neat sipping.

[LOOK] Grade B maple syrup [NOSE] Cinnamon rolls just out of the oven, currants, minced raisins, cloves [PALATE] Pedro Ximenez all over this, bread pudding, sun dried figs, Spanish caracolas, super oily, flat Coca Cola, cooking sherries [FINISH] Short, Fig Newton-y, cracked fig seeds, sweet [MOUTHFEEL] Viscous, flows easily, develops seedy notes, easy