Havana Club Añejo Clásico Puerto Rican Rum

Gold Rum Tasting - Quatro, mostly Spanish-style Havana Club Anejo (USA) Don Q Gold Bacardi Gold Koloa Kauai Gold Havana Club Disclaimer: bottle open for a while, still ~2/3 full A - Medium gold hue, like German bier N - Fairly strong ethanol, hints of caramel and… crème brûlée? P/F - Hollow impression of Carmel and vanilla, like from a dried out old rum cork, but somewhat light; slight earthy bitterness like young oak; subtle sweetness but still not really fruity, ethanol is restrained, bitterness builds on the palate Follow-up - Smells like sophisticated carmel candy, tastes like toffee bar after returning. Verdict - possibly doesn’t belong in this category, but surprised with better-developed “usual suspects” type flavors, and stood out in terms of color to the last sip. Might remain more noticeable in a mixed drink than others. Don Q Disclaimer - nearly a bottle kill, and mostly empty for quite a while, months probably A - Pale straw, like a dry white wine N - Light ethanol, toffee and some fruit, papaya maybe? P/F - Light but inoffensive, barely a burn, caramel; burnt sugar, some burn, some wood tannin; brown bread, subtle vanilla, no fruit really Follow-up - Smells like a fruit bowl, tastes like agave nectar after returning. Verdict - lovely fruitiness compared with the others, almost shockingly so. Likely a more harmonious mixer, and pleasant enough to sip on its own. Inviting nose and rewarding palate. Bacardi Disclaimer: Freshly-cracked small 2 dcl bottle, but sat on dram store shelf who knows how long… A - Medium light gold, like domestic beer N - Cleaning products as first, but then ethanol, steeped black tea? Then finally some sweetness, like vanilla latte syrup P/F - Smooth entry with some light vanilla carmel; more subtly sweetness with almost-bitter woody pine-wood lingering; vaguely sweet, somewhat ethanol, light bitterness Follow-up - Smells like sawdust, tastes like dregs of watered-down vanilla iced latte after returning. Verdict - bad nose with smooth taste, oddly enough, although a less-enticing flavor palate than others in the category, can see why this might be a friendly go-to for mixing, if one sought a less filtered experience than the ubiquitous BCB. Koloa Kauai Disclaimer: from a sample bottle bought at the distillery store, and not opened right away upon returning home. A - Light gold, like oaked Chardonnay N - At first, savory, almost bready, like a fresh baked homemade loaf, then oddly sweet, like cleaning products, and almost a cucumber vegetal note, odd. P - Light flavor, some burn, some lingering wood; not fruity, somewhat earthy, barely sweet; faint but round flavor of some nutty dessert Follow-up - Smells like hay, tastes like buttered pancakes with a hint of dried maple syrup upon returning. — So this probabbly doesn’t fit well in the category, but what else to compare this with? Verdict - the different process shows in the product, with unusual notes making their way across the nose and palate. Curious to try a small daiquiri, but makes me think more of a cane juice spirit than molasses from the unusual and unexpected notes.

Does it count if I bought this today to make bananas foster, but took a few sips in the process? Few sips is about all I was able to take unadulterated. Just tastes like artificial sweeter, like saccharin. It probably was meant to be more of a mixer I guess rather than a neat sipper. Anyway, can't complain for $15, and it served it purpose in the banana foster. Will surely use it again for a dessert recipe, but absolutely not as a sipper.

Don't let anyone trick you into thinking that this is a real Havana Club. There's no flavor! There's a hint of vanilla and sugar if you really pay attention, but even calling it a hint is being generous. Drinking this is like drinking tap water. Like drinking tap water in a country where you probably shouldn't do that, perhaps. But not more than that. Only for use as a mixer, and even then there's better options.

Nose is a little harsh, mainly alcohol with a light tang and general rum like aroma. Flavor has some sharp woody edges, dry, bitter oak, tangy middle note, thin body with a little pancake syrup on the finish. Sugar added? No vanilla or raisin, no maple or butterscotch. This is workmanlike. Not overly rich or flavorful. Inoffensive but not standout.

It's not bad but I'm not sipping this. It smells like vanilla and alcohol. There's a brown sugar taste up front followed by a full lingering burn. It does make nice mixed drinks so I'll use it for that, as it's fairly inexpensive.

Smooth. Fruity profile. Soft on the nose and the palate. Young blend. Best used for mixing but fine sipping rum paired well with Montecristo Nicaragua series. Mixes well with coffee(espresso) sugar and vermouth cocktail