Kirk and Sweeney 23 Year Rum

Firstly, as far as I can gather, the 23 year old expression has been discontinued, the new, non-age stated rum is the Gran Reserva Superior. In the glass, the smell reminds me of making cookies, creaming butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. 18/20 The first sip is warm and inviting, brown sugar, butterscotch, toasted vanilla. Some fruit is present, but subtle. 26/30 The finish is long enough to be interesting, but still relatively short. Additional sips show increasing depth of flavor, there’s plenty to dig into here. 20/25 The bottle is beautiful, the cork is sealed with a gold tape bearing the location where the Kirk and Sweeney was taken by the coastguard, and the neck tag supposed to invoke a coastguard impound tag. Most of the cork is in the neck of the bottle, leaving just a tiny, surprisingly spongy, bit to grab, making opening the bottle tricky. 16/20 Subjectively, I don’t like the cork, or the neck tag, but love the rest of it. It’s pricey, but probably justifiably. I’m giving 4/5 here for a grand total of 84/100.

I have had a few 20 plus year aged rums, but none that were this cheap. To say I am skeptical that this is 23 years old is probably an understatement. I still picked up a bottle to try for myself and while I still dont believe it's that old or at least all of it is that old, it's not bad. On the nose I get toffee and oak, but neither is all that pronounced. The palate is solid, if not a bit of a one trick pony, with hints of oak along with vanilla and spice. It's pretty rich and seems to come off as a well aged rum, but not 23 years, maybe closer to 15. It's not all that sweet which is a pleasant surprise (others have done tests and have found no additives). The finish unfortunately is a letdown. Its quick, with some spice, but a surprisingly harsh burn, especially for an 80 proof rum. I still dont believe its 23 years old but regardless it's a solid rum just not very complex. For the price though it's a very good value.

I’ll equate this purchase to how I would feel when I got home and hooked up cheap speakers I bought from the back of a truck. Don’t believe the hype, or fake reviews...this stuff is nothing special - the “age” on this is some sort of joke - unless we’re talking about it being aged in a glass barrel with a flux capacitor. Four square rum blows this stuff out of the water in every which. Don’t waste your money, or your time- it’s very bland, the nose is totally muted, and the tasting elements are that of cheap rum one step BELOW captain morgan. Sorry kids, but this was one of the worst purchases I’ve made in A while - even at $50

Gorgeous nose in a smooth and very approachable rum. Definitely drinks at its proof. Would love to encounter this at a cask strength. Lovely finish. If you are a bourbon lover, don’t hesitate to take this foray into rum. Nose: vanilla bean, caramel, cola syrup, buttered and caramelized brown sugar, mint chocolate ala Andes mints, notes of pot still, pecan and cinnamon twirl pastries, candied oranges. Palate: molasses, cola syrup, rich chocolate, dates, almonds, vanilla & maple bourbon syrup. Finish: caramel macchiato, amaretto

The platonic ideal of what I imagine good aged rum to be. It’s on the drier side of things. Pretty woody and spicy, like you’d expect after 23 years. And the woodiness plays well against the rum itself, which is pretty rounded and mellow (not Jamaican). If I were to criticize it, I would mainly want it to be higher proof. As it is, it comes across a little flat and one-note, which is a shame for such an old product. But nothing about it tastes bad. Snag a bottle if you can find it.

While better than its younger brethren it's not as good as it should be. Light vanilla, caramel, and cola aroma. Flavor is a bit more caramel than vanilla, ending in an orangish alcohol heat. I think it tastes better as a quick sip than one that you would let linger in your mouth. Gives mixed drinks a more alcoholic flavor and a feeling of more sweetness, like an enhancement or boost. Not bad at all. Rating is based on neat sipping.