Mezan Jamaica XO

The Bottle: Very singular as far as rums go. Squat, thick-bottomed bottle with a very elegant label. There's a lot of good, succinct information about the rum itself and tells you pretty much everything that you need to know. It's quite the looker. In the Glass: Light straw. On the Nose: Sweet & sour, banana, wood spice and some alcohol nip. You can definitely tell that this is a Jamaican rum, with that banana/ester thing going on; but this doesn't smell like a kiddie cocktail or a bottle of pumpkin spice mix. It's got a very "clean" smell to it, for lack of a better expression. Taste: Semi-sweet arrival, sweet development and a dry finish. As the flavor develops, the heavy banana and spice notes come forward in a very pleasant way. Imagine the way a spice shop keepers leather apron would smell...it tastes like that. The drying aspect to this on the finish isn't really bitter at all, it just has a distinct lack of sweetness that you might otherwise expect from a sipping rum. Honestly, this stuff comes across very much like a whisky would. There's a clean, understated complexity to this that keeps you coming back for more. Definitely a good bell-weather for whether or not you like Jamaican rum as opposed to from somewhere else. The "untouched" aspect of Mezan really comes through in this offering. This would be great in something like a Mojito, but it's just as suitable to a Glencairn nosing glass. Generally found for under $30, which makes it one of the better buys out there in the "golden" rum category. Recommended for whisky drinkers who want to venture out!

This is an amazingly rich and complex rum. Buttery, banana, wet clay, slightly minerally, and that tobacco smell when someone has a fresh pack of Winstons. Before they smoke them. Because after they smoke them, it smells like a putrid truck stop. But before they smoke them, it's kind of pleasant. This is a stunning rum. I paid $25 for this. It might be the best value of any spirit I have on the shelf.

Light sourness, grassy and fruity smell. Taste reminds of sweet sour apples and banana, accentuated with light woody notes. Leaves a fruity and very light pepperiness, slight caramel finish with hints of bitterness followed by strong fruity flavors. Worth its money.

Nose: very fruity, pear, banana, burned plastic (not very pleasant), ester Palate: fruit, pear, spicy Finish: fruit, still burned plastic but not as strong as the smell

Light gold colour Smells fruits and powerful nose Explodes in mouth with banana taste Sharp but also some sweetness that makes it round Excellent

Expressive and uncompromising rum. Quite heavy. Bananas, wax, sugar cane, smoke and herbs. Jamaican Laphroaig? ;)