Añejo Reserva arehucas 12 años

Score: 11/23 Nose: Rich and sweet. Toasted notes with gentle wood and peanut shells. A faint trace of printer paper. My main impression is of moderately toasted wood fresh from the oven. There's also an unusual hint of chamomile. Perhaps some vanilla alongside floral notes. Palate: This is more bitter with a stronger kick than anticipated. Chamomile is surprisingly dominant. There's a spicy quality, though it's hard to identify. Some sweetness is certainly present, but it's somewhat concealed by the bitterness. It possesses a more floral, herbal taste, with a significant amount of orange. There's a bit of richness I associate with vanilla combined with very mellow (though not watery) molasses. While not exactly watery, its absence of sweet viscosity makes it seem somewhat lacking. It's a little muddled at this low alcohol content and is really missing something. Finish: Some molasses bitterness with mild sweetness combines with orange peel and faint herbal notes. I'm still detecting some chamomile. - Conclusion - This is an unusual rum. It's interesting to sample and I find some enjoyment in it, but it's more of a curiosity than something I truly favor. Ron Abuelo 12 is certainly superior to this, as is Panama Pacific 23 (16/23). The floral-herbal-chamomile profile here is quite intriguing, but I don't think I'm that fond of it. It's a peculiar character and I believe I could appreciate it if the rest were better overall, but the remaining aspects are somewhat diminished. I don't dislike this, but I do find it wanting. For comparison with another surprisingly light and dry spirit, I.W. Harper 15 (14/23) offers more complexity with a pleasant array of spicy notes, and even hints of orange and cherry. This spirit is sweeter and more syrupy by comparison, but also more watery. I detect more molasses, which is to be expected. This tastes closer in quality to the I.W. Harper, but I might slightly prefer the I.W. Harper. It seems a bit more cohesive and deliberate. Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (12/23) is richer and fuller. It's also rougher, but it has a higher alcohol content. There's more nuance here, but it's flatter and less enjoyable. I didn't expect to score this low, but I'm leaning towards an 11 now. Probably not a 10, but maybe. Regrettably, I'm settling on an 11.

Is it whisky or rum? Tastes like whisky:-) not overly sweet