Banks 5 Island Rum

Bright and clear, with a moderate body but leaving rich trails down the glass, which is surprising given its low proof and likely young age. The aroma is striking, nicely married with a collection of young tropical fruits and herbal scents. Pineapple, banana peel, oregano. I completely concur with a prior taster's tarragon note. Brown rice? It's assertive and complex, yet smooth as silk. Clean, young, and bright. You can keep smelling it all day. Truly pleasant. Oh wow. The taste is also great. A hint of sweet syrup and pineapple juice interact with the aromas from the nose, then settle on the tongue with bitter lime zest, mint, and a bit of artificial sweetener. A thin layer of Tahitian vanilla. Then, those herbs reappear and linger on the tongue, slightly detracting from the finish with a bitter, earthy quality instead of a tropical conclusion. A minor criticism, at best. Did we just become best friends? Yes! This offers a lot of affordable enjoyment. Amazing. Credit to E&A Scheer. If you enjoy young, expressive rum: this is perfect for drinking neat. If you enjoy clean, appealing rum for cocktails: this is perfect for shaking with fruit juice. If you don't enjoy either of those: just give me one sunny Saturday and I could probably change your mind.

White, lightly aged, blanco, or silver rums – whatever terminology you prefer – are not typically my go-to for neat sipping. However, I do possess a fair number of them, so I decided to sample eight to determine the best (among Angostura, Privateer, Havana Club, Cana Brava, Barbancourt, Flor de Cana, Banks 5 Island, & El Dorado). Another white rum I anticipated enjoying more, this one unfortunately didn't perform as well. As a mixer for cocktails, it's a solid option and makes a very good daiquiri, but beyond that, I was surprised by how straightforward this rum turned out to be. The aroma is somewhat unusual, with overripe bananas. I'd consider it the most appealing aspect of trying this one, while the palate is acceptable but leans too heavily into sweetness with hints of tropical fruit and grassy notes. It feels unfocused, and the finish is brief and sharp. It's certainly an improvement over the Angostura and Flor de Cana white rums, but it doesn't outperform the others on the list. There's a good rum contained within, but it doesn't shine when sipped neat; it's best reserved for cocktails.

My go-to silver rum. I discovered this gem and it's now a regular in my collection. The nose is full of tropical notes mixed with an apothecary feel, with plenty of stone fruits, pineapple, herbs, and potent funky aromas. The palate is incredibly clean and full of funk, with great pineapple and apple notes, followed by aromatics and herbs, almost a hint of agave at the finish. The finish is long and amazing. This is truly a great spirit and a fantastic addition to any rum cocktail.

An intriguing white rum for tasting on its own, and even better in mixed drinks. In a daiquiri, the caramel sweetness persists through the mid-palate, while the distinctive Jamaican and Arrack characteristics provide balance, creating the most delicious and complex daiquiri I have ever made. For sipping, the finish offers notes of tarragon leaf, green banana, hogo, pineapple, and lime rind. A truly well-crafted rum. Highly recommended.

A crystal clear white rum. Aromas of ether, grass, mint, and vanilla. Quite a lot is happening on the nose. On the palate, you get that Jamaican funky aroma, vanilla, with a sweet, mellow finish. It's a great white rum that could be enjoyed neat but is also a top-tier mixer.

Excellent bright notes, ideal for a daiquiri