El Pasador de Oro Grand Reserva Rum

Smooth and intense. It's not sweet, but has just the right amount of sweetness. It's dry, but not excessively so; it's just right. Hints of Cognac are detectable in the flavor, but it's not as dominant as in some other XO rums. If I had to find fault, it would be that I wish it were a little richer, a bit thicker, as it feels quite thin. This is a blend of rums aged between 10 and 18 years from Guatemala, distilled from molasses and then sent to France to mature in Cognac barrels for 6 months. It's bottled in France but spent 99% of its life aging in Guatemala. The glass bottle has a European feel, like a fine Cognac. I got a great deal at Total Wines and Spirits in Westbury, NY, on sale for $38.99, with the everyday price being $44.99. I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had paid $75-100 for this bottle; it's that good. Drinking it neat was excellent, and with an ice cube, it went down far too quickly. I was feeling buzzed before I even looked up to admire the bottle again.

A full-bodied Rum from Guatemala, produced from molasses and matured in the tropical Caribbean environment to impart the maximum oak flavor. It begins with notes of vanilla and caramel; the palate then introduces hints of cinnamon, cocoa, and fruit, culminating in a smooth yet intricate finish. October 2017 / August / December 2018 / January 2022

I picked mine up on a whim at Total Wine in MD. I was quite impressed with this rum; it made for a very good sipping experience. The scent was typical of molasses and sugar, but the smooth finish was unexpected.

I typically drink Havana Club 7 (Cuban) as my go-to sipping rum because it's so smooth. This rum has a smoother taste and lacks the traditional rum 'burn.' Enjoy!

The nose has notes of oak, cognac, flowers, molasses, and caramelized sugar. The palate is sweet with vanilla, caramel, cake, oak, and burnt sugar.

* Final: Short * Nose: Faint, sweet, sugary * Palate: Delicate, sweet, molasses, fine brown sugar