John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

I'm exploring more Tiki-style beverages and thought this would enhance my cocktail creations. It's sweet but not excessively so. Citrus notes are present, along with some spice on the finish. These elements help balance the liqueur's sweetness. Thus far, I've incorporated it with rum in a straightforward Corn 'n Oil, a variation of that cocktail with lime juice, and with rye whiskey. I appreciated the basic Corn 'n Oil recipe using 1/2 oz of this liqueur and 2 oz of dark rum (I used a specific rum). The touch of citrus and spice it contributed was enjoyable. Subsequently, I tried the same drink with bitters. Typically, I add two dashes of bitters to cocktails, but this drink is better with just one. Two dashes of bitters overwhelmed the rum and the liqueur. Later, I added lime juice. This is when the drinks truly started to impress! The fresh lime juice complements the lime flavors within the liqueur, making it delicious! Finally, I created a variation of a Manhattan, substituting this liqueur for sweet vermouth. It was good, but again, the drink excelled with the addition of 1/2 oz of lime juice. In summary, I am eager to experiment with this in other cocktails. Currently, I find it works very well as a secondary mixer when combined with lime juice.

Can't fault the original, but it was an interesting experiment to try this by itself. It's very syrupy, with all the flavors present in a very subdued manner. Maybe someone unfamiliar with it might think it's just slightly off simple syrup. Competitors and homemade versions are likely much stronger. It's creamy on the tongue and quite sweet, gently rounded with notes of marzipan, lime, ginger, and perhaps a faint clove. Fresh cane is noticeable but barely. All this combines to a distinct flavor and aroma that is easily recognized but hard to pinpoint due to its complexity and mildness. Nevertheless, it's delicious, well-crafted, and performs its intended function in countless tiki drinks, both in flavor and texture. Unlike other (somewhat) unusual liqueurs, it's very affordable.

As a component in tiki beverages, John D Taylor's Velvet Falernum is a reliable choice. However, if tiki cocktails are not your preference, you can safely skip this one. The aroma is dominated by sugarcane and clove. The palate features lime, nutmeg, and significant sweetness. The texture is very thick and syrupy, almost excessively so. Being a very low proof drink, it has no burn whatsoever, delivering only sweetness. I would not recommend drinking this straight unless you intend to experiment with its use in various drinks. It is clearly designed for tiki cocktails, so stick to that application.

Neat. The smell has cloves, lime, ginger, rum, and almond. It's like a mild and pleasant Bay Rum cologne/aftershave. The taste mirrors the aroma, but it's very sweet like simple syrup and extremely soft and smooth. Not ideal for sipping neat, but it serves as an excellent cocktail modifier, replacing simple syrup. It's essential for many tropical and tiki drinks.

A rich, rum-based liqueur from Barbados offering an aromatic start with notes of citrus, nuts, herbs & spices; a full body adds notes of lime, clove & almonds; culminating in a well-rounded, moderately long finish. November 2016

This is a truly one-of-a-kind and potentially amazing mixer. I'm struggling to pinpoint the aroma or flavor beyond "very sweet," similar to cotton candy. If you enjoy rum cocktails, I highly recommend it.