Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum

Mostly used this for drinks, so I'm writing down thoughts before I finish it. It's labeled "12 year" and not "12 reserva," so it's from before they changed to NAS. The bottle looks good, unique, and catches the eye. The old-school cork stopper is charming but a pain to pull out; maybe I'll use my teeth like a pirate for that effortlessly cool vibe. Smelled neat in a Glencairn. Looks like a nice coppery honey. Has a slightly oily body with slow-moving legs. The aroma is strong and full, but ultimately boring and uninspiring. Overpowering vanilla with hardly any sweetness – like vanilla extract. More ethanol than I'd expect for the low proof and (supposedly) long aging. Very little fruit. Maybe some faint notes that almost became spiced pear but never quite made it? The taste has much more vanilla, plus citrus peel – mostly orange, with some grapefruit and lemon. The mouthfeel is moderately pleasant and buttery. It's sweeter than the smell, but still nicely on the dry side. A hint of bitter burnt sugar. Some "almost melon" flavors are unfortunately dominated by the vanilla. A tart/tangy sensation remains on the cheeks. I can't get away from the "rummy" description – and here, it's not a compliment (think Bacardi silver), but maybe that's expected for a Spanish-style rum. It's a bit rougher than the price suggests, but the main issue is the dull and somewhat disconnected flavor. It's drinkable, but boring and one-dimensional. It's not over-oaked, but honestly, I might have preferred less barrel time to find some of the tropical fruits that I'm sure were once present – many younger, cheaper rums will be better. Try Appleton 8 for a good value aged rum.

The aroma starts with profound vanilla bean, not vanilla wafers or frosting, but a strong, dark whole Madagascar vanilla bean that takes no prisoners. Once the vanilla blast fades, you get butterscotch pudding, dulce de leche, toasted marshmallow, sweet tobacco, and cane sugar. The taste coats the mouth, with a syrupy sweetness of milk chocolate, butter cream, sweet oak, meringue, cinnamon sugar, and brief hints of new leather and dried brown raisins. The finish carries on with the vanilla and another powerful hit of green sugar cane. There are some other rich, dessert-like flavors like bananas foster and Boston cream pie, but this largely belongs to the vanilla. Besides a slight banana-clove note on the finish (blended with a maple syrup flavor), the fruit and citrus elements are muted. The sweetness remains constant, making this clearly a digestif.

This brand carries some prestige. It was recommended, and I really like the bottle's design. It has a pirate theme and is comfortable to hold. The cork makes a satisfying THOONK sound, which is pleasing. However, after that, I'm perplexed. Didn't this bottle used to say 12 "years" on it? Now it simply says 12 reserva. That would be great if it tasted as it used to, but it's nowhere close, and it's not just my imagination. The flavor of overwhelming vanilla extract, which certainly didn't come from wood sugars, is fake as hell. Kirk. Sweeney. Whoever you imposters are, return the original recipe, and you can regain your former reputation. Until then, I won't be touching your shoddy liquor. So there.

Visually, this is lighter than most 12-year-old rums. The aroma is mostly vanilla, with just a hint of spice. On the palate, vanilla remains dominant, and the spice note becomes a bit more pronounced. There's a more noticeable alcohol burn that feels a little hotter than 80 proof. Overall, it's an enjoyable spirit to sip, but it lacks a Jamaican "funk." The cork really needs improvement; it's difficult to remove, and I ended up with pieces of the paper seal in the bottle.

I'm definitely not the most seasoned rum drinker. My background is in Scotch, Irish, Japanese whisky, and Bourbon. However, for around $30, this is a fantastic drink to have on its own. It's heavily dominated by vanilla, with a sweetness reminiscent of vanilla extract. Yet, beneath that, you can find notes of toasted pecans, lemon zest, barrel char, and earthy black tea. It lacks complexity, but considering the price of $30 and a 12-year age statement, there's very little to find fault with.

Mildly sweet and spicy. Lightly floral and bright. I enjoy it more the longer its medium finish lasts. My only criticism is that it lacks a well-rounded character in its flavor profile. However, its straightforwardness and subtle vanilla notes make it very enjoyable. Based on my positive experience with this bottle, I will certainly explore Kirk & Sweeny's aged offerings.