Kirk and Sweeney 23 Year Rum

This expression, which I believe is 23 years old, has ceased production. The updated, age-statement-free rum is now called Gran Reserva Superior. It offers aromas reminiscent of baking cookies, specifically the act of creaming butter and brown sugar. 18/20 The initial taste is welcoming and warm, featuring notes of brown sugar, butterscotch, and toasted vanilla. A faint fruitiness is detectable. 26/30 The conclusion lingers pleasingly but is still quite brief. Subsequent tastes reveal greater complexity; there's a lot to explore. 20/25 The vessel itself is striking. A gold seal on the cork details the place where Kirk and Sweeney was seized by the coast guard, and the neck label is designed to resemble a coast guard seizure tag. Most of the cork has broken off inside the bottle's neck, leaving a small, unexpectedly yielding portion to grip, which makes uncorking difficult. 16/20 Personally, I'm not a fan of the cork or the neck tag, but I appreciate everything else. It carries a significant cost, yet it's likely warranted. I'm assigning a score of 4/5, resulting in an overall score of 84/100.

I've sampled several rums over two decades old, but none at this price point. It's a significant understatement to say I doubt its 23-year age statement. Despite my reservations, I bought a bottle to taste. While I remain unconvinced about its age, or at least the entirety of it, it's not terrible. The aroma presents toffee and oak, though neither is very prominent. The taste is decent, albeit somewhat one-dimensional, with traces of oak, vanilla, and spice. It's quite full-bodied and gives the impression of a well-aged rum, but likely closer to 15 years than 23. It's not overly sweet, which is a pleasant surprise (independent analysis has detected no additives). The finish, however, is disappointing. It's brief, with some spice, but a surprisingly sharp burn, especially for an 80-proof spirit. I still don't think it's 23 years old, but regardless, it's a decent rum, just lacking complexity. Considering the cost, it offers excellent value.

I feel about this purchase like I would if I got home and connected some shoddy speakers I bought off the back of a truck. Don't buy into the buzz or dishonest reviews; this spirit is unremarkable. The stated 'age' must be a gag, unless it was aged in a glass cask with a flux capacitor. Four Square rum easily surpasses this in every way. Save your cash and your time; it's bland, the aroma is completely dulled, and the flavors resemble cheap rum that's a notch below Captain Morgan. Apologies, youngsters, but this was among the poorest acquisitions I've made recently, even for $50.

A wonderful aroma in a smooth and very easy-to-drink rum. It certainly tastes like its stated proof. I'd be keen to try it at cask strength. A lovely finish. If you're a bourbon fan, don't hesitate to venture into rum with this one. Aroma: vanilla bean, caramel, cola syrup, buttery and caramelized brown sugar, mint chocolate like Andes mints, hints of pot still, pecan and cinnamon swirl pastries, candied oranges. Taste: molasses, cola syrup, rich chocolate, dates, almonds, vanilla & maple bourbon syrup. Finish: caramel macchiato, amaretto

The perfect example of what I imagine good aged rum to be. It leans toward the drier side. Quite woody and spicy, as one might expect after 23 years. The woodiness complements the rum itself, which is quite well-rounded and mellow (not Jamaican). My main critique would be that I wish it were higher proof. As it stands, it seems a little flat and one-dimensional, which is a shame for such an old product. But nothing about it tastes bad. Get a bottle if you can find one.

While superior to its younger counterparts, it doesn't quite meet expectations. It has a light aroma of vanilla, caramel, and cola. The flavor leans more towards caramel than vanilla, finishing with an orangey alcohol heat. I find it tastes better as a quick sip rather than something to savor. In mixed drinks, it adds a more alcoholic flavor and a sense of increased sweetness, acting as an enhancement or boost. Not bad at all. Rating is based on neat sipping.