Probitas White Blended Rum

Rated 11/23. This is among the few white rums that truly possess character and are considered excellent. It might even become a regular purchase. Nose: The aroma offers richness alongside sweetness, with a hint of the characteristic Jamaican funk leading into notes of caramel and tropical fruits like green banana, orange, and papaya. Subtle spices, reminiscent of cinnamon and ginger, are also present. It appears promising, though the sweet alcohol is quite noticeable. Palate: Sweetness dominates, featuring tropical fruits from the nose but with a tarter profile. Orange peel is more prominent than anticipated. Spices and warmth are evident, including ginger, a touch of black pepper, and even a hint of cayenne. Some alcohol flavor comes through but isn't overwhelming. There's considerable warmth and a subtle barrel tannin presence, along with light vanilla and a hint of herbal notes and light vegetal funk (not rotten). However, it lacks significant complexity. Finish: Not much is happening here; the burn persists. There's a little sweetness with orange peel, ginger, and a faint peppery note, along with subtle herbal and vegetal undertones. Conclusion: While the alcohol presence is slightly more than I prefer, I appreciate the higher proof for cocktail mixing. Plantation 3 Stars (11/23) offers a fruitier, sweeter, and more accessible taste with less noticeable alcohol, but I would likely choose this rum for mixing. It's a close call between the two for sipping neat, and if I had to decide between this and Plantation, I'd call it a tie. I enjoy the spiciness and herbal notes in this rum, but Plantation's fruitiness is more conventionally pleasing. Plantation has a very slight artificial quality, but it's minor. Considering this, I might slightly prefer this one, but the difference is minimal. What prevents this from being a 12 is that Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (12/23) is clearly superior, and it's not even rated highly. Although I'm rating this as a sipper because it's not a liqueur, I believe it performs better as a mixer and would consider it for that role. If this and Plantation were similarly priced, I'd definitely choose this one. However, given its higher cost and scarcity, I'm unlikely to make it a staple. It's closer to an 11 than a 12, but still an 11. Upon further research, it's a blend of unaged Coffey rum and 2-year-old pot still rum. I suspect the unaged Coffey rum was a misstep. I wish there were less heat and alcohol flavor.

The subtle straw color hints at minimal aging, with the liquid being mostly transparent. It’s not heavy or oily, but has a noticeable viscosity when swirled. The bottle itself is visually appealing, featuring an unusual bulb at the neck and a distinct lip, despite the matte paper labels appearing somewhat unfinished, like early design samples. On the nose, there’s a prominent floral character followed by sweetness and notes of mild fruits such as honeydew and white peach. Hints of pineapple rind, white cake, marjoram, and almond extract are present, along with a faint whiff of petroleum. A lively intensity is noticeable throughout, not overtly alcoholic but strong enough to deter prolonged sniffing. The palate is smooth and flavorful, yet delicate. It echoes the nose with tastes of pineapple rind, melon, and jasmine. It's quite sweet but also sharp and zesty, with a pronounced herbaceous quality, reminiscent of agave in certain dry tequilas or sotol. Flavors of allspice berry, banana peel, and tarragon emerge. This is a solid offering – natural, intriguing, and slightly unusual without being difficult. I prefer it after it's been open for a while, with ample aeration, rather than right after opening. The oxygen appears to mellow the intensity of the Hampden spirit advantageously. It’s quite pleasant for sipping if you enjoy refined, young white rums that still pack a punch, and it works well in a daiquiri needing a bit more complexity. Recommended, though the main drawback is its price point compared to similar quality blended rums like Banks 5 Island or Denizen 3 Year, which are typically in the low $20s, while this one usually costs $25-$30.

This is a solid rum, though not quite what I usually go for. The nose is strong, presenting notes that seem like fried bananas, a combination of caramelized sugar and soft banana, with hints of citrus like lemon or lime. It also carries a touch of that distinctive Jamaican funk, but it isn't overpowering. The palate is brighter, showing flavors of unripe bananas with a noticeable lime zest, yet beneath lies a deeper, richer character akin to dark sugar and browned butter. The banana essence persists throughout the aftertaste. I've realized that the "funky banana" profile typical of Jamaican rums isn't my preferred characteristic in this spirit. While that aspect is present here, it's balanced by mellow brown sugar notes, which makes it enjoyable, but less so than other rums I've sampled. This is a mixture of rum from Barbados and Jamaica, and I find myself favoring the Barbados contribution over the Jamaican, if that's understandable. The Jamaican influence is more apparent in the aroma but is softened in the taste. I've begun using this in daiquiris, and it performs well in that context. It's decent on its own but not something I would typically choose for sipping straight. Nevertheless, at just $21, it's such a good value that I might consider purchasing it occasionally, even if only for daiquiris.

A very pale white wine hue. Smells like simple syrup, granulated sugar, spoiled banana, overripe pineapple, fresh sugarcane, newly cut ginger, cinnamon, jackfruit, stewed vegetables, carrot, tall grass, lychee syrup, jasmine blossom, and brown sugar. The taste is less engaging, though smooth, featuring abundant banana and a hint of black pepper, clove spice, and white sugar. Unfortunately, it seems like a well-made, smooth, somewhat dull Foursquare white rum mixed with 25% an intriguing Hampden swamp bog distillate. It's perfectly adequate as a mixer, but it struggles to hold one's interest as a neat pour.

Here's the honest truth about Probitas. You can embellish its background all you want, and I do appreciate Foursquare, but it costs roughly $30 for 750ml of rum. This places it in competition with many esteemed, aged, and well-regarded products. Therefore, for a white rum, which you'll likely use often, it needs to significantly surpass a 1.75l bottle of Plantation 3 Star. Spoiler alert: it doesn't. The issue isn't that it's bad, but it absolutely doesn't justify its price when that $30 could get you some truly exceptional rums.

Smells floral with a potent tequila aroma. A gentle spice crosses the palate and it goes down quite smoothly. Amazing...it has more tequila character than rum! Seriously, was it matured in tequila barrels? That would also account for the amber hue. Distinct notes of citrus peel and, for some peculiar reason, I'm thinking of yellow blossoms. It's acceptable to consume straight (if you enjoy the profile) but I believe it would excel in a Margarita. My low score stems from the atypical flavor; setting that aside, it's a 2-star drink. The score reflects sipping it neat.