Kirk and Sweeney Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Dominican Rum NV 750ml

Aged between 5 and 20 years, this rum offers a concentrated caramel aroma. The palate opens with salted caramel, plus plenty of brown sugar, toffee and fig. The flavors dry to oak, burnt orange peel and unsweetened cocoa powder on the puckery, cayenne-warmed finish.

Deep tawny/old copper color; excellent clarity. Wow, there's an entire symphony of aromas happening here, everything from coca butter to candied almond to pipe tobacco to old leather books to vanilla extract to cake frosting and that's just for starters; second passes mirror the first whiffs, adding dark chocolate, toasted bread, toasted marshmallow; an amazing bouquet. Entry is succulent, and marginally more bittersweet than flat-out sweet, honeyed, almost sherry like, deeply characterful; midpalate maintains the entry aspects but the textural difference is what makes this stage so delectable as the body goes silky smooth and oily. Finishes long, honeyed, spicy, fabulously tasty. All this for less than $50/ Rum continues to be the best value spirits category by miles.