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Rum Runner Press, Inc.
Captain Bligh XO Special Reserve Rum
Paul Senft reviews Captain Bligh XO Special Reserve Rum in the "Angel's Share" section of the 2014 May issue of "Got Rum?" magazine.
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Paul Senft
Captain Bligh XO Special Reserve Rum
The first time I found Captain Bligh XO Special Reserve rum was at the 2013 Caribbean Beer and Rum festival in Grenada. At the end of the festival a friend gave me a bottle and I have been looking forward to sitting down and seeing what it is about.
The rum is produced by the St. Vincent Distillers Ltd. They import molasses and use a double column still to produce their products. Captain Bligh is aged for roughly 10 years in once used oak barrels then blended to 80 proof and bottled.
Appearance/Presentation
The 750 ml bottle is secured with a metal screw cap with cream front and back labels. The name and script are black with gold highlights. The rum holds a light amber color in the bottle and in the glass. Swirling the tasting glass creates a sturdy band with thick legs that descended quickly back down the glass.
Nose
I found the aroma fairly simple - sweet and sugary on top, grounded by oak, with caramel and vanilla in the midline with light bits of alcohol nipping around the edges.
Palate
Sipping the rum reveals a nice solid oak note with a comfortably smooth vanilla note that balances the acridness of the oak. As I continued to sip, I found the flavors blended and a caramel note came into play. As the experience turns towards the finish there is a bite of alcohol that transitions into a dry finish.
Review
I found this rum interesting in its simplicity. This simplicity is not a negative, instead it made it a versatile utility rum. You can sip it neat or mix it in punches or cocktails and it will hold up quite nicely.
Due to the sweetness of the rum I would be careful in using it in sweet cocktails. If you choose to sip it neat, I would recommend it as an after dinner dessert rum. Currently the product is found at St. Vincent and the Grenadine islands and is a fun addition to any bar or rum collection.
Review by Mr. Paul Senft:
Mr. Senft currently serves as owner of www.rumjourney.com. He has a passion for rum and traveling. He has dedicated himself to describing to his readers about his travels through the Caribbean Islands and writing rum reviews. When he is not reviewing a rum, he is hard at work at trying different cocktail recipes.