Appearance: Clear clover honey. Nose: A rum packed with aromas and complexity, there are the savory underpinnings of tahini, button mushroom and saltine cracker, but the sweet, molasses origins are still present. The peat from the Islay casks has leant a curious minerality (silica, beeswax, and a subtle iodine note). With more time, herbal notes start to unravel. They take the form of freshly cut peat, sarsaparilla, and a touch of lily. Finally, the rum yields a cascade of fruity notes: lemon peel, peach, and passionfruit weave together with caramelized banana and candied ginger. Palate: Sweet and tart passionfruit juice fills the mouth, accented with overripe pineapple, lemon oil, honey, and candied grapefruit. After the initial rush of fruit, a thread of smoke and a gentle herbal accent (sarsaparilla, menthol, wintergreen) lend complexity. This is a classic Jamaican rum with something more, a touch of sophistication and complexity that clearly came from somewhere else. Finish: The exit is remarkably soft for such a bright and feisty spirit; waxy and buttery, with notes of banana, char, rosemary and just a drop of root beer. This rum is high in alcohol but surprisingly balanced. It is a truly special spirit.