Denizen Merchants Reserve 8-Year

This rum truly shines as a sipper and I feel like anything else would be a sin. With that being said, I also think this rum would be a solid replacement for the Wray & Nephew 17 year that was used in the original painkiller. This rum has the perfect balance of oak, fruit sweetness, and a finish of grass from the 20% agricole. Do yourself a favor and just grab 2 bottles from the next liquor store you find it. You’ll be glad you did.

Tasted at Hell or High Water, Denver December 7 2023
Appearance: Amber
Aroma: this smells like a fine cigar
Flavor: cigar, bandaid, toffee
This is a flavor powerhouse, to be cherished. Do not share with anyone who does not appreciate fine funky rums. Do not mix with anything, it would be a cruel waste of this fine rum

Just got a bottle, it makes a super Mai Tai. I liked it as a sipper as well. love the funk, it is super!!

Smooth. I could drink it for breakfast. Notes of vanilla etc but it’s mild
Mine says 80% Jamaican and 20% Martinique … description says Trinidad
It’s weird because the smell is almost like a Mai tai without any other ingredients, to me.
This is what it’s meant for actually. But it’s like you get the smell and then the flavor is clean.

Aged funky Jamaican rums are my favorite type of rum and this bottle certainly delivers that. Bottled at 43%, it is similar to Smith & Cross and Plantation Xaymaca, and arguably better than the latter. Costs Slightly more than I’d like to pay for a rum so similar to S&C but it’s rare enough around me that I felt that I had to snag a bottle while I had the chance. If you’re a hogoholic like me, try this rum at least once.

I've tried for years to produce a genuine Mai Tai, and always fell short of my goal. Sure, the Jamaican part is easy; there are several great choices for that part of it. But the Martinique side of it -- that was tough!
There's a two-fold problem here. First, some people claim that a Martinique Rhum Agricole is the key. I believe the original Victor Hogo would say that such persons probably live on a hill, because all their marbles roll out every night. The spicy, grassy, vegetal notes in a Rhum Agricole go great in Three Dots and A Dash, but they do not belong in a Mai Tai. The second problem is that the correct Martinique rum to use, Traditionale, or Grand Arome, is rarely available at retail.
Fortunately, Denizen's produces this product to Martin Cate's specifications, and since I started using this product, it evokes memories of every Mai Tai I have ever had a a Trader Vic's establishment (except the "Old Way" variation I once had at the Beverly Hills Hilton location a dozen years ago, but that's only because the overproof float overpowered the aroma), right back to my very first, which was in 1982 at the Palmer House location in Chicago.
The balance between the esters from the Jamaican and the molasses/caramel character from the Traditionale is masterful. It is fine to sip, especially after adding a few drops of branch water. I've purchased more of this rum than any other, and it has never disappointed.

Found this from Martin Cate's book, and it makes a fantastic mai tai, replacing the no longer available 17-year Wray & Nephew plus a grassy AOC Martinique rum all in one bottle. Normally, combining two rums in a single bottle would be a bad idea, but it works perfectly here. Brilliantly balanced.

I have drank various Jamaican rums for years, and decided to try this based off the reviews here and other places. What a find. It has the wonderful Jamaican funk and the interesting impact from the 20% Martinique rum. Together they make a rum which is excellent in a Mai Tai, but need very little adulteration to be enjoyed.

Bought this because I heard it was created by Martin Cate to resemble the blend Trader Vic used upon running out of Wray and Nephew 17 and 15 for his Mai Tai’s. The Jamaican funk mixed with Martinique molasses ( not agricole) was something that I never tried. It is similar to Plantation OD but a bit more molasses with the banana funk. I am super impressed by this, definitely works as a funky Jamaican for an authentic Mai Tai, or any other tiki cocktail calling for dark Jamaican rum. I have tried the fabled Wray and Nephew Dagger rum and Appleton Rum Punch rums at the Mai Kai and Hukilau. Denizen is closer to the Appleton Punch but with a Smith and Cross hint of funk.

Tasted at Hell or High Water on 12-7-23. Solid gold color. Rich barley-like aroma. Phenomenal flavor of honey and peaches. Palate is rich and full without being syrupy or oily. This is a fantastic rum.