Doctor Bird Pot Still

Not sure where to start on this one. I purchased this purely to use in tiki cocktails as I'd seen it referenced by name in some recipes. I'm afraid this is going to be long winded! Sorry!
As soon as the cork was pulled the pot still aromas literally exploded out of the bottle! Although there is a lot of alcohol in the nose it's not hot or solvent like. A lot of fruit with hints of strawberry, kiwi, perhaps ripe banana and some of the muscatel coming through. Perhaps a hint of sour or tartness as well.
After letting it breathe for a few minutes I dropped a cube in, swirled, let it rest and then revisited the aroma. Very similar but perhaps a bit less intense. Very smooth and pleasing aroma (if you like Jamaican funkiness) with some sweet aromas coming out. I swear that as this opens up I get hints of mint!!
For 50% alcohol I find this very, very smooth. Warming but not hot in my opinion. Quite different than I imagined. The flavor is full and funky but less in your face than I at first thought when getting the first aromas from the snifter. Still a big flavorful fully aromatic pot still rum but somehow well rounded. Some sweetness late leading into the finish most likely from the muscatel barrels but it's definitely not a sweet rum. Hints of dry woody character but less than I expected for an 8 year rum.
This is a really surprising rum. Although funky and mostly dry it's well balanced and has great body and flavor.
Definitely not for everyone. I think if you like funky Jamaican rum then you can't go wrong even if only using as a mixer in tiki cocktails but I like this one on the rocks! If you don't like Jamaicans or think that Appleton is too funky then run for the hills and leave this to those who appreciate the funk and flavor of pot still Jamaican rum.
At $28 (from Binny's in Chicago) this is quite a bargain. A solid must for tiki and funk enthusiasts! I give it a solid 8 for it's unique character and wonderful complexity. As is stated by many other reviewers this is not a rum for everyone so if you only like sweet sugar bomb rums or shy away form other funky Jamaican rums then don't try this one and give it a poor rating. It is what it is!

Fantastic. Lots of raisin and grape notes of course. Super funky worthy park distillate. Worth a buy. Maybe more than a few times.

I didn't always like Jamaican rums, but as I've come to understand the process I've also come to appreciate the funky taste. I found this on a visit to Detroit. Two James is a local distillery there, who brought in barrels of rum from Jamaica, and bottled it in Detroit (basically using their distillery/bottling license to get around Michigan's outdated alcohol import laws).

I poured it neat, and could smell the rum as soon as I started to pour. It has a strong aroma of over-ripe apricots with a slight tickle of the nose. The first sip has an interesting blend of sweet and tart with just a little burn on the back of the tongue. It leaves behind a fruity aftertaste like dried apricots and raisins.

I added an ice cube, and it brought out even more of the fruitiness.

This is a great sipper, especially if you enjoy the funk. Cheers!

Robustly full of flavor, and yes, funky as all get-go. But all in a good way. A fine, fine mixer to bring out some Jamaican spin. I drink it neat, as well. Not for everyone, but that's the whole point.

Update: The more I drink this stuff, the more I like it. Try it in light cocktails, like a funky daiquiri, to bring out its flavors and let it shine. Again, it's not for everyone.

Flavorful pot stilled rum with plenty o' funk. At 100 proof, its a little too strong for me to drink neat (despite loving the flavor), but it holds it own very well in a cocktail.

An absolute funk bomb on the nose, huuuuuge aromas of overripe/rotting fruit, especially banana, with some subtle notes of sun-dried raisins and apricots. Pungent in a way that smacks you in the face and demands you take notice. Initial taste is a little bit of ethanol sharpness followed immediately by some woody tannin laced with dried fruits and a dry bitterness like a black tea almost? Quite complex and interesting to pull flavors out of over a couple of sips. The finish is fairly short, but leaves the lingering black tea notes and banana esters sticking around a good bit longer. Weird and wonderful, quite unlike most things I've had before.

Who would have thought you'd get a nice funky Jamaican rum from a bottler based in Detroit?

It has a bit of Worthy Park funk going on (Rum-Bar, Hamilton Pot Still Black) but its not over the top funky and has a lot of other flavors going on to make it interesting. And the price around $30 makes it a great value. The ratings are all over the place, probably because the WP funk isn't for everyone, but if you like that style this is a must try.

100-proof high-ester rum from Jamaica for just $25.99. I will probably always have a bottle of this on my shelf, as the price to quality is quite high. I don't know if it will replace Probitas (aka Veritas) as my go-to cocktail rum, but it is in the discussion.

Solid 7/10 rum on its own. Bonus point for the price.

This rum is truly amazing. Whether you’re mixing or sipping you’ll be very pleased. Lots of perfectly ripe banana, some grass and other vegetal flavors, coconut, and citrus. I love sipping it but also think it shines in tiki cocktails and is a great way to mix it up from your other favorite rums. Like any high ester fruit bomb and funk Jamaican rum, mix sparingly as it can very easily overpower your cocktail. Enjoy!

Tasted June 14, 2023 from our rum collection at the Forbidden Hole 🌴
Trademark Jamaican funky aroma that carries into the flavor. The end is a bit like a cracker, or perhaps bread-like, but still with the funk. Minutes later I can still taste this rum but what lingers is an essence of black licorice or anise.
This is sippable but also sure to make an impression in a tiki drink; I'm thinking it would do well with grapefruit or a bit of apricot liqueur.