Old Monk XXX

Smell of typical czech 4 Euro rum leads to taste of typical romanian 6 Euro cognac and finishes with typical russian hangover for free.

The smell already was weird, a mix of vanilla and citrus
Then the taste, overly sweet, like a Jagermister, will have more vanilla and coffee too.
I would actually not really call this a rum, more a cough sirop.

I know this is a bizarre review but I am now on bottle number 3 which have been consumed over the previous 18 months or so. I can't quite work out why I don't hate this rum but then also cannot throw it out of my collection. Sometimes it tastes so strong and the smell knocks my sideways then other times it hurts so good! I'm at war with myself over the Old Monk and love it someday and hate it somedays I guess he will be here to stay so is that a bad thing or a great thing? Sometimes too bitter and lacking sweetness then surprises me with a mouthfuls of mild caramel eschews and treacle with coffee kicks. Not a rum for the fainthearted this is a thinking man's rum, but then I am not a thinking man! Oh dear Old Monk please help?

I join with other comments. Hard to describe all the spices that rum is included. Worth trying. Me and my friend's favorite beverage !

Compared to some the bigger name rums this does not stand up. Unique to have in your collection but I would not offer it to drink. Taste has a sweet vanilla finish, a smell that is hard to pin point and almost artificial. It was ok as a mixer but not straight

Tried the Old Monk XXX on a very rainy Sunday and what a disappointment it was. Old Monk rums are very hard bottles to find here in the US. Smell is very offputting, similar to the Jamaican rums which mostly have that weird glue smell and taste to it. Color is nice dark but hardly any legs so indication that very little sugar in it, but the taste test was a shocker. Old Monk XXX is the Indian glue factory made rum, stay away from it.

When you think of rum, you probably don't associate it with India. However, India is the number one producer of sugarcane followed by Brazil. Old Monk is a fine example of rum hailing from India. Can be enjoyed neat or mixed. If you can find Old Monk XXX, I would strongly suggest trying it!

As an IT professional I might have some prejudices. It's not a bad rum, but on the other hand it has nothing to offer. It's just like calling from UK to British telecom helpdesk and ending up in Bangalore. It does the job but that's it. Let me try another sip...

Was really looking forward to this one, but was let down pretty quickly. First impression on the nose right away was strong vanilla and melted plastic. The first tastes (straight up) reinforce the nose. I had to do a double take and make sure I wasn't just drinking vanilla extract. They seem pretty close. I'm going to have to go fairly low on my impression of this right now, but I've got plenty of time to reevaluate as I've got a whole bottle. It may be something that needs to be acquired over time.

Not my favorite piece, but nice to have sth “exotic” in selection.