Gordian Knot Reserve

I was lucky enough to have tried this and bought a bottle at a recent rum festival. Smaller American rum company based out of North Carolina. Very nice people... but nice people do not, a good rum, always make.

In this case, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the rum is quite good, and also fairly unique in my experience as well.

The color/presentation? A nice simple, rounded square bottle that highlights the cool logo and the spectacular deep reddish color of the rum inside. This is the most red-colored rum I own, but I say that in a good way. It’s quite attractive to the eye when placed next to the typical amber and golds.

The aroma? Hello bourbon country. It’s a light nose overall, but with a good dose of wood on it—especially for what I take to be a younger overall spirit. Pleasant and inviting.

The taste? In this case, the nose knows. This rum could be mistaken for a sweeter bourbon by some —and they wouldn’t be too far off. Gordian Knot carries a prevelant peanut-like flavor on the front and back of the sip that reminds me directly of the signature Heaven Hill produced bourbons, with a slight but welcome sweetness in between. The wood is also quite forward on this profile, giving it a nice dryness to round out the sip. This is no Zacapa or Diplomatico.

Perhaps not quite as smooth as some other rums on the market in its price point, but being a younger age and new producer, this is understandable and mostly forgivable.

I love what this rum is able to do. While on the dryer side, it’s still quite different than any dry Bajan rums, bringing the best of bourbon country to the world of rum. I never really add a splash of water while sipping rum but It in this case, it might help to do so.

A unique and great addition to any rum collection that values diversity in flavor and can appreciate its differences sip after wonderfully interesting sip. A bourbon country crossover hit.