Teeda Gold

This is the first Japanese rum I've tried. Received as a gift at a rum tasting party I hosted.

Smells nice and strong for only 40%abv. Smells and tastes of oak, smoke, sugar cane, with a hint of bourbon. I find it a bit dry for my liking. Not bad for the price, but not a personal favorite either.

40% ABV. Aged 4-6 years. Distilled from fresh cane juice. Funky, savory nose. Like a gentler, sweeter Vaval. Rotten banana and touch of industrial high notes. Touch of smoke. Enters the palate very mild and kinda sweet. Finishes dry and slightly tannic. Very good, just a little empty. I was quite impressed. Could be an 8-, but the strength really kills it… so it's a 7+ for now, with the hope that they will give this rum the respect it deserves by not drowning it in water.

Very strong alcohol flavor. Somewhat smoky taste when straight and strong burn. I do like the Zen bottle. But, the more I drink, the less thrilled I am.

Japanese rum... I bought this because it is the only Japanese rum that I have seen locally , other than Kiyomi light. Which is a somewhat unpleasant roller coaster ride. I thought that this would indicate if that is the style from Japan - yes it is.

The color is a mid gold. Aroma is a mild medicinal smell. Flavor is pungent, in your face and reminiscent of tobacco leaves soaked in chemicals. It keeps on repeating up the back of the nose for quite a while, not in a pleasant way. Also has savory vegetal notes of olive brine.

Since it was a Japanese product, I expected a nice mellow flavor (which honestly probably would have warranted a similar, but slightly higher, score). But no.it was harsh in all the wrong places. Even on ice I had to dilute 1:1 with water for it to be drinkable. A disappointing bottle, not worth the import price.