Mezan XO Jamaica

I didnt hear about this rum before I've seen it in the shop. It cost about 30$ so I decided to try. It tirned out very intresting rum with very unexpecting taste. It wasnt so heavy like classic jamaican rum but with its own "funk" taste. It excellent neat with no ice.

No gimmicks, no color, no sugar. Just a pure to form Jamaican rum with a bit of age. It has an interesting leathery quality to it, and I agree with the label there is a "tobacco" note in it, like aged pipe tobacco. Spicy, rich, and finishing dry. It would be wasteful to blend this in a cocktail, instead I prefer to sip it neat.

Has the distinct Jamaican pungency, albeit very mildly. Its VERY delicate on the palate, which is a description I've almost never used for a Jamaican rum. Almost non-existent banana funk, very clean and slightly nutty mid-palate, and a mildly spicy finish. This is a good sipper, and has some potential for tiki / fruity drinks. Maybe with a good ginger beer too...
Its good and classy, no doubt, with a noticeable amount of rum oil... Its delicate nature caught me off guard, and as I cool down and sip slowly, I find more and more to appreciate.
The greatest disappointment with this rum is how very mild it is. When you spend a premium price, you want a rum with lots of flavor (especially Jamaican!). 45% abv or more would have really made this rum sing, and would have justified the price of $45.

My experience with Jamaican rum is fairly limited. Some of those have had the "funk" that characterizes Jamaican rums, some are just regular-tasting rums. This one is not the latter. It has that astringent, overripe fruit taste that I assume is the "funk" everyone talks about. It's there and it's noticeable. The problem is, there isn't much else in the flavor profile. So that pretty much sums it up. Still, this is a bit better than Plantation Original Dark when sipped straight. However, it is an amazing mixer! Not only does it pass the daiquiri test with flying colors, but it is a welcome addition to Coke (unlike Plantation Original Dark).

I usually require a rum to be a passable sipper to garner a 7, but this one gets it strictly as a mixer. It makes for a pricey mixer, but I think it's worth it.

I had higher hopes for this one given prior tastings of Mezan rums. I better understand the Jamaican flavor. This was a bit strong, but it mixed fine with Coke. I have it as a 5.5

Foarte placut, usor aromat, usor dulce dar nu exagerat. As zice un rom de incercat vara pe o plaja cu multa gheata :)

40% ABV. Delightful nose! Muted but funky ripe bananas and other tropical fruits. Reminds me rather of a gentler Hamilton Pot Still Jamaican. So, I'm picking up on some of the Worthy Park distillates. Medium finish.

Delicious. Delightful. I do wish it was bottled at a higher proof, but really, it's super tasty as-is. Approachable yet utterly full of flavor. It's a nice upgrade from Myers's/Coruba for cocktails, but also works as an easy, casual sipper. Cheers!

8

It's ok. I had expected this to hit me with a smell like a force 10 gale - it didn't; I expected it to be tasty - it was so so; I expected a strong banana taste - it was there but not nearly by as much as folks say. Instead I found it another variant of fairly dry, oaky, slightly bourbon-like Jamaican rum...only it's not as good as Appleton's - and I am not a huge Appleton's fan to start with. It has a little sweetness to counter the overall dryness, but I just didn't think it was anything special and I wouldn't choose it as a sipper.

This rum has more flavour than expected. Vanilla, oak, crispy and fruity. A little short on the palate. But it had its moments

Very pleasant aroma of warm wood, tobacco, fresh jam, like bajan rum.
In the mouth, an amazing sweetness at first, harmonious, rounded. And yet the tongue grows numb. Woody shade.
Aftertaste spoils previous impressions: burning and heaviness in the esophagus, stomach, dull head. There is no ease in the desire to continue. But the next morning will be easy and good.
And I didn't find information about aging.