Afrohead XO 15-Year

Smooth and tasty. The usual flavors you’d expect are all here. Good rum but nothing special.

so, where is Afrohead supposed to originate? Mine is from Trinidad, aged 15 years in oak casks. The label says to expect flavor of vanilla and caramel. To me, this is an OK rum, but not really up to my expectations. Perhaps it will have a unique charm to some folks, but not for a regular in my glass. Life is too short, and there are a lot of rums to try.

Not bad but nothing to write home about. I would drink it in a pinch. On the harsh side without the depth.

Found this harsh. The makers are bottlers not distillers. It had a rum burn, I find this in lower rums.
Like the bottle and art.

Smooth with slight smoky finish. Found it in Nashville which is not whisky country!

I had read about this rum from several sources. I tried to order it via local stores but no one could get it for me. Then I take a weekend trip on the Florida Gulf Coast...a section known as "the Forgotten Coast" (Google it)...and run across a single bottle in a little store called The Port Fine Wine & Spirits in Port St. Joe, Florida.

Just goes to show that you never know what you'll find if you'll just look.

The color is a rich amber...almost mahogany...that sits clear in the glass. Swirling it in the snifter leaves nice ringlets and legs that slowly slide down the sides.

It has an aroma of sweetness and astringency at the same time. Tickles the nose.

The flavor it quite smooth with noticeable sweetness. Not overly sweet but enough to make me think it may have been sweetened a bit. However the master blender at Afrohead claims it has not been sweetened (NOTE: This is from various interviews I read online.) According to the label it has been aged in oak barrels for 15 years which explains the smoothness. However there is little bitterness which seems to come from barrels may have been toasted but not charred but according to what I have read online they use ex-bourbon barrels which normally are charred. It is bottled at 86 proof so it is a little more potent than the typical rum. It has pronounced vanilla and toffee tones to the flavor and I seem to detect a bit of butteriness to it. It has a pleasant finish which lingers on the tongue. There is no real burn to it but offers a slow warmth instead.

A delightful rum worthy of sipping as well as using in mixed drinks.