Plantation Barbados 5-Year

I agree with other comments that is has many of the elements of the XO Anniversary, but in less amounts. Still has that coconut essence, just lighter.

Sweet pineapple on the nose, medium bodied vanilla and a touch of caramel and oak on the palate. Unfortunately there's quite a 'fresh' sugar taste, as if someone has added it to my glass. Just about good enough to sip neat.

I let it breathe for a while and it still had too harsh of a burn. The aroma is caramel. The taste is of burning alcohol, caramel, and oak. The after taste is pure burn mixed with caramel. For only $21, I don't regret buying it, but I won't buy it again. If one wants to play, then they have got to pay.

Then right after trying another shot of rum with no added sugar (Barcelo), this fool tried this one again. No contest! The amount of added sugar on this rum became so obvious with the back to back comparisons. Can you say hangover in the making? I sure can! No comparison whatsoever to the Plantation XO!!!

I eventually placed it on the counter along with rums that I cannot wait to get rid of and this was only after a few sips, as this is one step above Pyrat XO. My bottle of Mount Gay XO also happened to be sitting next to it, since it has tumbled down in my ratings. Hmmm! One dry Bajan and one overly sweet Bajan! This sounded like a match made in heaven. I started out with a 50/50 mix, but eventually wound up with 3 parts Mount Gay XO to one part Plantation Barbados 5 year. If one ever wants to know what to do with rums that they hate, try creative combinations such as this. Heck, the masters behind the tiki bars did these combos for years!

Update on March 3, 2018: Good riddans to this rum! It does not even make a Cuba Libre or Daiquiri. This was the last of my rums that I rated below a 6 and there are about 30 rated at 6 or more that I would not hesitate to buy again. It only goes to show that even the best rum companies can produce a turkey like this one once in a while. They are not distillers, by the way. At least the nice bottle with a real cork is reusable.

Hybrid Rum that can be used as a top notch mixer or a very satisfying sipper.

Given its price also, I believe its a necessary addition to every bar

Gold-Amber Color, Rich taste (can feel the ageing of the Rum even if its only 5 years)
Tasting profile:Tropical Fruits, vanilla

For about $20 your really getting your moneys worth.

Sweetness in the start followed by a short taste of the casket with a burning sensation in the end.

This is a really nice sipping rum, don't add coke, would be a shame! I really like the plantation rums!

But close to a sipper, works better with lots of ice or some cola.

I liked the price and decided to try it for some mixes. My wife loves it in cocktails or on its own. For the price I’ll pick it up again.

Edit: the more I taste it, the better it gets 🙃
This young rum is pretty subtle in nose and palate. Hints of vanilla in the nose.
Not very aromatic on the tongue, but smooth and very pleasant for this age. I had older rums with less taste.

Rather thin. I miss some character and volume of more aged rums.