Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak

You should try this one more. Definitely a sipping rum

I did a tasting of all their rums while at St Lucia, this was my favorite rum on the entire island. I would call this a honest rum aficionados libation. Very nice balance of flavors, with a slight hint of sweetness but you will have to look for it on the finish. Well worth the money spent. $60

40% ABV (so we are setting our expectations low). 7–12 years ex-bourbon. Less fruity than the Princessa, less aggressive than the Formidable and 1979. Pretty solid bourbon-aged column-still rum. A good step above the standard offering. 8-

I tried the youngest of these three HMS rums from St. Lucia yesterday and figured that the next one up would be even better. Having known for many years what being "too long in the wood" does to distilled spirits, I still bought this more aged version anyway for $63 US. I don't regret it, but it's cheaper and younger HMS Princessa is smoother and better. This one is pepper on the tongue and a slight bitter after taste.

Très bonne surprise que ce rhum venu des îles de sainte Lucie!
Très bon équilibre entre les rhums antillais et ceux d’amériques Latines.
A tester de toute urgence!

Unfortunately I haven't currently got a bottle of the "standard" Adm Rodney XO to compare it to, and memory is a little hazy!! It comes across as having a lot more soft oak.However I don't quite understand the pricing structure. The standard Admiral Rodney is a 12yo, and this one is a 7yo yet more expensive.

My personal preference is a dry rum (no sugar added), that is warm and spicy with a good gentle burn from the alcohol and with a heavy dose of oak. Not so much that it masks flavours, and not sweet sherry oak. A rum with a good length and that is unctuous. This rum has it all.

It is to me really superb....I just now want to try it against the normal Admiral Rodney to see what the difference really is!!!

St. Lucia Distillers introduce the Admiral Rodney Rum range, a selection of extra old Saint Lucian rum from Coffey still distillates that have been aged in American white oak Bourbon casks. HMS Royal Oak has a blend of rums matured for 7 to 12 years.

The new range honours the naval victory of Admiral George Rodney at Battle of the Saints in 1782 against the French, and each rum is named after ships that distinguished themselves in the battle.
Prune, grapes and spices initially with tobacco, chocolate, caramel and vanilla notes underneath.