Banks 5-Island

Not a big fan of your average, vodka-like white rum. That said, I'm a new fan of this one. It's full-bodied and chock full of flavor, with a natural, semi-sweet finish which quickly dissolves into gentle spice. Can't wait to make a batch of daiquiris with this because they will be amazing. BTW, it's great straight up as well.

A balanced, flavorful and complex rum. Good for both sipping and mixing. At the UK Rumfest in 2012 they mixed it with Ting (Jamaican grapefruit beverage) and it was great!

So I had read about this rum a while back and recently sought out a new white mixing rum for my cabinet as I had finished my bottle of Probitas. I had initially shied away from Banks 5 Island because I had been under the mistaken impression that it was a sweetened gimmick rum. The bottle’s appearance only fueled that further. But I couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Banks 5 Island is an unadulterated blend of 21 rums from 5 rum producing countries (really, it’s right there in the name): Jamaica, Guyana, Indonesia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Barbados. It was named after noted botanist and explorer Joseph Banks who sailed with Captain Cook in the 1700s.

Even though it was designed predominately for mixing I am curious what it is like on its own. Then I will mix with it and try it in its intended purpose.

Taking a whiff from the snifter I get light Green Apple, Peach, Guava, a mix of Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blueberry, crisp Honey, and light coconut. Official reviews describe it as super funky, and it is indeed funky, but having experienced my share of deep funk, this is what I would call lightly funky. It’s just a touch less funky than Probitas by comparison.

The palate is slightly less expressive than the nose but still expressive and enjoyable. Here I mainly get Green Apple and Apricot accompanied by a sweet Demerara note followed by Lime. The Apricot and Green Apple notes play quite well together even if I wish they were a bit more expressive.

The finish is short and light but here I get light Peach, light Green Apple, and Lime.

Overall this is a pleasant funky mix, even if slightly muted. You can tell it is meant for mixing. It’s ok to sip on but doesn’t really check any of the “this should be sipped slowly” boxes. It’s a pretty decent rum but nothing that will especially blow you away when sipped by itself.

Now, as a mixing rum, this is dynamite. It makes one hell of a Daiquiri, second only to Clairin Le Rocher to my tastes. It provides that perfect balance of slight funk to accentuate the notes in a cocktail without overpowering the same. As a cocktail rum, this is even better than Probitas to my tastes.

Short Description: Not especially amazing on its own, but absolutely fantastic as a mixer.

Nose: Green Apple, Peach, Guava, Raspberry-Strawberry-Blueberry mix, honey, light coconut

Palate: Green Apple, Apricot, Demerara syrup, Lime

Finish: short light Peach, light Green Apple, Lime

ABV 43%

Countries of Origin: Jamaica, Guyana, Indonesia, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados

This is one of the best white rums I've had. Very good to mix with.

Best white rum to add character to daiquiris. A fresh aroma of fruit and spice paired with a nice earthiness. Finish is surprisingly long. I rarely sip white rums but my dad loves to drink Banks 5 neat.

This isn't bad, but I'd prefer to try other rums of similar aging/distilling process before purchasing again.

Has a nice amount of funk about it, not too crazy but enough to notice. Makes a fabulous daiquri!! May revisit my score with further tastings

A hint of funk in this makes for an excellent daiquiri

as a cheap white blend for cocktails, this is really great and up there with Plantation 3 stats. More Jamaican influence, very delicious

One of the more expensive whites I've had ($30), but worth it. Remarkably smooth for a white rum, on the sweet side but also flavorful with just a hint of funk and grass to give it some depth.