Banks 5-Island

Ok. Rating this an 8 is perhaps unfair to a good, single pot still rum with the same rating. But I try to follow a principle where the scale is subdivided into the specific style or category the rum belongs in, and in the category “decently priced, white blended rums” this is my new favourite. My only objection is that filtering brown/golden rum to make it white takes away some of its character, and that is exactly what has been done here. On the other hand, this is only a valid objection when you know what you lose — which I don’t, of course.

Nose: A hint of funky wild yeast; overripe banana and floral cane. Also a hint of boiling rice that remains pleasant — not metallic or chemical.

Palate: An unexpected fruit explosion of banana , pineapple and green apple distinguished with some mint and caramel. There is also a faint taste of fresh oak, quite subdued by filtration I expect.

Aftertaste: At first disappointing but a return of estery fruit and oak is revealed after a few seconds.

This is certainly my new first choice of staple rum for daiquiris, punch and mojitos.

This is a pure, dry, flavourful white rum blend with complexity, an odd character of fruits like overripe banana. The rum is similar to Banks 7 but charcoal filtered to remove the pale colour but retain its aroma and flavours. Easily sipped after getting past the first sip/smell but not for me, I prefer an aged rum.

Heavily (and enthusiastically) marketed in the US, this filtered white rum is actually a blend of aged and unaged expressions from up to 21 sources on 5 islands. It is an interesting blend as such, and has more body and flavor than most white rums that run the grain-alcohol gamut of distillate flavor. It's OK neat, and even better subbed into cocktails calling for lightly aged rums, especially when you are trying not to "brown" down the coloring of a bright tiki cocktail.

Easy to drink. Not overpowering. Had it neat and it wasn't harsh.

Compare and contrast with Cana Brava, another excellent white rum. Banks has lighter fruit notes, more sweet apple and pear. A delight to sip or mix.

Very smooth and well made! You almost feel bad mixing it but that’s where it really shines.

If you closed your eyes you may not realize this is a white rum. Excellent mojito rum. Could make an interesting daiquiri. If l had to sip a white rum this would be the one.

In the nose I instantly get a little Jamaican character, just a light funky nose of overripe fruit. Alcohol prominent in the nose. Lightly sweet molasses
The flavor is masked at first by some heat from the alcohol, this one is a little warm for 43%. Maybe some hints of smoke and spice. Some solvent like character in the nose and flavor.
Not what I would call a great rum straight. It has some complexity and some different things going on but perhaps a bit rough.
Made a great Daiquiri but at about $32 for a 750 in Ohio there are better rums for the money to use in cocktails. Overall not bad but not stellar.

Not fit to clean your toilet with. Tastes like fragrance, and there is a strong burn. Upsets the stomach... was it drinking neat, but regardless of how, keep your glass away from this stuff.

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.