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Posted
almost 10 years ago
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!
Posted
8 years ago
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.
Posted
over 1 year ago
Dejlig mixer rum. jeg vil ikke anbefale den som sipper
Posted
almost 2 years ago
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 bottleโs appearance only fueled that further. But I couldnโt have been further from the truth.
Banks 5 Island is an unadulterated blend of 21 rums from 5 rum producing countries (really, itโs 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. Itโs 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. Itโs ok to sip on but doesnโt really check any of the โthis should be sipped slowlyโ boxes. Itโs 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
Posted
11 years ago
This is one of the best white rums I've had. Very good to mix with.
Posted
4 months ago
I mostly drink dark rums, and this white does not make me change my mind. This is an average rum, nothing special. Not as nice as for example Michler's Artisanal white rum.
Posted
1 year ago
Tasted at Laka Lono 4/3/22
This "international blend" is delicious! It smells hot but ends well. The full flavor lingers.
Posted
over 1 year ago
Good thing: the alcohol taste is not very strong, the taste itself is mild and pleasant. Nothing groundbreaking, but just good enough. You do not feel the urge to put it in drink immediately. Although, I would not enjoy sipping more that one portion. The bad side: the scent feels a bit artificial, it was something like "cheap candy" feeling.
Posted
over 1 year ago
Tasted at Laka Lono on 2/20/22. Pours clear. The aroma is the best part. The best of this is demerara and agricole character to the profile. Flavor leaves a bit to be desired. Cardamon and sweet cane.
Posted
over 2 years ago
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.
×
Nice white rum
8
/10
out of 10
Came across this rum at a little place called The Haughty Heron in Port St. Joe, Florida. You never know when and where you'll find something out of the ordinary. This is one of those instances.
Visually speaking this is a very elegant bottle. A bit unusual for what appears to be a white rum. It has a typical aroma which stings the nostrils a bit. But doesn't seem overly harsh. It is a crystal clear rum. It says it is a "5-island rum" but only 3 islands are listed: Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados. Guyana is listed but it's not an island. Apparently the folks at Banks aren't so hot with their geography. The last time I checked, Guyana was a country in South America. Did someone cut the country loose and set it out to sea while no one was looking?
Their website describes the rum thusly:
"A unique blend of 21 rums from 6 distilleries from 5 islands
Trinidad: Hints of Black Strap Molasses give the blend backbone
Jamaica: Pot-stilled rums provide exceptional aromatics
Guyana: Earthy and tropical fruit notes deliver depth
Barbados: Character-filled golden rums add zest
Java: Batavia Arrack, lends a touch of spice"
Uh, folks...GUAYANA AIN'T AN ISLAND!!!!
Okay...rant completed.
The blending does give it a unique flavor. Although the aroma does sting the nostrils some it doesn't taste harsh. Granted, I think most rum drinkers, other than the truly adventurous, would not consider this a sipping rum but it definitely would be an excellent mixing rum. Greatly suited for fruit-based drinks. It is rather complex but one flavor I kept detecting...and I could be way off on this...is a lime flavor. Almost a key lime. There is a hint of sweetness...just a little hint and there is a nice warmth to it. 43% ABV (86 proof) gives it a little more of a kick than typical rums but you wouldn't detect it from the flavor alone. According to what I read the rums used in this blend range from 3 to 12 years. But apparently it's charcoal-filtered to remove all color. It has some spiciness to it as well. This is a unique white rum that I recommend adding to your cabinet if you come across a bottle.