A.H. Riise XO Founders Reserve 5th Edition

A.H. Riise XO Founders Reserve 5th Edition is a Danish blended rum carrying the A.H. Riise name, associated with the Virgin Islands and bottled at 44.4%. The brand is known for a sweet, dessert like profile, and this release stays firmly in that lane, a rich and approachable pour aimed at drinkers who enjoy their rum on the sweeter side rather than dry and austere.

Expect a sweet, nutty nose of cinnamon, clove and roasted nuts, opening onto tropical fruit, ripe plum and vanilla on the palate, all carried on a soft, rounded body. The sweetness is generous and reads more like a liqueur than a dry aged sipper, so it is best taken honestly for what it is, a smooth after dinner pour or an easy serve over ice. The slightly higher strength gives a touch more alcohol warmth and grip than the brand's gentler bottlings, without changing the indulgent, plum and vanilla character at its heart.