Brugal XV Ron Reserva

Brugal XV Ron Reserva comes from Brugal, one of the Dominican Republic's three big houses and a producer whose rums generally test dry rather than heavily sweetened. This expression is built from a blend around eleven years old, column distilled from molasses and matured in ex-bourbon casks for its vanilla and caramel backbone.

The nose mixes caramel, vanilla and oak with a faint solvent lift, the palate runs woody and softly sweet with honey, light dried fruit and toasted coconut, and the finish is short, woody and lightly spiced. At a gentle 38% it is mild and rounded, made for easy sipping or mixing rather than serious study. Drinkers who like soft, honeyed, low-strength rum will find it pleasant and undemanding, while those used to higher-proof, more layered bottles will likely find it on the simple side.