Cartavio XO

Cartavio XO is a Peruvian rum made in the Spanish tradition, column distilled from molasses to a light base that leans on the barrel and on added sweetness for its character. It sits firmly in the soft, dessert leaning school alongside the likes of Zacapa and Dos Maderas.

Expect a rich, syrup edged profile of caramel, vanilla, toffee, nuts and dried fruit, with brown sugar warmth running through a woody finish. This is a sweetened rum and is best enjoyed as one, an unabashed dessert and cigar companion rather than a dry, complex sipper, so a drinker expecting structure and oak driven depth should set expectations accordingly. On its own terms it is smooth, generous and easy at 40%, a comforting after dinner glass for those who like their rum sweet and full.