Crucial Drinks Rum & Cane Central America XO

Rum and Cane is Crucial Drinks' multi-origin range, and this Central America XO gathers column-distilled rum from the region, ages it six years in ex-bourbon wood and bottles it at 43%. It sits in the soft, approachable Latin mould while staying a touch drier and lighter than the sweetest names in that style.

The nose offers honey, vanilla, dried apricot and oak, the palate brings vanilla, dried apricot, a caramelised sweetness and sugar, and the finish turns to dried apricot, barrel, cashew and leather. Toffee, cocoa and a hidden coconut depth fill out the middle. Whether sugar has been added is not declared, and while it reads sweet it stops short of the dosed, syrupy end. The result is an easy, inoffensive, slightly woody blend, pleasant and undemanding, best suited to relaxed sipping or a mixed glass rather than close analysis.