Don Q Puerto Rican Rum Gold

Don Q Gold is the workhorse of Destileria Serralles, the Ponce distillery behind Puerto Rico's most established rum house. It is a column distilled molasses rum bottled without an age statement at 40%, made in the clean, light Spanish island tradition that prizes smoothness and mixability over weight.

The nose is on the thin side, with vanilla, caramelised sugar and a spirity edge, while the palate is soft, slightly sweet and gently woody before a buttery, lightly alcoholic finish. Typical bourbon barrel notes sit underneath, and the young wood shows its age. This is a neutral, accommodating gold rum that does its job in a simple daiquiri or a highball rather than rewarding close attention in the glass. Anyone hunting depth or funk will want to look elsewhere, but as an unobtrusive cocktail rum it is reliable.