Old St Andrews Admiral’s Cask

Old St Andrews bottles this Admiral's Cask from Panama, home of Varela Hermanos and a major source of soft, vanilla and spice led rum for independent bottlers. Distilled from molasses on a column still and aged five years in ex bourbon wood, it sits in Panama's mellow, approachable camp, with vanilla and a touch of spirit strength on the nose. At 40% it stays gentle and easy going.

The palate is sweet and soft, butter caramel and vanilla with tropical fruit and a woody backbone, a little raisin filling things out. There is a clear sweetness here that reads as a sweet style Panamanian rather than a dry one, with a slight alcohol bite up front before the caramel takes over. The appeal is value and easy drinking rather than depth, a pleasant, undemanding sipper for the price that does not pretend to be anything more ambitious.