Oliver & Oliver Contrabando

Contrabando comes from Oliver & Oliver, the Dominican Republic blending house behind much of the island's gentle, sweet-leaning ron. A molasses rum bottled at a low 38%, it sits squarely in the soft, approachable corner of the Spanish style, where ease rather than intensity is the draw.

The glass is mild and sugary, with vanilla, caramel and a clear sugarcane sweetness leading into butterscotch and milk chocolate on the finish. It stays soft and undemanding throughout, making no pretence of depth or strength. This is an honest sweet sipper and an easy mixer, strong on value and well matched to sweeter palates and dessert pairings, the kind of bottle that pours readily in rum and cola or over ice.