Oliver & Oliver Ron Esclavo Gran Reserva Overproof

Ron Esclavo Gran Reserva Overproof is a Dominican ron distilled by the blending house Oliver & Oliver and bottled by 1423 of Denmark, here in their more accessible overproof guise rather than the brand's strict single-barrel line. It is a molasses spirit made on a column still and bottled at a punchy 57.5%, a young and forceful take on the otherwise soft Spanish style.

The nose carries vanilla, orange, raisin and a sharp spirit lift, with a palate of caramel, wood and dried dates and a strong, burnt-sugar finish flecked with dark fruit. It reads as quite sweet for an overproof, with an oily body that helps tame the strength, though the alcohol is plainly present. This is a rum for drinkers who enjoy the sweet, modern Caribbean profile but want more punch to experiment with, equally at home in small neat pours or built into a robust cocktail.