Spirits of Old Man Rum Project Christmas in Love with Rum 2021

Spirits of Old Man Rum Project Christmas in Love with Rum 2021 is a spiced, sweetened Caribbean rum from the German bottler Oldman Spirits. Bottled at 40% on a molasses base, it is built as a festive, dessert leaning release rather than a dry sipper, leaning hard into vanilla and seasonal spice in a way that places it closer to a liqueur than a classic aged rum.

The nose is sweet and rich with vanilla, caramel and cream toffee, the palate syrupy and sweet with vanilla and a woody edge, and the finish carrying raisin, vanilla and walnut. The vanilla is pronounced and the sugar generous, so it is honestly a festive sweetener and treat rather than a serious sipping rum. Taken on those terms it is warming and Christmassy, all baking spice and toffee, well suited as a seasonal pour over ice or as a sweet, spiced base in a holiday cocktail. Drinkers after a dry, traditional profile should look elsewhere.