Thomas Sontheimer Travellers T.Sonthi XO

This T.Sonthi XO comes from Travellers in Belize, bottled by Thomas Sontheimer at fourteen years in ex-bourbon wood and presented at 43%. Belize rum tends toward a rich, oily character, and this release leans dark and dried-fruit heavy, with the label declaring it sweetened.

The nose is balanced on varnished wood, dried fruit and a nail-polish lift, the palate brings leather, oak, dried fruit and a grappa-like edge, and the finish stays on dried fruit, wood and leather. A caramel and vanilla roundness fills the middle, helped along by the added sweetness, which gives it a smooth, gentle delivery rather than a dry one. The finish runs a reasonable length. It is a comforting, dark Belize sipper for anyone who enjoys aged rum with a fruity, leathery depth and does not mind a touch of dosage softening the edges.