The Doorly’s Rum line is produced at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados by Richard Seale and his team of experts. Using both column and pot still rums, this 12 year rum is aged using a combination of American White Oak Bourbon barrels and Madeira casks. The rum is then blended to 40% abv and bottled in 700mL and 750 mL depending on which region of the world it is being sold in.


Appearance/Presentation
The rum is presented in a sturdy card board box that differentiates it from the rest of the line on the shelves. Opening the box reveals the rotund 750 ml bottle with the front and back labels providing the basic information about the rum. Every Doorly’s rum features a different Macaw on the front label. In the case of the 12 year expression the rare Spix’s Macaw is the featured bird.
The rum has a mahogany color in the bottle that only lightens slightly in the glass. Swirling the liquid creates a medium band that reluctantly releases thick slow moving legs.

Nose
The aroma of the rum teases the nose with notes of vanilla, caramel, dried apples, banana, baking spices, cinnamon and subtle smoky oak.
Palate

The first sip of the rum envelops the tongue with a nice oak base with the rich caramel and vanilla flavors nipping around the edges. Robust fruit notes of dried apples and apricots as well as banana notes linger and play with pops of cinnamon and baking spices. When the rum begins to fade the smoky oak notes take center stage with a hit of black pepper and nutmeg, balancing the caramel sweetness. The rum then transitions into a pleasantly dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Review
This rum has several of the notes I have come to expect with the Doorly’s line. The XO expression has long been a stock favorite in my home bar and the 12 year built on and improved on everything that I enjoy about that expression.
This rum personifies everything I love about Barbados rum products and is one of my favorite discoveries of 2016.
I enjoy drinking Doorly’s 12 rum neat with no ice or water added. I have also enjoyed it in a Rum Old Fashioned and Shrunken Skull cocktails. I would like to experience this rum at 86 or 90 proof to see how the flavors would transform at the higher proof.
However you choose to imbibe it, this rum is a true stand out in the 12 year old category and a must for anyone who enjoys rums from Barbados.