Afrohead XO

n the early part of 2015 the Harbor Island Rum Company released two expressions of their Afrohead rum line. I reviewed the Premium Dark 7 year old product in May and as we wrap the year up I wanted to share my impressions of their 15 year old XO product. Originally offered as the house rum at the Landing Guest House in the Bahamas, the rum is now slowly being released around the U.S.The rum itself is made from molasses made in the Dominican Republic. The molasses is then fermented and distilled at the House of Angostura in Trinidad. It is then aged in used American Oak Bourbon barrels until it is shipped to Barbados for final blending and bottling at 86 proof.
Appearance/Presentation

The 750 ml bottle has a black opaque wrap around with the Afrohead logo and script in silver. The bottle’s cork is sealed with a security strip/pull tab. The strip is secured across the top of the cap by a wax seal. When I opened the bottle I discovered a wooden cap holding a black synthetic cork.
The rum has a rich dark amber color and when I agitated it a thick band formed around the glass. Thick legs descend slowly down the side of the glass taking quite a bit of time before beading and evaporating.
Nose

When I poured the rum in the glass the air was filled with notes of toffee and vanilla. After the liquid settled I picked up on spices, a hint of oak and caramel.
Palate

Sipping the rum revealed a rush of sugary caramel and vanilla counter balanced by the smoky oak which forms the baseline. The toffee notes picked up in the aroma swirl in the middle. The heat of the alcohol lights the mouth but never reaches an unpleasant level as the sweetness of the rum contains it. As the rum starts to fade the oak reveals a subtle baking spice note and a hint of nutmeg that linger in a smooth finish.
Review

Whenever I try a 15 year old rum I am looking for dynamic levels of flavor. Usually at this point in the maturation the liquid is infused with interesting esters and oak tannins helping create a multi-levels flavor profile that is fun to explore. Unfortunately for me, while I explored Afrohead XO, I found the dominant vanilla notes and sweetness of the product smothered the elements I look for and enjoy with aged spirits. The first time I tried the rum it was at a luncheon showcasing both the products. Afrohead XO is designed to be a sipper and was enjoyable with the food it was paired with at the luncheon. However in an isolated testing environment with no outside flavors to mingle with, the rum fell short of what I prefer. Because of its sweetness I put it in the dessert category of rums and suggest it be enjoyed with/after a meal or as a nightcap.
Of the two rums in the Afrohead line, I discovered that I really preferred the seven year old expression simply because of its versatility. Currently the Afrohead line can be found in the Bahamas, Florida, New York and Tennessee along with some online retailers.

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