A.H. Riise XO Christmas Rum comes straight from a distillery in the US Virgin Islands. It is a blend of several rums aged for a minimum of 20 years in American oak barrels. And for this special Christmas edition, it is aged an extra year in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry cask, which gives it a very special mahogany colour.
Nico's tasting note
On the nose, the profile is resolutely spicy and cooked, like a Christmas gingerbread. The liquorice is accompanied by rather fresh spices but these do not jump out at the nose, they remain rather discreet. A touch of butter and sultanas remind us of panettone or fruit cake. We are in the Christmas spirit and this goes even further with a mulled wine in which we imagine a slice of lemon, another of orange, vanilla and honey.
As the rum aerates, a warm orange peel emanation is diffused with a little more acidic pulp. Cinnamon is added to this, making it seem like a sugar syrup flavoured with orange and cinnamon. The fresh spice aromas come back in waves, and it's like steaming fragrant Indian rice.
It is the sugar that shows itself on arrival in the mouth. The spices are sweet and brought to the fore by the liquorice. This liquorice links with an orange flavoured molasses. Finally, the cinnamon comes back in and greets us before slipping away.
Bruno Lurat
Very good
Rum pleasant in the mouth
Pierre L
Excellent rum, very fast delivery, very responsive after sales service following a small problem of double billing of my order. I recommend the site and the rum. A little bit cheaper... and it would be really perfect :-)