RL Seale ABV 43 10-Year

So after reading the reviews and getting a better feel for the rum world I popped the cork on this fascinatingly designed bottle wondering what the hoopla around some of the reviews here was. This is an interesting rum...I think that is the best way to describe it. It is very clearly an RL Seale rum, and it has all the hallmarks of his no nonsense, no sugar added style. That said it has a very interesting and complex profile that is just different. The nose is delightful but perhaps a bit muddled together because it first comes across as like an aromatic game of Clue - as in you feel like you should know it but you can't quite place it. It took a couple different whiffs to make out Chocolate, Caramel, Bananas Foster, and Black Currant. Upon first sip those flavors immediately disappear and are replaced by strong notes of Oak, Sour Cherry, Caramel, and a faint smokiness. Once the liquid leaves your mouth, the profile changes yet again leaving a long lasting aftertaste of Bananas fading into Beet sour with a quite a bit of a kick - an odd combination to be sure but it is not unpleasant. Mainly this rum just strikes me as fascinating and neutrally complex. All of the flavors and experiences are fairly intense and some I like (the the faint smokiness fading into Bananas) and others I don't (the intense Sour Cherry and Beet sour notes). When it comes to this style and price I personally prefer Doorly's 12-year to this one but if I were holding a blind tasting I would definitely use this one just to throw everyone for loop. I think all rum ratings mostly come down to aroma, flavor, and aftertaste experiences and while this is for sure a high quality rum, and there is no doubt about that, this rum's precise flavor profile and the intensity of the more earthy notes is not really my cup of tea - or glass of rum as the case may be.

All of that said, this rum is so complex I am still trying to figure it out, so stay tuned because this review might change.

Nose: 8
Palate: 6
Aftertaste: 6
Smoothness: 6
Versatility: 7
Price: 8

Total: 6.8

An ok sipping rum, but don't expect to be blown away.

I drink rum straight up and my lady drinks tropical rum drinks. After trying this rum straight up against other highly rated rums like Pyrat XO this rum has been relegated to my lady's mixer rum shelf.

It may not be my style. I may give this one another shot.

Nothing special in this rum. Nothingcomplex to explore, you just drink it, feel some warming and thats it, too simple for me

Recommended by one of the discount liquor store experts. A little lighter than I had expected, and while I was not impressed by the bouquet, the flavor was surprisingly nice. Would be a 5.5 if I could give a half bottle.

This was recommended to me by a store employee. They have me the backstory about how the bottle was designed after a ship caught on fire decades ago. And the company kept with the melted neck design. Too bad the juice isn't up to par with the story. Quite harsh! Plenty of burn and utterly forgettable. Not worth even trying. I almost took it back for a refund. But I'll use it in Pina Coladas. 🍹

Normale, senza particolari sapori e profumi. Sicuramente va bene per i cocktail. Va giu ma mi aspettavo più carattere e complessità da un rum 10 anni.

Den dufter sødt, men har en skarp bismag. Vil tro de fleste kan den men det er ikke lige min smag

Le packaging l'emporte sur la qualité du produit.