Don Q Gran Reserva Añejo XO is a Puerto Rican rum distilled from molasses in a column still. It blends rums aged 9–12 years with a small portion of 50-year-old solera rum. Bottled at 40% ABV, it comes in a 750 ml format.
It’s recognizably a Spanish (or Cuban) -style ron, a fine rum of softness and depth and good tasting chops, priced reasonably well.There’s enough going on inside to appeal to a more seasoned rum drinker, while pleasing those who are now getting into the game and are looking for something non-threatening to the tonsils and the purse.
The palate is a bit thin upfront, developing caramel, black pepper, and lemon juice, along with a bitter astringency in the form of coffee grounds and peanut shells.
