Dos Maderas 5+5
ABV: 40%
Country: Barbados & Guyana
Age: 5 + 5
Cask: Various
Still: unknown
Price: £48-55
Distillery: unknown
Sometimes it’s nice to circle back to bottles that have been on the shelf for a while, and for me, Dos Maderas 5+5 felt like the perfect candidate. I just wanted to sit down and revisit it properly. It’s a rum I’ve seen pop up regularly in conversations about cask finishes, and it stands out because of the way it bridges Caribbean rum-making traditions with sherry ageing from Spain.
Dos Maderas, produced by Bodegas Williams & Humbert, takes a unique approach that sets it apart from many other brands. The “5+5” in the name refers to its dual ageing process: the rum is first matured for five years in the Caribbean (in both Guyana and Barbados) before being shipped to Jerez, Spain, where it spends an additional five years in sherry casks. The cask journey doesn’t stop there as it moves between Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, giving the rum layers of richness and complexity influenced by both types of fortified wine.
This combination of tropical and continental ageing, plus the sherry influence, has made Dos Maderas 5+5 a bit of a talking point for drinkers who enjoy seeing what happens when rum meets innovation. It’s a blend that not only highlights the versatility of rum as a spirit but also underscores the way different traditions can come together in the same glass.
Nose
Walnuts & Brazil nuts with leather, green & yellow bananas and grapefruit. This has a bit of a dusty profile with mothballs. Cherries on the tail.
Palate
Cherry jam jumps straight out here with soft, almost watery, Brazil nuts. Subtle banana carries through from the nose. A juicy profile literally bursts in the mouth. A decent amount of woof underneath that really carries the flavour. On the finish slightly sticky raisins.
6/10 – An easy 6, this could be a 7/10 on a good day or in the right cocktail.
My scoring system, explained
- 10: Exceptional. This is best in class and a firm favourite of mine.
- 9: Outstanding. Near perfection, a bottle I would be sad to finish (and very happy to restock!)
- 8: Excellent. An evening spent sipping this would be a very good one.
- 7: Great. Add to cart, no questions asked.
- 6: Very good. At the right price I would definitely buy a bottle.
- 5: Good. If someone poured me a glass you wouldn’t hear me complain.
- 4: Above average. Not quite good but better than some.
- 3: Average. Average at best, this isn’t offensive but equally not exciting either.
- 2: Not for me. This simply means it’s not a profile I find enjoyable; rather than a reflection of quality.
- 1: Not the spirit. This is a poor representation of the spirit.
