Hell or High Water XO
Hell or High Water recently sent me a bottle of their XO to taste and share my honest thoughts, which gave me a good excuse to spend some proper time with the brand again, this featured on my Instagram back in the very early days of That Rum Drinker in March 2022.
Fortunately I’ve kept my old tasting notes so this tasting is a really nice opportunity for me to see just how much my palate has evolved… I didn’t have my scoring system back then but this is a rum I had noted down as one I enjoyed.
I really like the aesthetic of the bottle – matte black with the large cork… it really ties into the brand image and story that come hell or high water have created – a rough journey and the resulting smooth rum.
Facts & Figures.
ABV: 40%
Country: Blend – Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana
Age: Up to 15 years
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Still: Pot & Column
Price: £40
Distillery: Undisclosed
On the nose.
This is very welcoming from the first nose with vanilla, brown sugar and toffee. There’s just enough wood presence here to help round out the nose with a touch of nuttiness. A very nice ‘spiciness’ coming from anise and ginger that prevents this rum feeling too sweet.
On the palate.
The first thing that caught my attention tasting this was a distinct lack of wood! A dark caramel coats my mouth and is dialled back a little with some cinnamon and nutmeg that offer more depth than they do spice.
This isn’t a sipping rum for me any longer but I can appreciate why I found it appealing at the beginning of my rum journey. This is too sweet for my personal preference but it does make for a fantastic easy old fashioned if you pour it over ice; and served up as Rum & Ginger this is delicious!
5/10 – Maybe a touch of nostalgia bumping this up from a 4, but I would enjoy sharing a glass of this with friends.
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.
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