The first bottle of rum I ever bought was Mount Gay XO. Second was Zacapa 23, and third was Pyrat XO. All very different, all well respected, all well reviewed and all (barely) falling in the Compleat Idiot's budget. I still recall having Sue Sea's niece and her boyfriend over for a crude rum tasting and how we nearly finished off the Pyrat. Ryan now drinks nothing but.
But I gotta be honest. Pyrat really does belong in the Tie Dye category, particularly the Pistol but also XO. Are there additives or flavorings in Pyrat? Survey sez...
Probably. More about this, but first the reviews:
Sue Sea:
Me:I love the Pyrat XO's bottle - it is stunning and will be one of the highlights on your top shelf or liquor cabinet. To me the bottle is an important part of the experience. Jim and I had come upon a closeout on Pyrat Pistol and decided it would be fun to compare the two. XO is definitely my favorite - lighter, smoother, more sophisticated. Its wonderful aroma is like an orange-apricot nectar. Touch of banana. Like a jam or marmalade with a deeper, thicker aroma than fresh. Or like jam cooking in the pot. I also picked up a nice roasted caramel, vanilla and a nutbread like almond. The XO's taste was smoother, more creamy and is consistent, reflecting its orange/apricot aroma. The body is syrupy, like a caramel dissolving in your mouth. The finish is medium long, smooth, warm and peppery. Lovely.
A Saturday afternoon, barbequing rum.
Right on Sue Sea, ditto for me. Color is light amber, slow thick legs (a tip off). But I'd definitely add a slightly burnt, smokey aroma - although Sue Sea may be referring to this by her "cooking marmalade" reference. My earlier tastings of XO found it to be cloyingly sweet, syrupy and smokey - attractive to the new drinker but effects that you grow out of. And that's where I left things until this retasting against Pyrat Pistol - a real Tie Dye rum.
In this context, XO compares much more favorably and led to my improved regard. Be sure to read the Pistol review. The scores...
Rating (10 is best): Sue Sea - 8, Me - 7 (was a 6)