Opthimus 18 Year Old 70cl

This is the kind of aged rum that makes you pause mid-sip and go, “Oh, that’s why people collect rum.” Opthimus 18 Year Old comes from the Dominican Republic and leans into deep, barrel-led flavours that feel right at home if you’re usually a whisky person.

It solves a common rum problem, the “is this for mixing or sipping?” question. This one is a sit-down pour. The 18 years of ageing does the heavy lifting, building layers you can actually taste, not just a vague sweetness.

• Nose: Molasses, cocoa, vanilla, and toasted oak, like walking past a dessert cart in a wood-panelled room.
• Taste: Caramelized sugar, dark chocolate, dried fruit, and warm baking spice, with a round, coating texture that feels made for slow sipping.
• Finish: Long and oaky, with lingering cocoa and spice that sticks around in the best way.

Best way to drink it, start neat in a small glass and give it a minute to open up. Want a cocktail? Make a Rum Old Fashioned (rum, a bar spoon of demerara syrup, 2 dashes Angostura, orange peel). It turns into a richer, more dessert-leaning version of the classic.

If your comfort zone is aged bourbon or a sherried whisky, this is a fun next step. You still get oak, spice, and that slow-building finish, but with rum’s darker caramel and cocoa side taking the lead.

What you’re buying: an aged Dominican rum with a clear 18-year statement, built for sipping and slow nights, not disappearing under mixers.

Fun Fact: “Opthimus” is Latin for “the best”, which is a bold claim, but after a glass of the 18, you’ll get why they went for it.