Bumbu XO Rum 70cl

Rich, dark, and unapologetically flavour-forward, this Barbados rum is the kind of bottle that makes you pause mid-sip like, “Okay, that’s good.” It’s built around deeper notes, wood, caramel, cocoa, spice, and a little coffee, which means every pour feels like a small upgrade to your night.

If you’ve ever wanted a rum that can handle big mixers without disappearing, this is your answer. The XO style leans into oak-driven depth and dessert-like warmth, so it shows up loud and clear in cocktails, and still feels interesting when you keep things simple.

• Nose: Vanilla, toasted oak, caramel, a touch of coffee and cocoa, plus warm baking spice.
• Taste: Roasted caramel and molasses-like richness, dark chocolate, espresso notes, and wood spice that gives it structure.
• Finish: Long and cosy, with lingering oak, vanilla, and a final echo of cocoa and spice.

What makes it special is the way it balances that dessert-leaning richness with real barrel character. You get sweetness, sure, but it’s framed by toasted wood and spice, so it doesn’t feel one-note. It’s the difference between “nice” rum and the bottle people ask about after the first round.

For cocktails, it’s a killer choice when you want a Rum Old Fashioned with extra depth, or a Rum Manhattan-style build that leans into cocoa, vanilla, and oak. It also turns a simple rum and cola into something that tastes intentional, not accidental.

If you’re building a home bar, this earns its shelf space because it covers two jobs at once: a satisfying sipping rum profile and a bold cocktail base that won’t get bullied by bitters, citrus, or vermouth.

Fun Fact: The Bumbu name nods to a centuries-old Caribbean tradition of spiced rum blends that sailors and traders used to customize with local ingredients.