Don Papa Rum Sherry Casks. I’ve not reviewed any Don Papa products for a while. They aren’t a brand that I would ever buy if I’m being honest.

So when it comes to getting reviews of Don Papa, I am often relying on my friends in rum circles being gifted well meaning but sadly misguided bottles which they then “invite” me to sample and review………..

Which is very much the case here. I have a very generous (not sure that’s the right word) sample with which to conduct my assessment.

It is fair to say that my previous reviews of Don Papa were far from glowing. Indeed, since I reviewed their flagship No.7 blend the “rum” is now noted as being a Spirit Drink here in the UK. Which as the ABV is above the minimum 37.5% to be classed as a rum in the EU (the UK despite not being part of the EU still tends to follow their lead rums aren’t being re-formulated to fit any UK criteria) suggests they are still close to the 20g/L limit on additives. So they can’t legally call this rum anymore. I originally noted 19g/L on the Hydrometer but maybe they have other additives (glycerol) which might mean they are in murky waters calling it rum. I speculate.

Has this had any impact on sales? Well it is even more visible in UK Supermarkets since I conducted my original review. So that certainly speaks volumes.

Don Papa Rum Sherry Casks is bottled at 45% ABV. It comes in a purple coloured variation on the standard Don Papa bottle, more or less. To ensure its premium look you also get a nice cardboard cylinder to house the rum. The look is completed by a chunky cork stopper. All in all the rum looks impressive.  It is easy to see why bottles such as Don Papa and Bumbu are gifted as often as they are. Particularly at this time of year.

Whilst this particular rum isn’t available in the supermarkets, it did have a considerable presence online when released. It’s a little more difficult to find now. It originally retailed at around the £55 mark.

Don Papa Rum Sherry Casks is (to quote their website) “First aged in ex-bourbon American oak barrels before being finished in four different types of sherry casks: Palo Cortado; Fino; Cream; and Pedro Ximenez. The resulting blend offers a delightfully dry, almost nutty nose with a rich, fruity taste and a wonderfully smooth finish.”

They don’t state how long the rum is aged and I’ve been unable to find any further information. I can’t find any bloggers that have reviewed this particular rum. The back label does little more than re-iterate what is available online.

So that is all I have information wise. We may as well get on with the tasting.

In the glass Don Papa Rum Sherry Casks is a dark brown colour with a very striking red hue.

On the nose you are immediately met with an array of red wine and rich dark fruits. Raisins, Sultanas and a touch of plum. There is a faint note of oak and a light dusting of white pepper. Other than that this does smell very much like a bottle of sherry. Even at 45% ABV it somehow even manages to smell a little thin. Very little alcohol or real evidence of an aged spirit. It has an almost perfumed note to it.

Further nosing reveals a touch of orange/marmalade. It’s very sweet smelling though in fairness it doesn’t smell “confected” the way other Don Papa’s do. Which may have something to do with the fact that the Hydrometer is not detecting any additives. Yes the biggest surprise I have had so far with this rum is that it doesn’t have any additives. Well at least none that the Hydrometer can pick up. As other Don Papa iterations did show additives via the Hydrometer method, I can say that this is different in that respect.

So as I approach my first sip I am slightly more optimistic and curious as to how this will go down………….

Sadly, upon my first sip my optimism quickly vanishes. The perfumed note I notices a little on the nose comes to the fore front. Beneath this is a slightly synthetic tasting toffee taste which is fleeting on the taste buds. Giving way again to the sweeter floral notes which really aren’t good. There’s a big taste of what I can only describe as watered down Ribena. With a nasty alcohol hit behind it.

Don Papa Rum Sherry Casks is at best a bit of a mess but really it just tastes like a really badly done flavoured Vodka.

There is nothing “rummy” about this aside from a very faint hint of bourbon barrel ageing which amounts to little more than a faint woodiness and a suggestion of spice/pepper.

The mid palate is mildly spicy and the flavours – the blackcurrant and toffee quickly disappear leaving behind a faint watery after taste.

Finish wise we are left with…well if I’m being entirely honest. Not a great deal. The shuft from the initial sip to finish is very fast and it disappears fairly quickly. To say the finish is short would be an understatement. I don’t even feel there is one. Such is the underpowered nature of this “rum”.

As bad as the Don Papa line up is when they adulterate their rum, if this is anything to go by, the distillate is no better when its not being messed around with.

I’m not sure what the original distillate is? It tastes like a very thin almost neutral column distillate. Which I suspect has been distilled at a stupidly high ABV. This tastes like a watery cheap and nasty Sherry with an oak stave chucked in for a laugh.

Truly awful. I’ll give them one full star for not fucking about with this in terms of additives (I bet there is still something here that shouldn’t be). In fairness if this is how bad their base distillate is no wonder they add the special sauce!

This isn’t as offensive as their other offerings. It feels toned down but much like when Diplomatico released rums without additives – it showcases how boring the rum off the multi column alcohol machine, sorry “still” is………..

Avoid.