Patron’s Pyrat XO Reserve is perhaps one of the most controversial rums on the planet. Derided by many as little more than an orange flavour liqueur it still sells by the bucketload all around the world.
Pyrat XO Reserve offends people on many different levels. Not only does the orange flavour gain criticism from those in hope of a more authentic rum its over the top packaging and garish orange box serves only to fuel people’s ire towards this rum. Then of course is the little matter of the added sugar and the desecrating of what was at one point a very decent rum (when it was called Planter’s Punch and not owned by Patron – this is not my words just want I have noted online so don’t quote me!), which all adds upto it being the Marmite of rum.
I don’t know what the sales of this rum are like worldwide. However, I’ve seen it stocked in a few high end hotels over here in the UK and a good few wine merchants carry it.