To the nose it smells of the distant, candy sweetness common amongst sugarcane-juice frenchy rums, rather than the embracing, robust sweetness of molasses real rums. It lightly burns the back of the nasal cavity, and also carries hints of charred leather and cherry cordial (seriously.)As is common with rums, it tastes much as it smells - no real char here, but the cherry cordial does indeed make itself known. A pleasant burning, tingly sensation dominates the experience, and remains a surprisingly long time following that first swallow.