First Impressions
The 5+5 name tells the story: five years of ageing in American oak casks in the Caribbean (Barbados and Guyana), followed by five years in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks in Spain. The result is a rum with intense sherry character — possibly the most sherry-influenced rum on the market. It comes with a free glass, which is a nice touch.
Tasting Notes
The nose is dominated by PX sherry. Dark raisin and prune create an intensely fruity, sweet aromatic profile. Dark chocolate and burnt sugar add depth, and rich oak provides structure. This is not a subtle nose.
On the palate, PX character is front and centre. The sweetness is intense — dark fruit richness, chocolate depth, and coffee create a dessert-like experience. Rich oak tannins provide the only counterbalance to the sweetness. It's bold and generous — a rum that makes no apology for its indulgent character.
The finish is very long, with PX sweetness and dark fruit persisting alongside chocolate. A dry tannic close from the oak provides welcome balance.
How to Drink It
After dinner, neat, as a dessert in a glass. The sweetness means it pairs well with blue cheese or bitter dark chocolate — anything that provides a savoury or bitter contrast. Not for cocktails; the PX character overwhelms everything else.
The Bottom Line
Dos Maderas PX 5+5 earns a 7 — a well-made, intensely sherry-driven rum that delivers exactly what it promises. At £48, the decade of total ageing represents reasonable value. Know what you're getting: this is sweet, rich, and unapologetically PX-dominated.
