The Stellar XVII Rum arrives with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly what it is. This rum blends a small proportion of aged spirit for added depth. It’s clean, citrus-led and gently grassy, with notes of green banana, pineapple, cracked pepper and a hint of almond on. At £33.50, it sits in a competitive bracket, but does it justify its place on the shelf?
The Stellar Rum has built a reputation for consistency and character. This aged expression represents the region's approach to rum-making at its most characterful. Bottled at 40% ABV, it promises intensity without sacrificing approachability.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, The Stellar XVII Rum presents toffee, vanilla, dried apricot, cinnamon bark, polished oak, butterscotch. It is an inviting and well-composed aromatic profile that draws you into the glass with each return.
The palate delivers gentle cinnamon warmth, nutty depth, honeyed sweetness, brown sugar, candied orange, polished leather. The mouthfeel is well-balanced and approachable, with each sip revealing new layers of complexity. There is a pleasing harmony between sweetness, oak influence, and natural spirit character that makes this an engaging dram.
The finish is oak tannin with gentle spice warmth. A satisfying conclusion that leaves you reaching for the glass once more.
How to Serve
Best enjoyed neat or with a single cube of ice to open up the oak-aged complexity without diluting it unduly. The Stellar XVII Rum also performs beautifully in a rum Old Fashioned or a Mai Tai, where its matured character adds depth and sophistication that younger rums cannot match. This is a sipping rum first and foremost — take your time with it and let the warmth build.
The Verdict
The Stellar XVII Rum earns a well-deserved 7 out of 9 on our scale, reflecting a well-crafted rum that delivers genuine quality and character for its price point. At £33.50, it is competitively priced and delivers well beyond its bracket — a genuine find. A bottle worth seeking out and one we would happily pour again.
