DonQ Signature Release is a single barrel rum aged 10 years. It is available in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Europe. This 2005 vintage release is the first of a series. The 2007 vintage will be released sometime next year.

DonQ Signature Release 2005 Vintage Single Barrel Rum provided by brand representatives. All photos and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

The 2005 vintage is aged in American White Oak barrels and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume / 80 proof. This single-barrel release is a departure from DonQ’s blended rums. This is the first single-barrel rum DonQ has ever released. DonQ Signature Release 2005 vintage retails for approximately $40 for a 750ml bottle.

DonQ Signature Release 2005 Vintage Tasting Notes

The color is bronze to dark gold in color. There are notes of brown sugar and molasses on the nose. I detect a bit of buttery toffee. It’s like smelling liquid caramel.

This rum is a little thinner than I thought it would be. That is an observation rather than criticism. The warmer and darker spirits appear the more I think they will be rich and lush in mouthfeel. That is not always the case.

There is the tiniest hint of mocha in the first sip. Butterscotch flavor is apparent. The flavor reminds me of the little butterscotch disk candies my mom carried around in her purse as treats. The difference is the butterscotch flavor in this rum isn’t about the sugar sweetness. This contains mellow sweetness with deep caramel flavor. It is light on molasses with buttery vanilla.

Overall, I like the DonQ Signature Release 2005 vintage very much. I look forward to sampling the 2007 vintage next year.

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Cheri Loughlin is the Omaha writer and photographer behind www.intoxicologist.net and author of Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction. You can email Cheri with comments and questions at str8upcocktails@gmail.com.