Review #3: Kō Hana KILA - Caña Rum Bar

KILA, Hawaiian for strong or bold. Through meticulous barrel tasting, we select exceptional barrels that possess a flawless balance of flavor and character, requiring no dilution. This makes KILA the connoisseur's ultimate choice, as it is bottled at full cask strength. The proof varies and is personally handwritten on each label, adding a touch of authenticity. To fully savor its essence, enjoy KILA neat or with a slight dilution of water or ice. Bottled at a robust 110-125 proof in a 375mL bottle.

Okay before I get into it a bit more, I want to just address one thing: the fact that this is a rum and not a whiskey. Although this blog is mostly focused on whiskey, I've been wanting to expand my spirits collection and experience. I've had very little rum experience, and it's usually in the form of a cocktail. I've had a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and usually just make a nice Planter's Punch with it. But recently I've been super curious in the world of rum, especially those that can be sipped.

During my research I found this Kō Hana distillery in Hawaii and it seemed super fascinating. So here I am, starting a bit of a rum adventure.

Nose: On the nose you're initially hit with the high alcohol content, but after a bit you'll start to get a lot of burnt sugar, almost caramel notes. A lot of floral near the end starts to seep through, and when mixed with the alcohol vapors will make you think of perfume or the perfume section in a high end department store.

Palate: It was initially really hard to separate out the notes here because of that 61.8% ABC, which I think water or an ice cube can help here. But past that the caramel notes really come through with some hints of toffee. It's a very warming spirit and will make you feel like you should be sitting near a fire. The last note was surprising and can probably break it down, but it really made me think of banana cream pie.

As I wonder into the world of rums, I am curious to see what I find. The KILA thus far makes me think that it's a whiskey drinker's rum. I bought another rum with this bottle that I'll post in the coming days that was a lot harder to enjoy on its own, but I am excited to continue.

If you're a whiskey drinker considering rum, I would recommend the KILA. If I have another glass I'll try it with some water or ice and maybe update this post. But as is, it's a tasty glass and although the high price tag for the bottle size, it's worth giving it a shot.