I've heard some bad things about this beer, but I'm going to try it for myself with an open mind. Vanilla is first in the aroma, followed by rum and a little bit of oak from the barrel aging. The rum is definitely not as overpowering in the aroma as in most rum barrel aged stouts. Taste has very flavorful rum to start, followed by vanilla. The rum is quite strong, as expected, mostly dominating the taste, but some vanilla does come through in the late mid-palate. Rum and a little bit of oak linger into the aftertaste and stays for a while. The body is medium-ish and the carbonation is about the same. Quite boozy. It's 12% abv and drinks more like it's 16%+. More body and less carbonation and booziness would greatly benefit this one. I love bourbon barrel aged beers, as well as blended bourbon and rum barrel aged beers, but rum barrel aged beers (for the most part) tend to be a bit harsh and quite boozy. I can't, in good faith, rate this higher than 3.25/5