Bumbu XO
The dark sibling of Bumbu The Original. Aged for up to eighteen years, mostly in bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks: less sweet, more oak, with toffee, orange, pepper, and coffee. A rum to sip slowly.
What makes XO different from The Original?
Bumbu XO is a small-batch rum from Panama that has aged for up to eighteen years. Most of that time, it rested in casks that previously held bourbon; it was then given a short finish in ex-sherry casks. This combination makes for a balanced rum with notes of toffee, vanilla, oak, orange, pepper, and coffee.
While The Original comes from Barbados, ages for up to fifteen years, and centers on vanilla, banana, and plenty of sweetness, the XO is drier and woodier. The sherry adds fruit and depth, while the oak adds structure. The alcohol content is the same, 40%, but the XO is better enjoyed neat or over one ice cube than with cola. For that, The Original is a great choice too.
In brief
Toffee, oak, and a pinch of pepper
Toffee and orange
Warm toffee and vanilla with orange peel and oak. Less dessert-like than The Original, more like cognac.
Oak and coffee
Round and slightly sweet, but with structure: oak, coffee, and a hint of pepper that keeps the sweetness in check.
Dry and spicy
A warm, fairly dry finish with spices, orange, and a hint of coffee.
Bumbu XO's flavor profile neat at room temperature. The Original scores 5/5 for sweetness for comparison.
How to drink Bumbu XO as intended
The XO is made for sipping. Neat, over ice, or in a stirred cocktail where the rum does the work.
Neat in a cognac glass
4 cl at room temperature in a cognac glass. Warm the glass in your hand for a moment and smell first: toffee and orange. Take small sips; the coffee and pepper come through in the finish.
Glass: cognac glass →Over one ice cube with orange
5 cl over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler, with a strip of orange peel squeezed over the glass. This brings out the orange notes in the rum.
Tumblers →Rum Espresso Martini
40 ml Bumbu XO, 30 ml fresh espresso, and 15 ml coffee liqueur, shaken hard with ice and strained into a chilled coupe. The coffee notes in the rum fit right in.
Espresso Martini recipe →Cocktails with Bumbu XO
Choose cocktails that let aged rum shine, and keep the sugar low: the XO already brings sweetness and vanilla.
Rum Old Fashioned
Rum, a few drops of bitters, and orange peel. You can almost skip the sugar here.
Espresso Martini
With rum instead of vodka. The coffee and toffee notes in the XO do the rest.
Jungle Bird
Dark rum, Campari, pineapple, and lime. The bitterness cuts through the sweetness.
Cuba Libre
Rum, cola, and lime. Darker and woodier with the XO than with The Original.The right glass for Bumbu XO
A cognac glass for sipping neat, a heavy tumbler for drinking over ice and for an Old Fashioned, and a coupe for an Espresso Martini.
More Bumbu flavors
Bumbu
Where it all began. Visit the brand page to learn all about Bumbu: its origins, varieties, and classic cocktails.
Discover Bumbu →
Bumbu Cream
Spiced rum with real cream and a distinct cinnamon note. Enjoy over ice, in coffee, or as a dessert.
View Bumbu Cream →Everything about rum: the varieties, the best-known brands, and the cocktails.
Questions about Bumbu XO
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Bumbu page or browse our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Bumbu →What is the alcohol content of Bumbu XO?
What's the difference between Bumbu XO and The Original?
Where does Bumbu XO come from?
What's the best way to drink Bumbu XO?
Can you drink Bumbu XO with cola?
Buy Bumbu XO
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Bumbu XO online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
