Ritual builds its Rum Alternative from flavour compounds and natural extracts rather than removing alcohol from actual rum. The result sits in deep amber-brown and carries a caramelised banana and molasses aroma that's recognisable from the first pour. On the palate, ripe banana and vanilla come through clearly, enriched by star anise and cloves that add the kind of baking-spice warmth you'd associate with aged Caribbean rum. Bitter orange peel cuts through the sweetness and stops it from becoming cloying. The texture has a smooth, slightly oily quality that helps it behave more like a spirit in a glass. The finish trails off with lingering spice and a touch of molasses. It translates well into cocktails where rum would be carrying tropical fruit and spice notes: a Mojito works, and the banana and vanilla read naturally in a Piña Colada. Less convincing on its own or over ice, where the absence of fermented depth is more obvious.