Flor De Cana 12 Rum and Rebellion Bourbon

So, I decided to try some fancier stuff instead of my past cheap swill. Take all my opinions with a grain of salt, as I have little experience with this stuff.

Flor De Cana 12 Rum

This is a rum made from a mix of different aged rums, said to have an average age of 12 years. That may make it not a true 12 year rum, but those are just technicalities. It is aged in American white oak barrels that previously held whisky and bourbon. It is made in Nicaragua. Warm and wet climates such as Nicaragua can help accelerate the aging process compared to a colder location. 80 proof.
The bottle is very nice looking, with simple labels, a bit of design in the glass, and "Flor De Cana" put into the inside bottom of the glass. Real cork stopper, with plastic top.
Smell
A bit of an alcohol smell. Not to alcohol smelling though. Nice blend of scents, I don't know how to place it exactly, I don't review rums often.
Taste
Man, this stuff is nice and smooth. Nothing like my previous experience with rum (Captain Morgan 100 Proof, Kraken 94 proof). Slight alcohol burn if drunken too fast or in too large of a quantity, but if you drink it slow, as you should, it is nice and smooth. Has a very nice taste, kind of sweet ish, maybe a little vanilla, idk really. Its good. That's what I know. Very pleasant aftertaste. The Kraken 94 proof had a shit aftertaste, and the Captain wasn't great either. I needed to drink some water after having either of those. The Flor De Cana though, real nice aftertaste. Nothing to get rid of there. Pairs well with some 90% dark chocolate I had. The bitterness of the rum and the chocolate really compliment each other. Plus 90% dark chocolate is just good.
With my zero knowledge of high end liquors, I highly recommend this. At around $35/750ml, it is relatively cheap. Its not Captain or Kraken cheap, but compared to other options, it is not bad. Well worth the extra money (for casual drinking that is... if you plan on drinking a fair amount, the Captain doesn't taste so bad after a bit. The Kraken though is just shit. Tastes like fermented cardboard, with a terrible lingering aftertaste).

Rebellion Bourbon
Don't have a picture of this one, just stock pic

This is a bourbon made by Opici Wine, most likely sourced elsewhere and put in a new bottle. It is 94 proof, so a bit higher than some things, but lower than others too. It is distilled and bottled in Kentucky. Aged for 6 years in oak after being made in a traditional copper still.
Bottle is nice looking, its what made me pick it up in the store with my 0 knowledge of bourbon. Artificial cork stopper with real wood top. Rebellion Bourbon in the front glass, and on the inside back, an image of rebels that your see though the rum. Pretty cool looking.
Smell
Interesting smell, have had no experience with previous whisky/bourbon though. I was told by my friends it smells a bit like Jack Daniels. Did not have a very strong alcohol smell, but it was there.
Taste
Wow, this stuff is strong. Not alcohol strong, just a strong flavor. I believe, looking at other reviews, and tasting it myself, this is an oak taste. That's pretty much all I taste. The oak is so strong, it seems to overpower anything else that may be there. No alcohol burn, just a ton of oak. Like a lot. You cant drink more than a small sip at a time without being overpowered by the oak. I made the mistake of taking a somewhat large double sip, and it was very overpowering.
Very interesting and different from what I have had before. I would consider buying it again, but at around $35/750ml, I might consider other options. It is different, and I like that. But I would like to try something a bit less different. Or it should cost a bit less. $25-$30 would be a bit more manageable for this.