Review: The Kraken Black Spiced Rum
This is not Captain Morgan, folks.
The Kraken, with its sea creature label and black-as-coffee liquid within, makes a striking impression on the bar and in the glass. The idea is kitschy: A drink as strong and dark as kraken (giant squid) ink, powerful enough to take him down. And, yeah, at 94 proof and laden with flavor, perhaps it is. (The label doesn’t indicate it, but the rum is distilled in Trinidad and Tobago.)
The Kraken — the rum, that is — cuts quite a profile in consumption, a truly monstrous hit of chocolate and molasses, cut with Christmas spices — cinnamon and allspice, cloves and maybe even some ginger. Vanilla is big on the finish. Overall the effect is quite impressive, and any spiced rum fan will get a big kick out of The Kraken.
Again, at 94 proof, it needs a bit of water if you’re sipping it straight, and it works just fine with your standard mixers — though last night I was bemoaning the fact that no good recipes exist using spiced rum. The price is also right.
A / $20 / krakenrum.com
November 4th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
What’s the provenance of Kraken rum? I visited their flash-craptastic website, and it was not friendly with Safari on Win. Couldn’t even find out where the stuff is distilled.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Trinidad and Tobago — just updated the post after asking them directly.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
LOL. I just returned to the site to check for a response, saw the update and wondered if I somehow overlooked it in your original post. Thanks for the swift reply.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I tried looking on their website for this info, but their locator is broken. Do you (or anyone on the wubernets) know if this is available in Atlanta, GA? Since it’s a Proximo product, I’m going to assume that it’s got good availability, but you never know…
November 4th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
It’s brand new so it could take a while to work through the distribution channel.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Love that bottle. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it makes its way to Mississippi. We’re not exactly rich in spiced rum, but I have Pampero and Pyrat, so I can’t complain much!
November 6th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
It’ll be hard to top Pampero, J. Lindsey. If you see Vizcaya on the shelf, that’s the one you’ve gotta try– it’s the new killer sipping rum on the block.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I emailed and asked when it is going to be in my area and got this reply:
“While Kraken rum is only currently available in PA,VA, CA, MI & OH the product will be sold nationally after January 2010!
Check back with us after January to find a location in your area :)”
November 20th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
On my third bottle… Makes the best rum n cokes…
November 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
There do exist good mixers: make grog! Mix 1/3 Kraken, 2/3 water, in a 2 quart pitcher, add 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 5 limes worth of juice, and you’re good to go!
November 27th, 2009 at 10:38 am
[...] Brugal Extra Viejo is comparable in price and quality. For Captain Morgan fans, hook them up with The Kraken and you’ll blow their [...]
December 9th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I’ve had this bottle numerous times here in Virginia. It’s a delicious rum, the taste is that of Bacardi Select with the smell of Captain Morgan yet the taste on the palette is extremely smooth, I’ve given it to friends and family through snifters (shot glasses used to taste it) and it turns out that The Kraken is easy enough to drink straight as I have had no problems with it. Here in Va, it goes for roughly $15 a bottle and that’s a fair price for this good rum. I’ve added it to the collection of rums that I own and will continue drinking this for times to come, it’s a very decent and delicious rum, I swear by it.
December 19th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Nicholas,
just wondering, can i pick it up at the ABC store in Northern VA? I have a few friends (and my husband) that are big fans of spiced rum, in particular Sailor Jerry’s. This sounded pretty good and the bottle design can’t be beat. Good Christmas gift? I saw this great post on NotCot where they were unwrapping what I assumed was the “launch” packaging- very cool stuff like Kraken teeth and a wax seal. Wish I could find that box to give for gifts this year.
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I’m a liquor saleman in S. Carolina and we’ll being selling this fine produce come Jan’10! Can’t wait! Heard nothing but good things. You people that already have access to this brand; how much $ does it usually cost?
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Wow..maybe should have proof read my message b/f submitting! Salesman and product is what I meant to type! Drinking and typing sometimes don’t mix!
December 28th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
It runs just about $20 a bottle. The place down the block from me sells it for $19.95 a bottle. Yummy stuff… really smooth with a nice boozy burn at the end.
January 8th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Just picked up a bottle from BevMo for $21 in Bay Area. Excited to start drinking it!
January 8th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Picked me up a bottle of this here in pittsburgh @ 15.99. Phenomenal price, this booze is generating a lot of buzz and after tasting it I’ll be sure to help fuel that. Can’t wait to taste test this side by side with the Appleton Reserve I also picked up.
January 21st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I’m a big fan of spiced rums and am always looking for a new one to try, can’t wait to find it here in FL. In the past year I’ve been drinking a lot of Kilo Kai and was wondering how they compare?
February 7th, 2010 at 12:46 am
Chris: I much prefer Kraken to Kilo Kai – Kraken is rich, complex and eminently sippable, while Kilo Kai comes off as a little bit artificial tasting to me.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Found at Toco Giant in Atlanta this morning. I like dark rums and spiced rums and this is definitely the best marriage of the two so far. Better straight than on ice.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I got my first bottle last week. I live in S.E. Kansas. Kraken is the best spiced rum I’ve tried. I usually drink Pompero, Flora De Cona 12 yr., Brinley Gold Vanillia (my favorite flavored rum), Whalers Rare Dark Reserver, Whalers Vanillia (my wifes favorite flavored), Pyrat XO resever, and Cruzan Single Barrel Estate (my least favorite).
Kraken was a really nice surpise. Cpt. Morgan and the other commerical spiced rums got nothing on Kraken. My son is in south TX. and is bringing me home a liter and a half in a couple of weeks. He got it for 24 bucks down there. I paid 22 bucks up here for a fifth. I like it straight and with coke both. It’s even pretty good with Dr. Pepper. Great stuff.
March 6th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Just found this at my local beverage store (Central IL – it’s everywhere!) and was intrigued by the bottle. So glad you reviewed it! I’m always drawn by unique bottle/label designs and have been taken in before. Now I know to give this one a try! Thanks!