Review: Sergeant Classick White and Gold Rum
Rum is just about the only spirit I don’t regularly drink straight (some superpremium dark rums excepted), but it’s also the one that makes for some of the most delicious cocktails. Funny, eh?
Sergeant Classick is one of the only rums that claims to come from the state of Hawaii, as it’s made from molasses from the only sugar mill on the island of Kauai. (Though the sugar is Hawaiian, the spirit is actually distilled in California.) I had the good fortune to taste both the white and gold rums from the good Sergeant, which are only now coming into distribution here in the U.S.
Both are 80 proof.
Sergeant Classick Silver Rum is a crisp and clear rum, very traditional tasting and with considerable bite. It was too harsh on its own for me (if anyone out there drinks white rum straight, drop me a line and send a picture of your liver), but it shined in a mojito and other lighter style cocktails. Nothing at all wrong with this rum! B+
Sergeant Classick Gold Rum is where this rum really shines. Drawing additional flavor from oak chips (not barrel aging), the rum takes on a nicely golden hue and a more caramel, sugary flavor. In a Cuba Libre, the difference was night and day: The Gold offering a perfect complement for Coke that really brings out those caramel notes. In other complex cocktails it also holds its own. It’s a real treat. A [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
The retro labels are surprising conversation starters, but mention that this is Hawaii’s only rum and you’ll soon find your precious bottles of Sgt. C being drained by your guests.
both $25
Sergeant Classick Gold Rum
$25
Hello, thanks for the review. Glad you enjoyed the rum.
I should probably point out though that we are not the ONLY Hawaiian rum in existence, however, we think its probably the best ( ok so we’re a little biased) Our gold rum did just win a double gold medal in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a fact about which we are very proud.
We are still working out the distribution, but hope to be dialed in by late summer 2008.
Cheers,
Dave Classick Jr
Distiller | Essential Spirits Alambic Distilleries
It must be pointed out that the Classick product is distilled and bottled in California. Some of the molasses used as a raw fermentation feedstock may have been sourced from Kauai, and some may have been sourced from Maui. One cannot tell because the cargoes are commingled prior to shipping. We wish Mr. Classick every success, but we do wish he would correctly describe his product as a California-distilled and bottled product, where all the ingredients are from the mainland aside from the molasses.
There is ONE REAL Hawaiian rum, for those of you who are a little particular about authenticity. It is fermented, distilled and bottled on the slopes of Haleakala with 100% Maui ingredients. There is nothing misrepresented about it. See http://www.mauirum.biz
The Maui Dark Rum won a Silver medal in international competition in 2008. The Extreme 155 won a Silver medal in 2008 as well. In 2007, in national competition the Extreme 155 won a Gold medal. In 2006 the Reserve Gold won a Bronze. Haleakala Distillers did not enter the 2008 San Francisco competition as it was not a rum competition. We only enter rum specialty competitions, and all three times we have entered we have emerged with medal(s).
Again, we applaud Mr. Classick’s entrepreneurship and accomplishments. We just ask that he fairly represent his product to the world community.
Just wanted to mention that I recently picked up a two-pack of these rums (one gold, one white), and I think this review is spot-on. Irrespective of what you think about the Hawaiian rum listing on the bottle, Sergeant Classick makes a helluva mixed drink. If you make mixed drinks with rum, if you come across a bottle of Sgt. Classick in your travels, it is well worth trying.