Review: BlackBeard Spiced Rum
Rum — especially spiced rum — is on the rise again, and BlackBeard is the latest, a Puerto Rican rum being imported by Don Q’s parent company.
BlackBeard offers aromas not of the spice box but rather of a traditional aged rum, with strong caramel, some wood, and toffee notes. This continues into the body. Put simply, BlackBeard is less “spicy” than most of its competition. Here the heat is on the mid-palate, a pepperiness that offers a rather simple burn, not those exotic notes a la incense or baking spices that one comes to expect and enjoy in a proper spiced rum.
That said, BlackBeard is not bad. In fact on its own merits, the taste is quite pleasant and it works well as a mixer. But overall, the effect is more like overproof aged rum instead of a true spiced rum. That’s not really a bad thing; just know what you’re getting into when you crack it open.
86 proof. Due in September 2010.
B+ / $22 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]
BlackBeard Spiced Rum
$22
About Post Author
My dream job is rum taster and rum brand-namer. I’d sail from island to island working for different producers tasting and coming up with names for their product. Here’s one, “Captain Blackbeard” or “Pirate Galley Kill Devil” or “Pirate Flag Sunset.” Or “Blackpiratebeard” (a little racial?) Ok then, “Pirate Rumship.” “Pirum,” no not a holiday it’s (Pir)ate+r(um). I have over 8,500 of these just collecting dust!
I agree, Cange.
I too would love to be a professional taster of rums. I would really like to see the producers or bottlers start changing their naming schemes. What do they do…throw one dart at a board of pirate names and another at a board of naval ranks (ie captain morgain, admiral nelson, sailor jerry, etc).
So far I have found Largo Bay and Kraken to be the years best spiced rum additions. I look forward to tasting Blackbeards sweet nectar.
Also, Chris, try substituting spiced rum in a mojito. I find it a nice change of pace. Especially when I picked oregano out of my herb garden instead of mint (spearmint or lemonmint work well) after having a few too many.
I got a handle of this on sale ($14) for a party and decided to try it beforehand. I remember seeing this review and not having very high expectations, but I was very surprised. Definitely agree that it’s significantly less spiced, more of a sweet profile, but the long-term finish is nice and clean. Smooth, tasty and easily sippable. I haven’t tried much, but I think this has trumped Sailor Jerry’s for my favorite spiced rum, outside of black or dark spiced, that is.