Review: Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum
Spiced rum continues its move upmarket courtesy of that most massive of standbys: Captain Morgan.
The Captain saw a line expansion with a 100 proof version in 2008, and now comes the even bigger gun: Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum. This is actually an American rebranding of a product called Captain Morgan Black which the company has sold internationally since late 2011. The rum is a blend from Jamaica, Guyana, and Barbados (though the label notes only “the Caribbean”), spiced with cloves and cassia bark (we call it cinnamon!), and aged indeterminately in “double charred blackened oak” (whatever that means).
Ultra-dark and loaded with aromas — you can smell the vanilla when you crack open the bottle — it’s a clear competitor (and a worthy one) to the recent flood of high-end spiced rums, including Kraken and The Lash.
The emphasis here remains clearly on the sweet stuff. Vanilla and molasses, plus semi-sweet chocolate on the finish, it’s loaded with these dessert notes. Clove and cinnamon are present almost as afterthoughts, but you’ll catch them once your sweet tooth wears out. Finally, there’s a long, and surprisingly pleasant, finish, one which inspires one to consider girly-type cocktails but which begs to be consumed solo.
Captain Morgan has quite a winning spirit on its hands here, one which comes across at considerably lower proof than it is (and which can be awfully dangerous) and which elevates the Captain to the upper echelon of spiced rum makers. Well done.
94.6 proof.
A- / $22 / captainmorgan.com [BUY IT NOW FROM THE WHISKY EXCHANGE]
Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum
$22
I grabbed the last bottle of this at a local liquor store over the weekend. Looking forward to trying it out this weekend and seeing if it is better with lime or without.
I was shocked at how good this is. The miniatures were on closeout and I thought, “I’m pretty sure at worst this’ll taste like Tattoo and at best (still very bad) Cruzan Black Strap but oh well I can try one.” In a word Wow. Oh and as one who retches at overly sweet stuff like the aforementioned Tat or SoCo, I did not detect many of the “dessert notes” Two of the better rums on any shelf are Captain Morgan 100 and Black.
My first spiced rum…
I’m new but the vanilla was very clearly evident and I could taste mild Christmassy spices. Of course that would be the bark and cloves.
I went straight up and am now about to experiment with Vanilla Coke. I have a sweet tooth so it went down nicely but I can see where people may be wanting if they have a more savoury inclination.
All in all a nice accompaniment to a pirates of the Caribbean marathon! Lol!