Cruzan Black Strap Rum

My top choice for sipping neat, above all others. The nose offers notes of vanilla, blackstrap molasses, and coffee, with a subtle oak influence. The palate echoes these flavors, primarily blackstrap, strong enough to mask the scent and taste of ethanol. There is an ethanol burn, however. The mouthfeel is lighter than anticipated, similar to other rums. The aroma after the glass has sat is even more appealing than before, filled with syrupy sweet scents. Adding water diminishes the sweetness, leaving only a bitter disappointment. This spirit is best enjoyed neat. It is an unadulterated, Navy-style, full-strength pirate rum. Adding anything or diluting it detracts from its relative complexity. Furthermore, it has a purpose in your spice rack. It could be valuable in Boston Brown Bread, various quickbreads, spice cakes, molasses cookies, homemade vanilla extract, rum cake, and so on. Utilize it as you would blackstrap molasses. It may not be a direct substitute for milder flavors.

This is thicker than most (rums), and it has a robust flavor and after-spice if consumed straight. A significant ethanol burn in the aftertaste. When served on the rocks, there are many flavor notes such as molasses, spice, and coffee. When mixed with cola or sprite, the flavor is lost in the cola; it's not worth it. Mixed with coffee, the flavor is lost but there's a huge ethanol hit in the aftertaste that will surely wake you up in the morning, perhaps for a weekend at the cabin. EDIT>>> it's an absolute winner with dry ginger ale and a fresh lime wedge, like a dark and stormy.

Describing the aroma as “pancake syrup” is quite accurate. I detect nothing else from its scent. Just rich, exotic pancake syrup. Smell: 16/20. The initial taste is thin and sweet, with the pancake syrup present. However, there's also a harsh ethanol burn, followed by baking spices and ginger. First sip: 27/30. Subsequent sips are reminiscent of flat Coca Cola, which is quite interesting, but I believe it's best suited as a component in mixed drinks. Finish and additional sips: 23/25. I admire the bottle, the label is attractive, the cork feels good, and for only $15, this is exceptional. 19/20. I reserve 5 points for purely subjective assessment. 2/5. Total: 87/100

Served neat in a Glencairn glass and in a Jungle Bird cocktail. Bottle opened over a year ago. Aroma: Molasses, vanilla, candy. Flavor: Thin mouthfeel. Very spicy. The burn is noticeable throughout the mouth. Aeration brings all the aromas to the nose. Not my top choice by itself. Adds wonderful complexity to a Jungle Bird.

The flavor descriptions seem quite accurate. It presents as boozy pancake syrup on the nose, and the palate is similar, with the addition of subtle coconut and banana notes in the background. This rum is now my preferred choice for crafting an excellent dark and stormy, or perhaps a rum mule.

Deep brown color, with even streaks of alcohol down the glass. The scent is of oak and dark molasses. On the palate, it's like dark pancake syrup with oak in the background. The body is light to medium, and the finish is quite fast and dry.