Cruzan Single Barrel Aged Rum

2019 barrel pick, Big Red Liquors, nicknamed "S'mores." I intended to broaden my rum selection, and I'm sure I was aware deep down that single barrels of rum were available, I just never thought I'd find one. Given the rather attractive price and its origin from one of my favorite shops, this seems promising. And naming it "S'mores" surely adds to the appeal. Remarkably good color, comparable to medium and even longer-aged whiskeys I've encountered. There's a slight cloudiness, which I assume is typical of rum distillation, but again, the deep chestnut hue is very appealing, especially considering the low base proof. Oak is the first scent I detect, but what surprised me was having to pull away fairly quickly due to a strong ethanol burn. Returning to it, and this might just be my imagination, but I really sense marshmallow and cocoa powder on the nose as well. There's just the faintest hint of citrus as it fades. The flavor is weak initially but develops into raw and harsh oak. I would have expected this to be the only wood note, but it actually transitions to toasted oak, and then charred quite rapidly, introducing wood spice, caramel, and a significant amount of vanilla to the palate. I detect no chocolate flavor here, but there is some marshmallow near the finish, slightly toasted. The finish is a bit hot, but then returns to focusing on the mingling wood, and this is where I can finally identify it as a rum, with the toasted sugar spirit lingering well. Firstly, this smells much better than it tastes, but it certainly doesn't taste bad. It's hotter than expected for 80 proof, and although I have longer-aged rums in my collection, the oak flavor from this is very profound, and considering it's a single barrel, it's impressive overall. I wouldn't really describe the flavor as "s'mores," but again, it's an excellent single barrel rum to have, and even better that it's a barrel selection.

Since I liked Cruzan Aged, I decided to sample this "single barrel" offering. It's officially aged for over 5 years and I paid $30 for it. The aroma is delightful and sweet, and the palate delivers. It possesses a pleasant, medium-bodied, oily texture. It's quite tasty with a good dose of oak notes, and it's not overly sweet. Given its rich flavor and accompanying warmth (significantly more than 80 proof), I'd have guessed it was at least 90 proof. While a significant improvement over Cruzan Aged, it should be at double the cost. I may not be a rum expert, but I found this enjoyable - it's reminiscent of whiskey.

This is a very good rum blend, aged between 5 and 12 years, that just misses the mark of greatness. A bit more body and depth would have been welcome, but I believe this rum surpasses its score and is significantly better than many rated higher. A skillfully made and blended rum.

In a word: excellent. I've consumed many spiced and dark rums from the Virgin Islands. This is one of the top value rums I've encountered. Not excessively spiced. Smooth. Sweet. Not overly complex but still fantastic to enjoy by itself or with your preferred mixer.

Oak, vanilla, caramel, molasses, mild baking spices, alcohol, and a faint tobacco note create a pleasing aroma and flavor. The finish is quite brief, with a quick burst of bittersweet vanilla, baking spices, and tobacco.

Very light molasses and abundant vanilla. Needs ice; the flavors are too restrained to appreciate neat. An amazing sipping rum given the cost.