Booze of the Week

Moving right along down the dark rum list is Kraken Black Spiced Rum. This is probably the rummiest smelling of my recent dark rums. Not a lot I can really say about the smell other than that. It smells like rum.

Like several of the other rums, the first few glasses sips didn’t really do much for me, but after adjusting to the taste the flavors really come out. Unlike the regular spiced rums, these dark spiced rums are much more subtle in their spice flavors while at the same time having a much bolder overall taste. I’m not entirely certain that description makes sense, but I’ve retyped it several times and that’s the best way I can describe it. The dark spiced rums almost overwhelm your mouth at first and then the finish is so subtle that you almost miss it. Kraken has more of a woody beginning than the Tattoo does, but less than the Black Seal. It is also less sweet than the Tattoo and is a little more subtle in its finish.

My verdict is that I like the Kraken and it may very well find itself a regular spot on my liquor shelf. I recommend you at least give it a try.

Booze of the Week

This week’s Booze of the Week is Captain Morgan Tattoo. Tattoo is a dark rum that is probably the most interesting liquor I’ve ever tasted. Upon opening the bottle and first holding it under my nose I smell fruit. The stuff smells fruity. Not any specific fruit, but that’s the best description I can think of. I poured the Tattoo into a glass with ice. This stuff isn’t dark, its black. Only holding the glass up to a light shows a little red peeking through the darkness. Again, the smell reminds me of fruit. It actually smells pretty good.

The first sip was odd. The taste pretty well followed the smell … fruity, but not really fruit. It really wasn’t until about a third the way through the bottle before I realized that it wasn’t fruit really … it was cola. Not Coke, but the taste reminded me of generic store-brand cola but not in a bad way. Its a very interesting taste.

The really neat part of Tattoo is the finish. Pepper. Yeah, pepper. Again, not in a bad way. The pepper i subtle but its there. The cola flavor combined with the pepper finish makes for a damned interesting liquor. This really is one of the liquors that is entertainment for your tastebuds.

My verdict: I don’t know that I’d call Tattoo a “quality dark rum” but its a pretty good liquor. I probably won’t make it a regular purchase, but this is one I may very well pick up every so often.

Booze of the Week

To kick off my latest assault down the rum aisle at my friendly neighborhood liquor store I’ve decided on Gosling’s Black Seal. This stuff is dark .. really dark. Damn near black in the bottle and a dark with hints of red in the glass. The Black Seal has a pretty strong smell and if you’re turned off by that “liquor” smell, then this stuff probably ain’t for you. Under the strong smell of alcohol I find a molassesy background with a hint of vanilla (I’ve gotten much better at this).

The first glass of this I tried was straight with a little ice. This was a tough one for me to really taste. My immediate first impressions was ‘Meh’. The first taste of this stuff hits you like a brick, not in a good way or a bad way, just … like a brick. The first flavor that jumped right out at me is the wood. Damn, you can really taste the barrel with this one which, in my limited experience with rum, is not terribly common. I really didn’t think this stuff tasted much like rum at all.

After allowing a good soaking of my tongue in the Black Seal I was able to start really tasting it. The wood is powerful in this one but it doesn’t take long for the molasses to really show itself with just enough vanilla to make you wonder if you taste some vanilla. I made my way through the bottle never mixing it with anything but soda water which works pretty well for this rum.

My verdict on the Gosling’s Black seal is: I wouldn’t buy it again, but neither would I turn it down if offered. It isn’t bad but if you’re not much of a drinker it might be too much for you. The initial flavor is overwhelming and your first response might well be ‘yuck’ until a few seconds after that first sip when it begins to calm down a bit. While this one doesn’t earn itself a spot on my liquor shelf, it is certainly a bargain at $18 for a fifth and certainly worth it.

Rum lovers, stay tuned for another trip down the rum aisle next week.

Oh, last note: Sorry the BotW is late. My Monday was a bit rough.

Booze of the Week

Pyrat XO Reserve is a complex yet mellow blend of select Caribbean rums, aged up
to 15 years in French Limousin and American sweet oak barrels. Its handcrafted decanter is fashioned after relic rum bottles once hoarded by pirates and ship captains in the 1800s.

I’ll post my thoughts on this rum throughout the days under the fold.
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