-
Siesta Key Toasted Coconut
Distiller Score 90
The aroma of the rum is that of freshly-cut coconut cream pie. As this fades, slight honey-vanilla and spice notes linger. The flavor of the rum is dominated by the rich toasted coconut notes. Vanilla, baking spices, and honey augment the finish.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
-
Foursquare Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 84
Though you will find some spiced notes like nutmeg and cinnamon, these aromas are quite subdued compared to most spiced rums on the market. There's a little green herbal note found as well. On the palate, the flavor is that of flat vanilla cola and some cinnamon red hot candies with a few cherries thrown in for good measure. The rum finishes more sweet than bitter, but only just. Were you to taste this blind, you might miss the fact that it is spiced which is good or bad depending on your inclinations towards rums with nuance.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Siesta Key Spiced
Distiller Score 88
Vanilla forms the base of the aroma, followed up by ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, honey, and allspice. The flavors of the rum are a swirl of honey, vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove.
Reviewed by Paul Senft
-
Bayou Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 87
Not much spice emanates from the glass, though there is an inviting aroma of butterscotch and root beer. The spices enter the picture on the palate, though, with a subtle blend of baking spice, sassafras, birch, pine cone and more savory flavors such as bayleaf, thyme and rosemary. Though this rum is intended as a mixer, the overall effect is elegant enough that it could be sipped neat or with just a splash of tonic or cola.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 85
In the glass, the Chairman’s Reserve Spiced is a medium red amber. The nose is a mild mix of cinnamon, coconut and vanilla. Sipping initially reveals a quick initial burst of vanilla that rapidly fades to drier cinnamon and clove in the mid-palate. The finish teases, with intermingling hints of the coconut and orange peel. At 80 proof, there’s no burn to speak of. It’s hard to take just one sip of this rum – as soon it fades you’re anticipating the next sip. Spiced rums have a bad rap as overwhelmingly sweet vanilla bombs. The Chairman’s Reserve Spiced, from the well-regarded St. Lucia Distillers, is notably more refined.
Reviewed by Matt Pietrek
-
St. Petersburg Distillery Oak and Palm Spiced Rum
Distiller Score 87
Here is a rare example of a spiced rum made with finesse. The base rum itself is of a fine enough quality that the spices enhance its natural flavors rather than mask production flaws. It's not too sweet, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Vanilla, honey and floral tea notes round it out. Great for sipping and for cocktails.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum
Distiller Score 76
Sugary butterscotch and vanilla are coated with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. There's a hint of coconut and other sweet tropical fruits, and some suggestion of roasted coffee. This finishes smoother and cleaner than most of the other expressions, but you would still have to like your rum on the super sweet side.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Rhum Barbancourt Pango
Distiller Score 80
This is a far cry from your average sweet-overkill Malibu or similarly flavored rums. It's not overly sweet, and at 35% ABV, there's far more actual true rhum character here, with a complex backing of spiciness and earthiness. The tropical fruit profile of pineapple and mango intermingles with notes of earthy cane juice and oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Don Q Mojito Rum
Distiller Score 79
There's a fresh, familiar blast of fresh spearmint on the nose that comes across refreshing and natural. The palate is very cool with almost no heat due to the low abv. There's plenty more sweet and sour mint flavors along with a hint of key lime. Aside from the low proof, this should easily meet the needs of those looking for a mojito rum that requires little additional adornment.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
-
St. Petersburg Distillery Oak and Palm Coconut Rum
Distiller Score 85
A coconut rum that doesn't taste like it was made in a lab! Sweet vanilla and icing sugar flavors mix with true coconut. It tastes almost like drinking a good coconut cake, with a slight floral note. Finishes clean and subtle.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
-
Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
Distiller Score 72
The surprise here is the understated and pleasant the grapefruit aroma. It doesn't come off as cloying or artificial at all. This is pretty clearly ruby red grapefruit. The palate is sweet, yes. But again, the grapefruit is not aggressive. In fact, the sweetness of the rum could use a little more citrus acidity for balance, but honestly, this is going to end up in a sugary cocktail, so balance is probably not a major concern.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
-
Blue Chair Bay Banana Rum
Distiller Score 79
Brown sugar and vanilla thankfully trump banana on the nose; a suspicion of coconut follows. Bananas Foster is the salient impression on the palate--cinnamon, allspice, flamed brown sugar, perhaps a whiff of creamy cocoa...some complexity, in other words, carrying through onto the finish. The proof is nicely calibrated to support the big flavors.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol