Tag: Cruzan

Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

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Just to give another spiced rum a shot, I picked up a bottle of Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum. This is one of the rare alcohol items that actually lists what the spices are supposed to be. The list includes allspice, vanilla, pepper, ginger, mace, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and juniper berry.

To be very honest, I couldn’t identify all of these items if they were given to me individually. The aroma, however, is a nice, sweet, spicy mix. Not really intended for sipping, so I skipped that.

Mixed in a Rum and Coke, it isn’t bad. It isn’t great either. I still like the Bacardi Oakheart or the Captain Morgan Private Stock substantially better.

Proof: 70 (35% ABV)

Paid: $12

Buy again? Probably Not

Cruzan Black Strap Rum

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Do not gaze into the inky darkness!

I wasn’t prepared for this. After a series of exciting discoveries about rum being the right spirit for me, I decided to go all in. I saw the bottle on the shelf, and the liquid inside looked dark and mysterious. As with most Cruzan bottles, it wasn’t expensive. Reviewers warned me that it was an “acquired taste”.

I finally succumbed to curiosity and took the bottle home. Removing the cork (synthetic maybe, but my first bottle with a cork) yielded the aroma or molases, maple syrup, and a sharper alcohol hit. Not stronger, sharper.

A sip. Very sweet, very… musty? Molasses. A challenge!

I tried it in a Rum and Coke. It didn’t work for me. I have used it in a couple of cocktails that were assertive and it definitely holds its own. It will get used, but “acquired taste” was right!

Distiller: Cruzan Rum Distillery/Beam-Suntory

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Paid: $17 for 750ml

Buy again: Probably not.

Cruzan Light Rum

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Cruzan Light was my first light rum, or any rum for that matter. It’s choice was determined from painstakingly pouring (pun?) over reviews and YouTube videos. Of course, after I purchased it, I found other reviews that contradicted this. This brings us to rule #1:

On the Internet, an agreement on anything by one group, will be disagreed upon by another group.

I have tried to sip it straight. Don’t do that.

I have tried it with a little water or over ice. Doesn’t help.

Then again, I don’t think anyone expect Cruzan Light to be used in this manner.

I have tried other light rums, and as previously noted, in a cocktail, the differences are small or totally insignificant (to me). Middle-shelf and inexpensive.

Distiller: Cruzan Rum Distillery/Beam-Suntory

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Paid: $12 for 750ml

Buy again: Yes