Tonight, we celebrate a healthy dollop of that most piratic of new world drops - the spiced rum. Like most of the general public, my first encounter with this spirit came in the form of Captain Morgans. Unlike most of the public, I didnt drink it mixed, at first. I rather enjoyed the pungent sweetness of it. As a matter of fact, you could say that my compulsion to sample liquor in its rawest forms from the bottle came from my experience with Captain Morgans. But thats not the focus of tonights review. Rather, Im taking time to investigate one of the most powerful expressions of rum Ive encountered...The Kraken. This 94 proof offering packs a bit of a whallop, but its not short on flavor by any means. As a matter of fact, its the palate that takes a club to your head for a sharp rap that says pay attention!. First of all...in the nose, theres a powerful floral scent that has you thinking of nothing more than fields of sugarcane, burning in the caribbean summertime. The slight must that attaches to the sweetness is a hint of what youll encounter as this rum rolls across your tongue. The palate delivers on the promise of the noses sweetness like a freight train. This is one of the sweetest rums Ive ever tasted. But its not the molasses alone that fills the mouth. Theres more to it - a subtle mixture of chocolate and cloves that manages to suffuse your taste buds without overwhelming them. And that richness provides an incredibly subtle finish. Vanilla is at the beginning of the end, here, and it lingers for a nice long while before vanishing like a pleasant memory. But do not be mislead. This rum packs a punch, just as much as youd expect from any 94 proof spirit. The heady nose and the full palate can creep up on you after the second glass - and it wouldnt be surprising at all to feel yourself itching to sing a shanty or two. This has been one of my favorite what the heck purchases. And Ill admit to buying it for no other reason than the incredible packaging. The bottle itself is an ancient victorian double-handle design, with a label deliberately reminiscent of an ancient mariners woodcut. The goggle-eyed squid will very easily separate this bottle from the rest, and Ive always been a sucker for the starkness of a black and white design. But..if you dont enjoy sweetness, dont waste your money on a large bottle. Rather use the smaller offering as a mixer - I imagine this would make a most interesting rum cocktail when stirred into the soda - or even root beer/sasparilla of your choice. The Kraken sets the bar pretty high when it comes to how Ill be judging rum in the future
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 01:44:48 +0000
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