Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
Review Re-visitation: Cruzan Single Barrel Rum 90.5/100
A review by Chip Dykstra (AkA Arctic Wolf)
Posted on August 26, 2010
About one month ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Simon Mooney, the local Brand Ambassador for BeamGlobal, who had dropped by with a sample bottle of the new Cruzan Single Barrel Rum. His wish was for me to put the rum through the paces of my review system and to see what came out. I was mildly surprised as the Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum was one of my very first rum reviews. Then again maybe I should not have been surprised, as Simon has been a reader of my blog for a while now, and he must have noticed that the review I had previously done was for the older bottling of the Cruzan Rum. Perhaps the blend has changed, or perhaps, this being a Single Barrel offering with each bottling representing a unique barrel of rum, each return to a new batch will be a little different. Whatever the reason for the sample bottle, I was only too happy to oblige with a new review of the new bottle.
To refresh your memory, Cruzan Single Barrel Rums are produced from a blend of vintage rums which have been aged up to 12 years. Once blended the vintage rums are then finished in a new oak barrel for about one year. Barrels are bottled individually with each bottle of rum coming from a single barrel. This picture shows the bottle I reviewed. As stated above, since my initial tasting, Cruzan has changed the bottle design, and they have even changed the name of the rum slightly, but they have not changed the manner in which the rum is made. However, because each new barrel will have different characteristics, each bottling will be a little different from the last; but, the general character of each bottling should be similar due to the overall blending process.
In the Bottle 4.5/5
Pictured to the left is the new bottle design for the Cruzan Single Barrel Rum. My only quibble with the design is the lack of specific detail on the label regarding the age of the rum in the bottle, and the fact that only one year of that age is actually spent in a single barrel prior to bottling. I’m not saying that the label should be cluttered with information, but the vintages of the rums in the blend should be highlighted.
As always, I like the use of high density straight sided corks to crown the bottle presentation. I also like that the bottle has the words Cruzan embossed into the sides which gives the glass texture and makes it easier to grip.
In the Glass 9/10
The rum has a darker and richer bronze colouration than my previously reviewed bottle of Cruzan Single barrel displayed. (I have a couple of the older bottles in my collection so I was able to place them side by side and verify the colour difference.)
Once poured, I immediately noticed a rich toffee scent which seems to have a nice oak spice embedded in the aroma. I catch hints of maple in the breezes as well as vanilla and orange citrus peel. In all, this is a rich pleasant nose that brings all the right elements to the fore.
Thick viscous legs formed when I swirled the glass and I noticed that as the glass decanted the nose became deeper and displayed a rich baking spice aroma. Hints of cinnamon have joined, and I am eager to begin the sampling.
In the Mouth 55/60
A nice spicy tingle greeted my tongue as the rum entered my mouth. Oak disguised as citrus peel and the taste of butterscotch led the way with a gush of dried fruit mixed in. I also taste deeper notes of charred sugars which give an impression of treacle, and a slightly smoky sensation which one encounters when tasting a spirit with a sherry influence. Perhaps some Spanish oak was used in the aging barrels of a portion of the blend.
I must say, that to me, this is much richer than the previous blend, which I remembered as pleasant, but which did not exhibit the complexity I encountered this time. Yet in spite the complexity, the spirit is very approachable and mild. The rum doesn’t try to clobber you over the head with anything in particular; instead all of the flavours coexist well making this a very pleasant sipper.
In the Throat 13/15
The only burn I feel is from the oak spices which makes this a clean crisp rum on the exit. Haunting trails of brown sugar, cinnamon and maple are felt on the finish which could perhaps be a little longer.
The Afterburn 9/10
The Cruzan Single Barrel Rum just seemed to get better with each tasting. The bottle was disappearing far too fast and I found myself wandering over to my local store to pick up another. I cannot think of a better endorsement than that. A nice easy sipper with just enough complexity to keep the rum interesting.
Suggested Recipe:
Hazelnut Chocolate and Rum
I sipped much of this rum in my rocks glass with a single cube of ice. I made a few Cuba Libre’s and even tried a few cocktails with grapefruit juice and lime. My most enjoyable evening with the Cruzan Single Barrel Rum came about when my wife gave me a few pieces of chocolate stuffed with hazelnuts as I was sipping the rum over ice. So I snapped a picture and decided that Hazelnut Chocolate and Rum would be my suggested recipe.
2 oz Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
1 large Ice Cube
Serve in a Rocks Glass
with Hazelnut Milk Chocolate on the side
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When we examine the review done previously with the older bottle style, it is obvious that I like the new bottle better. The rum seems to have gained some welcome complexity, and lost that annoying coconut flavour that haunted me previously. It’s hard to say whether the blend has improved, or because each bottling comes from a unique barrel, that I just go a better barrel this time. Anyway I have left my original review down below for your enjoyment.
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Review: Cruzan Estate Single Barrel Rum (87.0 pts)
A Review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted on October 19, 2009
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum is a blend of vintage rums which have been aged up to 12 years. Once blended the vintage rums are then finished in a new oak barrel for about one year. Barrels are bottled individually with each bottle of rum coming from a single barrel. This picture shows the bottle I reviewed. Since my initial tasting, Cruzan has changed the bottle design but not the manner in which the rum is made. Because each barrel will have different characteristics, each bottling will be different from the last, but the general character of each bottling is similar due to the previous blending process.
IN THE BOTTLE (4.0)
A nice presentation although somewhat deceptive. The bottle implies the rum was aged in a single barrel for its entire life and bottled from that individual barrel. This is not true. A check of Cruzan’s website gives the entire story behind the rum. I like the cork topper.
IN THE GLASS (9.0)
The rum was paler in the glass than what it appeared in the bottle. The nose is very fragrant. I smell coconut and vanilla but catch hints of other spices and nuts I cannot identify. I like this aroma a lot.
IN THE MOUTH (53.0)
I loved this rum on first tasting. The spices seemed to be in balance and the delivery was clean and crisp with nice notes of toffee, nuts and coconut. On my second try I noticed the distinctive flavour of the coconut lingering in the background a little firmer than before. The more often I tasted the rum the more distinctive the coconut flavour. More balance from other spices would be welcome.
IN THE THROAT (13.0)
There is a lot of unique flavours in this one and the final taste in my throat is quite pleasing but again that coconut lingers in the shadows like a thief stealing my pleasure.
The AFTERBURN (8.0)
This rum will appeal to a great many people. It is fine for sipping, and makes a great Pina Colada. I was done in to a certain extent by the coconut flavours I encountered, but I realize that most persons like coconut far more than I.
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Ruminsky van Drunkenburg said
Hi Chip: I absolutely agree with your review. When I wrote my own a few months ago I was surprised at what an overall depth and solidity the Cruzan displayed. I must have gone thorugh two other bottles since then just on the strength of the quality I noted in the first pass.