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Pusser's British Navy Blue Label ABV40 3-Year rum

Pusser's British Navy Blue Label ABV40 3-Year

Virgin Islands, British | Aged | 40% ABV

The Great British Admiralty first served rum daily to its Royal Navy sailors over 300 years ago until the ration was abolished in 1970. In 1979 Charles Tobias bought the recipe rights, formed Pusser’s Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands, and for the first time made the rum it available for public consumption.

Pusser’s British Navy rum today is the same blend of five West Indian rums as the British Admiralty issued to sailors.

Known as the “single malt of rum” Pusser’s British Navy rum is pot stilled using a similar method as that for single malt scotches, and with no artificial flavors is 100% natural.

6.8/10
443 ratings
Tasty, but not quite great
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443 Pusser's British Navy Blue Label ABV40 3-Year Ratings

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Paul B 🇺🇸 | 472 ratings
Posted over 5 years ago

In my heyday of traveling extensively through the Caribbean from 1988 to 1996, I drank cheap Cruzan and Appleton rums to save money for all of my trips. Then I happened upon a bottle of this rum from the BVI's one day. I bought a bottle and had absolutely no idea what the Royal Navy daily ration meant. It was so different from any rum that I had tried. However, I soon looked upon this rum as an occasional foray into "finer" rums, as I had yet to learn about the true finer rums. I kept buying this "luxury rum" on occasion for many years until one day the taste changed. I gave up and avoided it for at least 20 years.

Having liked their 15 year old that even made it into my top 10 rums, I finally gave this one another try. My only purpose for buying it was to make authentic Goombay Smashes and Painkillers, both of which are sweet tropical drinks as opposed to sour tiki drinks.

My bottle was created in Guyana and bottled in the BVI's. Since I love demerara rums from Guyana, this was a good sign before I even opened the bottle. It also has only 6 gpl of added sugar to keep it classified as dry, which is another good sign. My first whiff from opening the bottle was caramel. The wonderful aroma of mildly spiced caramel lingers in the snifter. Very complex flavors greet the palate since it is supposedly made from several different Caribbean rums. It is sweet without being overpowering, with oak flavors being very well hidden. The smooth taste goes down with no after burn.

Damn, I found another winner at only $26 per bottle and I don't even have to use it as a mixer. But when I do, I will not feel guilty about using it to make large batches of Goombay Smashes! And yes, it does indeed make a great Goombay Smash!

Update January 5, 2021: It has been years since I had this rum or their much better Gunpowder Proof. So rather than drive almost 200 miles to pick up more bottles of Gunpowder Proof, I picked up another bottle of Pusser's 84 Blue Label locally this morning. The label on the back says that it is a blend of rums from Guyana and Trinidad. It tastes no better than before and still rates as a high 6 for me. The inclusion of the cheaper column still and unaged rum from Trinidad is obviously used to keep the price down. It also keeps the quality down. However, a recommended upgrade to this rum would be to add some Appleton 12 year or 8 year to the mix to suit your tastes.

So go ahead and make your own version of Black Tot that suits your own needs and at a much cheaper cost! I still cannot believe that the British Royal Navy gave their troops a daily ration of such a complex mixture of rum for free. I am almost certain that their daily ration was more like the modern day version of Bacardi Gold vodka disguised as rum. My impression of the current craze over Black Tot is that this is nothing more than another money grab. Fools and their money will soon part! Take my advice and do your research to recreate your own version that tastes much better at a much lesser cost.

Michael Regular 🇨🇦 | 36 ratings
Posted over 8 years ago

I compare all the rums I drink against Pusser's. I love this rum and it hosts so many memories. Cheers!

Norup 🇩🇰 | 60 ratings
Posted almost 8 years ago

A smooth, richflavoured rum, with a firm, spicy nose. A great sipper, with a mild spicy burn, filled with oak, caramel, and some baking spices. Surely got some references to "the black tot, the last Consignment", but at a lot more affordable Price, making it hard to choose from 1 bottle black tot or 27 bottles of Pusser's! Or NOT! The Pusser's worth every penny and get an extra bottle in This rating for the affordable price.

Lonely Coast 🇺🇸 | 16 ratings
Posted almost 8 years ago

On the nose very a strong, dried fruitiness, mainly raisins, with a clean alcohol punch. Once in your mouth, not nearly as harsh as it smells like it might be. While not my preference as a sipper, it's not bad for that. As a mixer it's clean and versatile. While not high on my list, I'd not hesitate to pick up more when I find it at a good price.

PTGarcia 🇺🇸 | 26 ratings
Posted 7 years ago

Perhaps I am just not a fan of Navy style rums, but I have tried this on more than one occasion and simply can't find many, if any redeeming qualities to it. Lots of folks seem to love it so to each his/her own.

mistercoughy 🇺🇸 | 239 ratings
Posted almost 8 years ago

Finally got around to reviewing this excellent, funky pot-still classic. The full-flavored Guyanese component makes this an especially delicious sipping rum, best served neat. Reminds me a lot of single-cask Demeraras, but less intense and much less hot. A very smooth and savory rum, on its own and in cocktails.

Stefan Persson (PREMIUM) 🇸🇪 | 507 ratings
Posted 3 years ago

This rum saw the light of day when Pusser's looked over its range in 2014.
Before the Blue Label was available in two other versions, one with ABV 47.75% and one with ABV 54.5%. The latter one is now relabelled and renamed Gunpowder Proof. The new Blue Label gained a strength of 40%. Around the same time a Blue Label version at 42% showed up in some markets. This latter one is said to be the relabelled Red Label.
The Gunpowder Proof and the two new Blue Label was said to be the same blend, but at different ABV.
The Blue Label has over time been found in various blends initially with rum from Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados. Then with rum from Guyana and Trinidad and finally nowadays it just contains rum from Guyana with distillate from the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still among others. The latter one is the one I review here.
From aroma via mouth and palate to the rather long finish, it’s possible to recognize Demarera sugar, molasses, caramel, spices and fruits.
Overall it’s quite rich and full-bodied and a very good value for money which goes straight away to my shelf for good everyday rum.
Pictures: My opened bottle & My Pusser’s shelf by moment.

Hedonist 🇩🇪 | 59 ratings
Posted almost 9 years ago

Got the 40% version for around 20€ and a good value. Strong but not harsh, surprisingly cheap. Rum how it should be, in my opinion. Makes me want to try the 15yo version later, what is why I give onyl 9/10. The best I got in the 20€ area so far.

AZMark 🇺🇸 | 35 ratings
Posted 3 years ago

I'll give it a 6 for a rum with no sugar added. Add 1 for the tradition. Add 0.5 for the sipping. Round up for an even 8 for a rum worthy of the rum shelf.

Scott T 🇺🇸 | 122 ratings
Posted 11 years ago

One of my absolute favorites. Interesting mingling of wood, brown sugar, funk, and a finish that goes on forever.

Da'rum 🇩🇪 | 22 ratings
Posted over 11 years ago

A piece of history that will always be in my collection.
Ester rich, pungent pot stilled perfection. Stewed fruits, brine and spice.
Brilliant.
The bench mark for Navy rum.

I only left a star off because the overproof is really the authentic deal but it's the same rum just with less water added.




Brand Details

Name: British Navy Blue Label ABV40 3-Year
Years Aged: 3
ABV: 40%
Type: Pusser's
Raw Material: Molasses
Process: Blend (2+ distilleries)
Distillation: Unknown
Women Led Rum: No

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