Coruba Dark

Tiki tiki tiki.
Goslings is pretty good.
Blackwell is nice.
Merchants Reserve 100 proof Dark is the o my competition for this one though, when it comes to mixing up a nice planters punch or other tiki standby. Just a shame it’s so rarely stocked around my neck of the woods.
Get some!

First off, I admit up front I'm a bit confused...the label says this is an "imported 100% Jamaica rum" and the neck label reads "The Rum Co. of Jamaica" but their website has a New Zealand address and from what I have read online via multiple sources Coruba is a very popular source of rum in New Zealand and it is produced by J. Wray and Nephew. So it's kind of all over the map.

It's color is a dark, rich mahogany and it has a strong yet satisfying aroma. One point needs to be made at this time: according to some online sources, their website says caramel was added for color and flavor however as of the time of this review I do not see that indicated on their website. In fact, I don't see any mention of the Coruba Dark rum anywhere on their website. Could it be that this is a discontinued rum? If it is then it's a shame...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Rums from Jamaica tend to be fuller in flavor and not sweet. This rum is no exception. It is a rum with character and punch. It is a blended rum that has been aged for a few years in American oak barrels (not sure if charred, toasted, or plain -- or whether bourbon, whisky, rye, or what was initially aged in the barrels). There is evidence initially of molasses in the flavor rapidly overtaken by the oak tannins. So there is a bit of initial sweetness and a little vanilla/toffee undertone but then the oak nature becomes apparent. There is a decent burn with this rum but it does not last. The finish is a bit drier than expected with a little metallic aftertaste.

Definitely not a sipping rum but a very usable mixing rum. Admittedly my current favorite dark rum is Cayman Reef Double Black but that's more of a sweeter/spicier dark rum. This one is more pungent and full-flavor. Both are good mixing rums worth adding to one's rum cabinet. And it's quite inexpensive as well.

I like it! Yes, you know it is Jamaican, but not overly funky. Nice notes of pineapple and baking spice on the nose and palate. Sweet but not overdone. Some alcohol heat and pepperiness, but reasonably smooth. Sipper? Only you can decide, but I've had worse! For sure a great mixer. Works nicely in the Jungle Bird, with some solid molasses notes.

Coruba is a but hard to find retail (around here) but is a staple behind the bar at tiki and tropical haunts across the US. I finally snagged a bottle for my own bar by chance. On it’s own, Coruba is surprisingly sipable - though not a smooth a more premium rums of course - tasting of rich molasses, hint of dried fruits, and a respectable punch of that characteristic ripe banana “funk” that comes from Jamaican rum It’s fairly inexpensive, but has a depth that is atypical for other rums in the price point - when used in tiki and tropical cocktails, I find it lends an agreeable character and body, conceivably taking the place of two rums in a mix, and lending an interesting “mouthfeel”, which I understand can be attributed to added glycerin. Very pleased that I was able to snag a bottle and will avail to make this one a workhorse of my home bar 🍹

I had low expectations of the ol’ Coruba. I remember West Indian cricketers advertising it in the early 80s but had no other references. Having put it side by side with a Goslings, I find it subtler and more complex. Beneath the brown sugar and treacliness, there’s a dry cocoa, a little earthiness and some oak is apparent. As a cheap rum ($48 AUD) this is going to be my go-to for colour, depth, or a float in a Mai tai or a navy grog.

Very nice rum for mixing. Great in a Mai Tai or just with soda. Beautiful dark appearance.
Cheers!

In the bottle purchased in Newport KY. Pours dark brown. Aroma of sulfur molasses, chicory, coffee and chocolate. Flavor has the funk with a mild finishing alcohol tingle. Earthy cocoa flavors. Burned sugar. Can’t make a Ray’s Mistake without this one.

Honestly? Not bad as a sipper since at that potency it still retains a certain amount of character and flavor. An exceptional mixer to smooth out overproof rums in a cocktail, for some reason it just doesn't stand up on it's own as a mixing rum like Myers or Appleton. Really unremarkable in that respect.

Tasted at the Forbidden Hole on Small Business Saturday, November 25 2023.
Appearance: dark amber
Aroma: molasses
Flavor: complex and hot but not unpleasant. This rum has some dust to it, the molasses is mostly in the aroma and appearance.

Soft nose, I get a citrus molasses. Palate adds a vanilla note with an ethanol bite. A little sharp going down. I can see this working more Asa mixer.