Cruzan Single Barrel

First off, in the interest of full disclosure, my bottle doesn't look anything like the bottle pictured here although it's the same rum. My bottle, for whatever it's worth, is more short and wide with a wide opening and shoulders. Here's a pic online: http://whiskeyapostle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cruzan-single-barrel-rum-new-bottle-176x394-176x394.png

Looking online there seems to be at least three variants of bottles and labels for this rum. This can be confusing. Appleton changed labels on me and I ended up duplicating rums.

But I digress...

There are brands of rum that I just don't have very high expectations. Cruzan is one of them. Mostly inexpensive rums grouped in together with other inexpensive rums of dubious quality. I decided on getting this one since it is "single barrel" and according to the label it consists of "select rums aged 5-12 years, expertly blended, and aged again in a single American oak barrel".

Wait a second....

Wouldn't that be TWO barrels?

Okay...nitpicking aside, at least they put some sort of age description on the bottle albeit to me a bit misleading. Fine print.

Anyway...I digress again...

Back to the rum.

First off the color is a beautiful deep amber. Nice aroma with a little bit of alcohol sting. The flavor starts off somewhat sweet...not too bad...I taste vanilla and butterscotch in it before the burn hits. There is evidence of the oak but not as much as I expected. Not a bad rum. So close to qualifying as a sipping rum. Maybe if were allowed to age for about 5 more years. However it is a solid mixing rum. Surprisingly good from Cruzan. Good job, folks!

My bottle of Cruzan single barrel has a warm buttery start, with as light peppery burn on the finish. pretty good at it's pricepoint

I liked this rum with cola. And a squeeze of fresh lime.

this rum has a taste quality that eludes me for personal enjoyment - is it dill, I taste or smell? Whatever it is, I just can't quite get into this one. Not for me, but as I've said elsewhere before - taste is personal/subjective, so to each his/her own.

This is a great golden rum. Very smooth for 80 proof.

Vraiment bon comme rhum. Il surprend par rapport au prix. Son odeur de miel est complexe. Vieilli 5 ans il surpasse plusieurs rhum de même age.

Not quite what I expected and not very complex... Might be better suited as a mixer.

Very (too?) spicy and a little bit of sweetness. For those who like a strong rum. Probably great for mixing as well.

not very sweet, finishes nice, good for mixing or on the rocks

Straight out of the bottle and into the glass I'd say it's a 7/10. You give it around 45mins-1hour and you have something beautiful here.