Mount Gay Black Barrel

I'm not saying this is the best rum money can buy...but for the price and wide-spread distribution in my neck of the woods, I think it makes a pretty strong case for itself. This rum has a fairly bourbon-y flavor, and since bourbon is my other favorite spirit, that probably explains its appeal to my palate. Oakey, a little sweet, with a touch of syrup and strong banana notes. This one works well either straight-up or cut with a cube of ice, if you want to make it a bit less sweet and more refreshing.

Could this be the best bang for your buck? For nearly half the price it offers no less from the XO qualities and even adds a little on top of that. It's lacking those lovely floral tones of XO, but it also lacks that sometimes unpleasant alcohol bite. Even people who aren't very fond of the XO really likes this rum, and I can imagine drinking this and only this whole night. This is truly good all-purpose rum.

Mt. Gay makes some of my favourite rums but, this isn't one of them. It is overpowered by a bourbon flavour that I can't ignore. If I want bourbon I'll go get it. I don't mind it in rum when it is subtle but, this is very similar in taste to some bourbons I drink. Smooth drinking and taste is good but, not for a rum.

This is all preference anyway but, the Eclipse red cap is my go to mixer and I feel it's a more rounded rum.

Like someone else wrote, i also felt resemblence with whiskey at first. The taste of char and wood combined with the percentage of alcohol is a bit to sharp in my opinion. Still i like it on the rocks and as a mixer. Lovely smell of oak and chocolate!

Smells and tastes of honey, oak, bourbon, and spice. The taste has a strong alcohol bite to it; perhaps a little too strong at 43%abv, so I'll recommend this on the rocks (I like stronger drinks only when they are super premium). Still, a good above average rum.

This took a bad turn somewhere, in the direction of whisky that I do not like. Somehow worse than Mount Gay Eclipse. More bitterness on the palate. Not sure if too much wood or some other bitter notes, but I'm not a fan. It sounds from my review that I hate this. I don't. It's perfectly fine, just nothing I would ever reach for.

Easily my favorite rum when I'm looking for a subtle smokey flavor. Best enjoyed around a fire. That being said, the char is a little one-note.

Light color, but very smooth, light sweetness Reasonably priced

Wyraźny aromat wanilii, po ogrzaniu także skórzane nuty. W smaku melasa, wanilia, beczka, skóra. Finisz dość długi, początkowo słodki, ale po chwili garbnikowy, beczkowo-skórzany.

A nice spirit, more close to bourbon than to rum. Its taste feels like they want to attract bourbon fans to rum world. Quite smokey, not aggresive, but not so fresh or fruity at least for my preferences.