Captain Morgan Private Stock - a Spiced Rum good enough to drink straight up
Written: Jan 07 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Smooth, mellow, subtle spiced rum. Perfect for drinking straight up
Cons: Expensive
The Bottom Line: -
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| carnut2k4's Full Review: Captain Morgan Rum Private Stock |
Ahoy, Matey!
Rum's a funny drink. I go back and forth on whether or not I like it. I suppose that means it's not a favorite drink of mine and when I do drink it, it's likely to be heavily masked by sugar (pina colada, daiquiri, etc) or it's a spiced rum which I'll mix with coke. Captain Morgan's makes the most popular and best (in my opinion) spiced rum and they've outdone their original with the more refined Captains Morgan's Private Stock.
The Corporate Stuff
Captain Morgan's has been making rum for quite some time although their success can be somewhat pinpointed to 1984 when they made the two smartest decisions they could have hoped for. They added a spiced rum to the line up and started marketing in the United States. The rest, as they say, is history. The original Spiced Rum is easier on the palate than white rum (in terms of drink-ability for the masses) but it isn't a terribly good rum. The spices are overpowering and it's actually a little too sweet in my opinion. The alcohol burn is also a little rough if you drink it straight. The only way to enjoy it is mixed with Coke. When Private Stock hit the shelves I was a little skeptical and the premium price made me hesitant. I received a bottle as a gift last year and am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this rum. Occasionally I drink this neat. It's too good (and expensive) to bury with Coke.
The Bottle
My sample is the 750 ml version and the clear glass bottle has a nice dimpled texture to it. It's a short, squat bottle and if it weren't for the neck it would be perfectly square. The orange / brown / reddish label advises that this rum is produced in Ponce, Puerto Rico and that it's a solid 40% ABV. A real cork is capped on top by nice wood which makes it easy to open and close the bottle.
The Pour
Captain Morgan's Private Stock pours a beautiful honey amber color. A slight viscous quality is noted as you swirl the rum around in the glass.
The Nose
It has a weaker nose than their original Spiced Rum. Maybe it's better described as more subtle. The first notes I pick up are an equal mixture of the sticky sweet molasses that it started out from and a vanilla aroma that is just as prevalent. Underneath I can pick up traces of nutmeg and cinnamon but not nearly as easily as you can with regular Spiced Rum. The faintest hint of alcohol is there but the smell doesn't give you a sense of fire in your nostrils at all. There are a lot of spices in the mix that I can't nail down. It's just too subtle.
The Taste
Sweet molasses and spice. The vanilla that the nose picks up doesn't reach the tongue. This is much more subdued than regular Spiced Rum. The fire that white rum would bring to the throat isn't here. Of course you can taste the alcohol, but it is muted. Your chest warms, letting you know the 40% ABV is accurate but the mouth and throat only experience the flavor. An aftertaste of spice and candy lingers.
The Price Factor
As you would expect, a premium product will come with a premium price-tag. This bottle I'm sampling was a gift but I've seen this rum at my local liquor store being sold for $22.95. They also sell a 1.75 liter version for around $36 but it would take me an awful long time to get through that much Private Stock. At this price point I would advise against buying this if your evening has a blender or a 2 liter bottle of Coke in store for you. Pouring this in a Pina Colada would just be a waste of money. The subtlety would be lost under all that sugar and ice. Buy this only if you're looking for an ultra smooth, spiced rum for sipping.
How To Drink It
Well, I've already railed against mixing Private Stock with anything so now I'll offer my advice on how to enjoy it. Neat. As in straight up. Don't stick the bottle in the freezer or put ice cubes in the glass - you'll lose all the flavor if you do that. There's no need to be afraid of drinking this one straight. I prefer a short tumbler or a rocks glass and I pour about a shots worth into the glass. This is best sipped in the evening the same way that you may enjoy a nice Grand Marnier or Licor 43 after dinner. It's not as sweet as a traditional liqueur but it's just as warming and satisfying. Drinking it in this fashion is the only way to really enjoy the smooth texture and it's also the only way to justify the price point.
Captain Morgan has taken Spiced Rum to the next level with this one. I wouldn't have tried it if it weren't a gift but now that I have I'm sure I'll replace this bottle when the time comes. Go ahead and give it a shot - you won't be disappointed.
www.rum.com
Recommended:
Yes
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carnut2k4
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