Cruzan Blackstrap rum

[JHarpJ]

I love that molasses flavor found in Cruzan Blackstrap rum. Any suggestions of other brands having that molasses taste??
Thanks in advance.

[Edward Hamilton]

Welcome to the forums. Cruzan Blackstrap Rum has the most molasses flavor of any I have drunk. There are a few others, but Cruzan has the most of that thick blackstrap molasses flavor.

[Tiare]

Unfortunately i cannot find Cruzan Blackstrap..so i haven`t yet tried it but i have a similar rum called Jamaican Black, also a blackstrap rum and very molasses flavored. But i believe the Cruzan is better.

[RobertBurr]

Although nothing in my collection can compare with Black Strap, Coruba from Jamaica has a wonderful richness that makes an authentic planter's punch. The dark rums from Whaler are of interest and obviously, Gosling's Black Seal. My Skipper Demerara rum is a classic robust dark rum from Guyana.

Perhaps you should try experimenting with adding some top quality molasses to one of your other rums and see what you get.

[JHarpJ]

Tiare,
Google doesn't find "Jamaican Black rum" but does find rums with either the word "Jamaican" or the word "Black". Please check the label and tell me if there is a brand name associated with the product you mention.
Thanks,
Jim

[Tiare]

Sorry, its called Black Jamaica Rum..i posted a pic of the bottle in this thread:

http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=613

[Hank Koestner]

The choices Robert made were my picks also. You might also like the flavor profiles of Ron Abuelo 7 from Panama, and the rich rums from Venezuela, and Ron Fundacion from Costa Rica.

[RumBarPhilly]

For a nice rich thick dark rum, try the Whalers Dark. Nice and cheap, and very delicious.

The black strap rum imparts much of its molasses flavor to the fact that molasses is added after distillation (or so Ive been told) and is considered by Cruzan, a flavored rum. Regardless... I still love it and sip it when I get the chance.

Also, if you want a somewhat lighter rum, try the One Barrel, its flavors of Butterscotch and Maple mirror the Cruzan B.S. somewhat.

[DanaAcker]

We just distilled our first commercial rum this week. The fermentation was from brown sugar, just to see how it would work. Blackstrap molasses is easy to get down in North Carolina, but from what I've read and have heard, isn't a great fermenter in that a fair percentage of the soluble solids are not sugar. We are awaiting a shipment of golden unsulfured molasses for our next distillation.

The brown sugar worked OK, in that it fermented without problems and made a palatable drink upon completion, but not quite what I was looking for. That said, I took some regular white rum and decided to play. I caramelized some brown sugar, and added about 2%, which added something to the taste. Then I tried adding a small amount of blackstrap molasses, and it compared favorably to the Cruzan Blackstrap, of which I am a fan.

I've searched for how Cruzan makes their's, but not much info is available. Whether or not they ferment the rum from blackstrap, which is possible despite potential fermentation problems and lower yields, is something I'd like to find out. But I'm pretty sure they are adding blackstrap molasses to the rum to get the viscosity, color and flavor. However they do it, it's still one of the best buys in the liquor store. Salud!

[Edward Hamilton]

All of the Cruzan rums are distilled from molasses. Whether or not you or they, would call if blackstrap is something for another discussion. You're right that the other solids do demand careful fermentation and care for a successful fermentation.

[RobertBurr]

Incidentally, I am hosting a tasting of the Gifted Rums of the US Virgin Islands next Saturday evening here in Coral Gables, featuring a long list of rums from Cruzan.

Gifted Rums Events (http://www.giftedrums.com/events.html)

Cruzan Estate Light And Dark
Cruzan Estate Diamond Five
Cruzan Single Barrel Estate
Cruzan Black Strap Navy Rum
Cruzan Clipper 120 Proof
Cruzan Rum Cream
Cruzan Assorted Flavored Rums, inlcuding Banana, Citrus, Pineapple, Coconut, Orange, Mango, Vanilla, Raspberry, Black Cherry and the newest flavor: Guava.

For those that have not experienced the Cruzan Black Strap Rum, they are in for a delightful surprise.

[Joe Riley]

If anyone in the U.S.A. has had a difficult time finding Cruzan Blackstrap Navy Rum, fear not.

Beam Global (or Fortune Brands) has acquired Cruzan and the Blackstrap is back in circulation. It has not been discontinued, as some fans had feared.

I still have the old packaging, but I really like the new packaging on Cruzan rums.

Now if they would only do away with those silly flavors and bring back the 5-year rum.... :(

[msinabottle]

I cherish the flavor of molasses in my rum, the darker and more evil the better.

The Cruzan is... heavenly.

You will find that flavor in Gosling's Black Seal, sometimes it is cheap.

Ron Matusalem Black had it, I believe the Ron Matusalem Reserve is the same product, just 3x as expensive.

Pyrat has it.

Whaler's Original Dark has it.

Trader Vic's Original Dark, which I have just found again in Colorado, has it, and is cheap.

If you ever want the ultimate thrill--make yourself a Cuba Libre with one of those syrupy 'Cane Colas' and a dark, molasses-ey rum.

Just... delightful.

Best!

[Rx2010]

I just picked up a bottle of this, tried it neat, was pretty good, mixed with some Dr. Pepper... wowzer, very good

very happy with my purchase, especially for 14 bucks

[kbuzbee]

So does Cruzan Black Strap have a darker flavor than Whaler's Original Dark?? I just recently tried the latter and it's delicious.

Thanks!

Ken

[Dave in the basement]

I almost grabbed a bottle of this when I absolutely spaced-out over the rum I was actually at the store to purchase (Gosling's Black Seal).

I am going to give this a shot next, assuming I can find some solid dark rum recipes that the Mrs. and I enjoy. Cheers!

Dave

[kbuzbee]

I guess it doesn't matter.... Ohio delisted both.

Thank you VERY MUCH!

Argh!

Ken

(so what state has the best Rum selection? I'm guessing Florida??)

[Edge]

Texas has a great selection of rum. Being on the Gulf Coast and near the Houston Ship Channel helps considering how much alcohol gets imported here.

I bought another bottle of Black Strap yesterday along with a few other bottles of rum (Cruzan Single Barrel Estate, Captain Morgan 100, Zaya, and Cruzan Black Cherry) even though I wasn't yet out of Black Strap and I still have three full bottles of the SBE. Not that it matters, but I got the last bottle of Black Strap with the "old" labels. I prefer them to the new ones. Even the bottles have changed; the new bottles don't have the ship on the glass.

I am a fan of Black Strap in Coke, although my best friend Stevie sips it neat.

[Lew Barrett]

I may have said this already, but I am not a huge Blackstrap fan.

That said, I did a rum tasting this Saturday at home. The attendees paid $120 a head for it, and there were six heads. It was my gift to an auction held by a favorite local charity, and I wanted everyone to go home rosy. I did it in flights, but that's another story; the flight I used the Blackstrap in was a flight of "Navy Rums." Personally, I don't consider BS to be a navy rum in the same sense that Pussers is, but there on the bottle it says: "Navy Rum" (or words to that effect) so I included it in the tasting.

But I'm rambling. The bottom line is that it went over rather well with a few of the guests. I was surprised. Maybe I shouldn't have been. Myself? Pure mixer, not to be swilled solo.

[RonJames]

i agree lew, not straight, but in some pure rum cocktails I do love it. You have to love maple syrup though...Corn'n Oil's and grog it does nicely if a little different.

[St.Croix Libation Society]

As an ex-pat Oregonian living on St. Croix, nothing is more refreshing on the beach than a Cruzan Blackstrap and Ginger Beer with a couple squeezes of lime.
(of which we never call a Dark & Stormy, as not to be marauded by the Gosling's attorneys)

Now, while canned ginger beer can be just fine, I prefer to stop at the little tables set up on the side of the road where local Crucians sell their mangoes, carambola, hot sauce and fresh ginger beer...

Everyone is welcome to come down and enjoy some!

[RonJames]

Love the name SCLS, you be living the dream man.drooling2.gif

[Dave in the basement]

This is probably a stupid question (but I am okay with that!party1.gif), but has anyone tried Blackstrap with ginger ale? I am wondering if there would be any sort of suitable substitute for the beer.

[Joe Riley]

This is probably a stupid question (but I am okay with that!party1.gif), but has anyone tried Blackstrap with ginger ale? I am wondering if there would be any sort of suitable substitute for the beer.
Ed has: http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=30511&postcount=23

[Rum Runner]

Now, while canned ginger beer can be just fine, I prefer to stop at the little tables set up on the side of the road where local Crucians sell their mangoes, carambola, hot sauce and fresh ginger beer...

Everyone is welcome to come down and enjoy some!

That's the way we like it here too.

cheers.gif

[Sluggonics]

Robert Hess on The Cocktail Spirit has created a drink especially for Cruzan's Black Strap Rum. I tried it the other night and enjoyed it... the intense flavor of Black Strap is tough to work into a cocktail without completely dominating it, but this marries it to some flavors that work with it-- the falernum and the orange. Plus, he "cuts" the Black Strap with some white rum that helps moderate the flavor even more.

Here's the link:
http://www.smallscreennetwork.com/video/193

[Sparticus]

May I suggest Old Monk. Dark and carmel textured for a great price. One of my staples.

[Mistahunter]

IMHO...this is best served as an accent or "float" in a drink.

Basically, you better be bringing something else to the party.

[Jerry]

cheers.gif Definitely strong and sweet on the molasses.....works great for me with some equally strong ginger beer, (Cock & Bull).

[Squiggly]

friend gave me a bottle of Blackstrap. I love it! It was an old bottle. As I can not buy it in Canada, I picked up 2 bottles over the X-mas holidays. The new bottle tastes a little less molasses, but is still very good.
Some good rums that I like that are like Cruzan Blackstrap are Edward Young & Co. Old Sam, a Demerara. It is bottled in Newfoundland Canada. I can't buy this one in Ontario either. Lemon Heart an other Demerara is pretty good too, this one is made in Ontario, but I can't buy it here.

[Jamie76]

I love Cruzan Blackstrap. I'm drinking it right now actually. That being said, I dislike the screw cap. I've had a few bottles of Blackstrap and each one has had an issue with the screw cap not sealing completely. I figured it was just a run of bad caps, but I picked up a bottle tonight and sure enough, I put the cap on and it doesn't tighten down and seal.

[seabass]

I'm really digging Cruzan blackstrap...especially at $10 a bottle. It makes a killer Hurricane (2 oz lemon juice, 2 oz passionfruit syrup, 4 oz Blackstrap)