Reviews of Cruzan Rums

[Arctic Wolf]

Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum:

Cruzan Single Barrel Rum is a blend of vintage rums which have been aged up to 12 years. Once blended the vintage rums are then refinished in a new oak barrel for about one year. Barrels are bottled individually with each bottle of rum comming from a single barrel…….

Read More Here (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetailsmember.php?r=370&u=3568) .....


This review will be posted into the data base as soon as I have time.

[Arctic Wolf]

About one month ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Simon Mooney, the local Brand Ambassador for BeamGlobal, who had dropped by with a sample bottle of the new Cruzan Single Barrel Rum. His wish was for me to put the rum through the paces of my review system and to see what came out. I was mildly surprised as the Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum was one of my very first rum reviews. Then again maybe I should not have been surprised, as Simon has been a reader of my blog for a while now, and he must have noticed that the review I had previously done was for the older bottling of the Cruzan Rum. Perhaps the blend has changed, or perhaps, this being a Single Barrel offering with each bottling representing a unique barrel of rum, each return to a new batch will be a little different. Whatever the reason for the sample bottle, I was only too happy to oblige with a new review of the new bottle.

Here is an excerpt from the new review:

“…Once poured, I immediately noticed a rich toffee scent which seems to have a nice oak spice embedded in the aroma. I catch hints of maple in the breezes as well as vanilla and orange citrus peel. In all, this is a rich pleasant nose that brings all the right elements to the fore….”

You may read the new review by clicking the link:

Review: Cruzan Single Barrel (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetailsmember.php?r=370&u=3568)

[RonJames]

Good review arctic, if my memory is correct I think I get marzipan, soft leather, and a touch of heavy sweet cream with the single barrel. My memory isn't as good as it once was so I think I'll need to revisit this nectar tonight.

[Arctic Wolf]

Thanks RonJames,

I think your description, is pretty close. I never thought of marzipan, but dang it, I wish I had.


glass.gif

[Ben]

Cruzan SB is widely available here, but a healthy price (almost 50$) even by Canadian standards. I only tasted it once and it was quite a few years ago, but I was not impressed, my anticipation was in line with the price.

Your comment about increased complexity got me hooked 'cause that was my main complaint about SB. I will grab a bottle over the next few weeks. I'm pretty sure we still have the old bottling here in Quebec as shown in your older review, so I will maybe make it too for collection purpose.

Interesting recipe, by the way.

[Edward Hamilton]

Since I first tasted this rum in about 2000, it has evolved from a very light, dry rum to one with more complexity and body, though it is still a fairly light to medium bodied rum.The bottle has also changed several times. The original was a blown bottle made in Mexico that had a tendency to break as the wall thickness of blown bottles is inconsistent at best.

The latest bottle is quite substantial.

[Arctic Wolf]

Interesting recipe, by the way.

Yeah that was one of my more involved recipes. :p

I read the review that the Rummelier gave the new bottle and his observations seemed to fly in the face of mine, finding less complexity and a lighter spirit. It makes me wonder at the impact of the 'new' barrel that the spirit is finished in. Will every return to a new batch be a little different or a lot?

[cycloneX]

I have a bottle of the ESB (the new bottle) and i have to say that I dont think Ive had more that a glass or two out of it. I received as a gift and didnt like it too much.
It really reminded me of Jim Beam whiskey... kinda over oaked.
It would be interesting to put the two side by side and do a blind taste.
Maybe thats my project for the weekend.....i shall report back with my findings!
gzzg

[DEF]

Saw it in the store today. Thy just started stocking it. Decided to get Appleton 12 yo instead. I'll get the Cruzan next time.

[Arctic Wolf]

The sample bottle of Cruzan Blackstrap Rum for this review was given to me by Simon Mooney, the local Brand Ambassador for Beam Global. It is bottled at 40 per cent alcohol by volume and is, I believe, aged for two years in the aforementioned American Oak.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Cruzan Blackstrap Rum is an aromatic bombshell. When I opened my bottle for the very first time, my nostrils were immediately aware of the rich molasses filled aroma in the air which contained strong accents of black coffee and dark licorice….”

You may read the entire review here:

Review: Cruzan Blackstrap Rum (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetailsmember.php?r=753&u=3568)

[Rumpelteazer]

The Pennsylvania State Stores are having a clearance on Cruzan Single Barrel. Anyone know what this means? Is it just PA eliminating a relatively overpriced slow seller, or is there a new version coming out, or is it going to be a casualty in Cruzan's race for the cellar?

[Arctic Wolf]

There was a bottle change recently (noted in my review) so that could be the reason; although the new bottle has been around for a while now.

[Rumpelteazer]

It is the new bottle / formulation that Pennsylvania is closing out. Apparently the masses here have spoken that its not a $30 rum.

[Arctic Wolf]

The pricing confuses me as usually when a rum is 30 bucks in the US its usually about 50 up here. It's nowhere near that price here and never has been. (Usually 38 bucks here which, considering our tax bite is 14 bucks a bottle and storage fees at ALGC are said to be 5 bucks a bottle, would be a 19 dollar rum in the US)

I consider it a great rum for the price, and wonder if something else is at play when I hear about it being discounted.

[Jwilly019]

The Pennsylvania State Stores are having a clearance on Cruzan Single Barrel. Anyone know what this means? Is it just PA eliminating a relatively overpriced slow seller, or is there a new version coming out, or is it going to be a casualty in Cruzan's race for the cellar?

I found a store in Ohio that is selling the SB in the new bottle for $20 a piece. Worth it?

[Arctic Wolf]

Personally, if I could buy this rum at 20 bucks, I would buy a case.

[Rumpelteazer]

The pricing confuses me as usually when a rum is 30 bucks in the US its usually about 50 up here. It's nowhere near that price here and never has been.

Actually, liquors in Pennsylvania are almost as highly taxed as in Canada. So $30 here and $38 there is reasonably consistent. With zero marketing, the $30 rum is dying on the vine (so to speak). At the same time as they are closing out the last 7 bottles of their one case of Cruzan SB, there are four pallets full of Bacardi handles in the aisle selling for $19.99.

[Arctic Wolf]

Your explanation on pricing makes sense given that the tax regime in Penn State is high as well. I know that in Alberta, the explosion of new brands coincided with the recession. A lot of product is sitting longer than the companies would like. But I have not seen any discounting here as of yet.

As an owner of a retail business (no not liquor) I know that deep discounts on popular products are often a way to ease a cashflow crunch. It could be that those who are writing of the problems with this brand have their cause and effect backwards. It may be that you see Cruzan Single Barrel discounted because it is a good seller rather than a poor one. Time will tell.

[DJ Mal]

Its $30 here in Michigan. Glad I saw this as I was getting ready to buy a bottle. Now I'll wait till I get down to Ohio.

[Jwilly019]

I found a store in Ohio that is selling the SB in the new bottle for $20 a piece. Worth it?

I cracked open my bottle of Cruzan SB (the older style) about a week ago and have to say it's quite good. There was one night that it was only so-so, but tonight it's really hitting the spot. For $20, I think I'll go pick up the remaining bottles I found (there were only 3 left on the shelf). I did notice they were all from the same barrel as well, so hopefully it was a good one.

[Edward Hamilton]

I cracked open my bottle of Cruzan SB (the older style) about a week ago and have to say it's quite good. There was one night that it was only so-so, but tonight it's really hitting the spot. For $20, I think I'll go pick up the remaining bottles I found (there were only 3 left on the shelf). I did notice they were all from the same barrel as well, so hopefully it was a good one.

It is always amazing to me how much our perception of spirits changes over a period of time.

In regards to the barrel. Cruzan batches their rums so you probably won't notice a difference in the different bottles.

[Arctic Wolf]

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“… When I brought the glass to my nose I was struck by the scents of pungent spices mingling with the sweeter scents of caramel toffee. Vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves are easily identified in the breezes although vague unfamiliar accents above the glass tell me that much more is going on…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetailsmember.php?r=1031&u=3568)