Rum Review: Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum (U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix)

Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum has been produced on the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, since 1760. Cruzan Rum is also the only distillery operating in St. Croix today.

Cruzan Single Barrel is decanted in a tall bottle that has a frosted glass effect and a wooden cork. Around the long neck there is a small label, where the number of the bottle and the number of the barrel has been written.

Little details like this are fun to have as they allow me to find rum from a different barrel for taste comparisons.

Despite the name, Cruzan Single Barrel is actually a blend of different aged rums up to 12 years old. After blending the blend is then put into a new charred oak barrel to continue aging for approximately 1 more year and then bottled so it is not exactly what I would consider a true single barrel rum.

Appearance

Cruzan Single Barrel rum looks delicious in the glass, with sparkling gold highlights and a deep brown core. This golden brown rum has a notable clarity and long runny legs that keep forming for a while after their predecessors have run their course.

Nose

To the nose this Cruzan rum feels very smooth and complex, though not overly complex. It has a little spiciness to the nose and enough complexity to pique my interest. I could describe it as a warm summer wind that carries aromas of buttery caramel and underlying vanilla here and there enticing my appetite.

Taste

The initial sip feels peppery and dry to the tongue and palate. Another sip allows me to taste caramel and after a short time definite wood notes appear and the pepperiness has now spread onto the sides of the tongue where it keeps tingling for a little while.

A splash of water brings out the caramel in the nose and it improves the taste by making the rum a little more mellow also bringing out more of that buttery caramel and interestingly roasted nuts.

Someone recommended enjoying Cruzan Single Barrel with an ice cube but I find it is best enjoyed on its own at room temperature or with a drop of water because as the ice cools the rum it takes away too much of the flavour.

Aftertaste

Buttery caramel is persistent in this Cruzan rum and the new discovery of coffee in the aftertaste makes Cruzan Single Barrel a little more interesting. Notable, though not necessarily in a bad way, I can detect some alcohol and bitterness.

Final thoughts

I like Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum. It is simple and doesn’t require a certain mood for enjoying it as the more complicated rums often do.

I could easily consider this as one of my favorite staple rums and I can definitely recommend this to people who have just started tasting rum because it is not overly complex, which allows them to get an easy yet interesting enough an introduction to aged rums.


Country: U.S. Virgin Islands St. Croix
Bottle No: 278537
Barrel: L 85969
Aged: blend of rums up to 12 years
www.cruzanrum.com

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