It's amazing how different peoples tastes are, I'm a UK spiced rum drinker but generally the standard supermarket spiced rums. I have only tried 4 of the spiced rums in this video and the Bacardi to my tastes is the worst one I have ever tasted.) 1 Kraken (really like) 2 Captain Morgan (Did like now just ok) 3 Sailor Jerry (bought a bottle so had to finish it not great) 4 Bacardi spiced (drank bottle but pulled a face everytime I took a drink😂) I usually drink Aldi dark spiced Rum (bit better than Kraken) Dead mans fingers, admiral J, and Admiral J Tiki Fire. Next purchase will be Chairmans reserve spiced.
Nice video Steve, as always. But could you make the end less cut off? Maybe say „please like and subscribe, have a nice day, and see you next time.“ That would really end your videos better. Just an idea. Keep it up. 😊
Hi Steve, thanks for another great video. I think you make a good point about Captain Morgan. Although I personally don't like the brand (even their black rum is the only black rum I've ever tried that I don't like) I see it's importance as a "gateway rum brand" if you will, although personally for me it was the Kraken that served that purpose, not Morgan. All that said, the spiced rum I most recommend (and some may laugh at this but I really don't care) would be *Sammy's Beach Bar Kola Spiced Rum* . If you like a silky smooth buttery aroma and deep rich flavor to your spiced rums that isn't sugary sweet, then this one is for you. It is a dark/black spiced rum. Never mind that it was developed in association with a famous rock singer (which I didn't even realize until long after I bought and tasted it, as that isn't prominently advertised on the bottle) the rum truly stands on it's own merits and is good enough to be a sipping rum as well as working perfectly in cocktails. And don't be put off by the name as it doesn't contain any Coca-Cola-like flavors. Anyway, please try it and see if you don't agree. Cheers mate! 🍷🍹
I was very disappointed that Captain Morgan's has gone full on plastic for all their bottles. I've been looking for a good replacement that is in the same price range, so I really appreciate this video. Before you say anything, yes I know there are better spiced rums, but Captain Morgans has always been decent enough for it's price range; especially for mixed drinks. I do buy better rums, but those are generally to treat myself when I feel like spending the extra money.
@@brianstrickmaker926agreed, private stock is a lot better. Almost good enough to just drink on the rocks. Don’t think we get 100 proof in the US but there’s a great cocktail called the Cable Car that uses the original Captain Morgan.
@skraegorn7317 we get 100 proof here in Ohio, it runs about $38.00 for the 1.75l but it's in the plastic bottle now. It's a good looking bottle and has a nice label but the fact that it's cheap plastic is terrible.
The only time I open my bottle of Captain Morgan is during winter months with hot apple cider (nonalcoholic). I’ll probably pour the rest down the drain and shop for something better. Thanks for the great info Steve.
I'm definitely not a connoissieur, but i prefer no mixes with my drinks. Finding a dark or 'spiced' rum that I like 'neat' has been a bit of a struggle. Myers' dark is pretty good, and hate to say it but the CM Private Stock rum is pretty tasty.
In my little spot in the US, spiced rum goes into a dark and stormy. What turned me onto this drink was a session in The Mojito Bar in Treasure Island in Las Vegas. "The Black Pearl" is Captain Morgan Spiced, sweet and sour, simple syrup, fresh mint, mulled blackberries, and Sierra Mist. It was delicious. From there I explored variations of Moscow Mules, though I quickly switched to Kraken for my spice rum (it has more going for it for me). For the dark 'n stormy (I know that technically that's supposed to be a Gosling Black Seal base--I like Kraken better) the ginger beer really matters too. For me, I've settled on Q ginger beer, or Fever Tree if Q is not available.. The other use of spice rum for me is for a rum and coke, or a topper on a mai tai. Thanks for the wide-ranging review!
Haven't tasted the Cpt Morgan spiced yet, but their private stock is pretty good! And agreed on Kraken, one of my 1st spiced rums, still to this day a favorite. :D Try Baron Samedi if you can, pretty similar to Kraken, made in the US, I'm sure you'll love it!
I'll deffo have to give the Bacardi spiced a go this summer. Pity you didn't include the US Bayou spiced rum in your lineup as it's really nice and I rate it alongside of Chairman's and Don Q's spiced. We're definitely spoiled with good quality spiced rums this side of the pond. My faves are: Black Tears, Pusser's Spiced, Two Swallows and Belgrove Hazelnut rum. QUESTION: any chance agricole spiced rums being reviewed in the future Steve?
Maybe because I am an American but Ginger beer is already so spiced that why would you add more spice to it? Am I wrong in thinking that if you like the flavor of Ginger beer that you would add an unspiced liquor? Please educate me.
I don't know how widespread Bayou is but their spiced rum is the best I've ever had for an extra $6 per fifth compared to CM. If they have a presence in the UK I would love for you to cover their whole suite!!
Nice tasting session! Cool to see DON Q and Chairman's Reserve often come out on top in your comparisons. Good for the people who like to simplify their shelf (like me 😊) Funny about the Bacardi Spiced, I remember enjoying it as a sipper after a long working day in the desert in Jordan as it was the only one I could get in the local shop 😀
Shame that your channel gets more US viewer than UK viewer that one would expect from a UK RUclipsr. We drink spiced rum in the US in ginger ale or cola. I’m not a spiced rum guy. I’d rather drink Hamilton Florida Rum Society or Rhum Clement.
RUclips is just not as bigger deal in the UK. Most people don't "get it". Instagram is the huge deal here. Not only that, there really aren't that many Drinks RUclipsrs here in the UK. Very much dominated by US. So those channels are naturally gonna drive views to the rest of us.
The Tamboo works well with Ginger ale, love the Canerock with Copella Apple juice. Guilty pleasure is the occasional Don P and coke. Like most The Captain introduced me to rum before moving onto Havana 7 and now I’ve become rum obsessed 🫣. Other spiced rums of note Takamaka Zepis Creol and Of course Pussers.
I would just tell anyone who wants a good Captain Morgan to buy Private Stock. It's a must have in my house! I really like it for neat sipping and it's only $25 here in the U.S.
The Bacardi spiced is weird... Liked it at first, sipping, but lately, I've somewhat come to dislike it, it really has a sort of peculiar flavor that gets kind of foul after a while... I can't really put my finger on it; it's not the sweetness, but sort of related to sweetness, weird/strange taste particular to Bacardi spices.. 🤷♂ But out of the spiced rums I like, I much prefer Baron Samedi or Kraken Black spiced, Kraken Gold and Cpt Morgan Private Stock. I'd probably prefer Bacardi Spiced to normal Rum though, which I don't really care for. Sad thing is that it's very cheap in Canada, so I would love to love it, as a cheap option, it's ok, but definitely not my favorite!
Thank you! You just saved me a lot of money. I was thinking about trying Don Papa, seeing how popular it is, but now I won't. I tried Bumbu, and I didn't really like it. Way too much vanilla aroma for me. If Don Papa is even more, then no. I love Chairman's spiced (tried it because of some of your videos). Maybe I can find Don Q too, but it's quite rare here. I haven't thought of bacardi before, but now I'm interested in that too.
I know most of your videos are about the positives to each. If you get the chance, check out "deaths door" from northern Wisconsin USA. It was the first bottle I purchased when trying to refine my search. Omg, I never thought you could drink tree bark. It's awful. It made me have a great appreciation for used, or aged barrels for storage. They are truly what adds flavors to different syrup.
I hadn't heard of Angostura Tamboo until now. I've never seen this in the US. After a quick google search, it appears that we can't get this here in the US.
Yeah you can. Just not sure which states. These days, I always check things on Total Wines and a few other sites...as I know my audience is primarily US. But Tamboo was launched to the US market in the latter part of 2022.
I tried a bottle sample bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced rum and Sailor Jerry side by side recently. Both were horrible. The Private Reserve was my go to for Hot Buttered Rum.
I don't know whether it is my taste buds or issues with factory quality control, but I have tasted some batches of Sailor Jerry that I liked and some that I did not.
@@StevetheBarmanUK After this last bottle, I agree with you. I had given up on Sailor Jerry until a family vacation where my niece brought one of the good-tasting bottles. I got a good one myslelf next. Then my luck ran out.
Nah, it's just not me! My whole ethos is Faff Free. I use & promote branded Syrups and Mixers. I don't go down the mixologist route, I prefer to save time and just buy off the shelf. Nothing against making your own. I'd encourage anyone with time to do it themselves. But there's a lot of people who simply don't have time.
I'm a big fan of the Chairman's Reserve, but it still is quite "bubblegum" to me. Not overly sweet, but the spices will remind most Americans of old-fashioned pink bubblegum simply because things like cinnamon and clove were also heavily used in the first flavored bubblegums. Koloa Kaua'i Spice is fantastic if you can get your hands on a bottle or a sample. It's a little too subtle to be used in many mixed drinks without its spices getting lost, but as a neat sipper it's amazing. It's actually a bit woody/smokey on the nose which will surprise you, but it tastes more like what you would expect but its sweetness is relatively low for the style/group as a whole. Agree on Sailor Jerry, the original was an outstanding value and was delicious mixed with Coke. I actually have about 50% left of an old original formula bottle in the back of my cabinet, though I haven't cracked it open for years. It's a shame that they've cashed in on their name to sell an inferior product these days.
@@StevetheBarmanUK I also have to be careful using the "pink bubblegum" descriptor with Americans these days. Unless they are 50+ they think of the soft stuff that these days is flavored with a very specific artificial banana flavor that is nothing like the old-school stuff I am thinking of. It used to come in flat rectangles dusted in cornstarch and was actually quite firm until you gave it a few chews.
Have you tried Soggy Dollar Island Spiced (British Virgin Islands) or Bayou Spiced (Louisiana) in your tastings? The former says it's Caribbean Rum while the latter is a spirit like Captain Morgans - they're.... interesting 😂
its a shame that youtube algorithm is the way it is. cause you are very charismatic, i could listen to your commentary of watching paint dry and i would still have fun :D
Hahaha.. Thank you...i think! It's not the algorithm. Its just that the UK doesn't watch the sheer volume of RUclips that the US does. Plus in the US, you can watch TV via RUclips (like your cable channels). We can't in the UK.
I'm trying out Sailor Jerry's, I dont normally drink spiced rums, but this one tastes like I'm drinking grape cough syrup, I am never gonna get this one again, yuk .
I have a bottle of Sailor Jerry US version. It is 47%ABV. I wonder would it be worth doing a comparison video with the UK 40%? Favorite spiced rums Chairmans reserve, Black Tears, Canerock, Cargo Cult Banana, and prob a few others. The Bacardi Spiced has surprised me. Never would think about buying that.
Rum is not just spiced. You can get higher aged rum for less than a 12yr Scotch. Granted that rum doesn’t have a rules across the board on how to make it.
It's amazing how different peoples tastes are, I'm a UK spiced rum drinker but generally the standard supermarket spiced rums.
I have only tried 4 of the spiced rums in this video and the Bacardi to my tastes is the worst one I have ever tasted.)
1 Kraken (really like)
2 Captain Morgan (Did like now just ok)
3 Sailor Jerry (bought a bottle so had to finish it not great)
4 Bacardi spiced (drank bottle but pulled a face everytime I took a drink😂)
I usually drink Aldi dark spiced Rum (bit better than Kraken)
Dead mans fingers, admiral J, and Admiral J Tiki Fire.
Next purchase will be Chairmans reserve spiced.
Nice video Steve, as always. But could you make the end less cut off? Maybe say „please like and subscribe, have a nice day, and see you next time.“ That would really end your videos better. Just an idea. Keep it up. 😊
Hi Steve, thanks for another great video. I think you make a good point about Captain Morgan. Although I personally don't like the brand (even their black rum is the only black rum I've ever tried that I don't like) I see it's importance as a "gateway rum brand" if you will, although personally for me it was the Kraken that served that purpose, not Morgan.
All that said, the spiced rum I most recommend (and some may laugh at this but I really don't care) would be *Sammy's Beach Bar Kola Spiced Rum* . If you like a silky smooth buttery aroma and deep rich flavor to your spiced rums that isn't sugary sweet, then this one is for you. It is a dark/black spiced rum. Never mind that it was developed in association with a famous rock singer (which I didn't even realize until long after I bought and tasted it, as that isn't prominently advertised on the bottle) the rum truly stands on it's own merits and is good enough to be a sipping rum as well as working perfectly in cocktails. And don't be put off by the name as it doesn't contain any Coca-Cola-like flavors. Anyway, please try it and see if you don't agree. Cheers mate! 🍷🍹
Love Captain Morgan’s plastic bottle, it won’t break on the boat and is easy to pack.
I was very disappointed that Captain Morgan's has gone full on plastic for all their bottles. I've been looking for a good replacement that is in the same price range, so I really appreciate this video. Before you say anything, yes I know there are better spiced rums, but Captain Morgans has always been decent enough for it's price range; especially for mixed drinks. I do buy better rums, but those are generally to treat myself when I feel like spending the extra money.
Private Stock is still glass, but I really miss the 1.75l glass bottle of their 100 proof
@@brianstrickmaker926agreed, private stock is a lot better. Almost good enough to just drink on the rocks. Don’t think we get 100 proof in the US but there’s a great cocktail called the Cable Car that uses the original Captain Morgan.
@skraegorn7317 we get 100 proof here in Ohio, it runs about $38.00 for the 1.75l but it's in the plastic bottle now. It's a good looking bottle and has a nice label but the fact that it's cheap plastic is terrible.
Not in my area. We got glass and plastic.
The only time I open my bottle of Captain Morgan is during winter months with hot apple cider (nonalcoholic). I’ll probably pour the rest down the drain and shop for something better. Thanks for the great info Steve.
I'm definitely not a connoissieur, but i prefer no mixes with my drinks. Finding a dark or 'spiced' rum that I like 'neat' has been a bit of a struggle. Myers' dark is pretty good, and hate to say it but the CM Private Stock rum is pretty tasty.
In my little spot in the US, spiced rum goes into a dark and stormy. What turned me onto this drink was a session in The Mojito Bar in Treasure Island in Las Vegas. "The Black Pearl" is Captain Morgan Spiced, sweet and sour, simple syrup, fresh mint, mulled blackberries, and Sierra Mist. It was delicious. From there I explored variations of Moscow Mules, though I quickly switched to Kraken for my spice rum (it has more going for it for me). For the dark 'n stormy (I know that technically that's supposed to be a Gosling Black Seal base--I like Kraken better) the ginger beer really matters too. For me, I've settled on Q ginger beer, or Fever Tree if Q is not available.. The other use of spice rum for me is for a rum and coke, or a topper on a mai tai. Thanks for the wide-ranging review!
Haven't tasted the Cpt Morgan spiced yet, but their private stock is pretty good! And agreed on Kraken, one of my 1st spiced rums, still to this day a favorite. :D Try Baron Samedi if you can, pretty similar to Kraken, made in the US, I'm sure you'll love it!
I'll deffo have to give the Bacardi spiced a go this summer. Pity you didn't include the US Bayou spiced rum in your lineup as it's really nice and I rate it alongside of Chairman's and Don Q's spiced. We're definitely spoiled with good quality spiced rums this side of the pond. My faves are: Black Tears, Pusser's Spiced, Two Swallows and Belgrove Hazelnut rum. QUESTION: any chance agricole spiced rums being reviewed in the future Steve?
DO you know what, Bayou Never dawned on me! totally forgot about that. weirdly wasn't listed at the US sites I was looking at either!
Maybe because I am an American but Ginger beer is already so spiced that why would you add more spice to it? Am I wrong in thinking that if you like the flavor of Ginger beer that you would add an unspiced liquor? Please educate me.
Another great video Steve. Bundy Rum used to make spiced rum as well. Don't know why they stopped. I still drink Captain Morgan.
I don't know how widespread Bayou is but their spiced rum is the best I've ever had for an extra $6 per fifth compared to CM. If they have a presence in the UK I would love for you to cover their whole suite!!
I just replied to another comment about Bayou. Yeah we get it here. Did forget about it! It wasn't listed on the 2 US Sites i looked at weirdly!
Nice tasting session! Cool to see DON Q and Chairman's Reserve often come out on top in your comparisons. Good for the people who like to simplify their shelf (like me 😊)
Funny about the Bacardi Spiced, I remember enjoying it as a sipper after a long working day in the desert in Jordan as it was the only one I could get in the local shop 😀
Shame that your channel gets more US viewer than UK viewer that one would expect from a UK RUclipsr. We drink spiced rum in the US in ginger ale or cola. I’m not a spiced rum guy. I’d rather drink Hamilton Florida Rum Society or Rhum Clement.
RUclips is just not as bigger deal in the UK. Most people don't "get it". Instagram is the huge deal here. Not only that, there really aren't that many Drinks RUclipsrs here in the UK. Very much dominated by US. So those channels are naturally gonna drive views to the rest of us.
The Tamboo works well with Ginger ale, love the Canerock with Copella Apple juice. Guilty pleasure is the occasional Don P and coke. Like most The Captain introduced me to rum before moving onto Havana 7 and now I’ve become rum obsessed 🫣. Other spiced rums of note Takamaka Zepis Creol and Of course Pussers.
Ah, Zepis Kreol.... was drinking that the other night actually! Did an Event with Takamaka Rums back at the end of March!
Interesting result. Still can't get along with Canerock. Need to get myself a bottle of the Chairmans.
From denmark, Love good rum,guilty pleasure Espero Coconut & Rum. 40%
I would just tell anyone who wants a good Captain Morgan to buy Private Stock. It's a must have in my house! I really like it for neat sipping and it's only $25 here in the U.S.
The Bacardi spiced is weird... Liked it at first, sipping, but lately, I've somewhat come to dislike it, it really has a sort of peculiar flavor that gets kind of foul after a while... I can't really put my finger on it; it's not the sweetness, but sort of related to sweetness, weird/strange taste particular to Bacardi spices.. 🤷♂
But out of the spiced rums I like, I much prefer Baron Samedi or Kraken Black spiced, Kraken Gold and Cpt Morgan Private Stock. I'd probably prefer Bacardi Spiced to normal Rum though, which I don't really care for. Sad thing is that it's very cheap in Canada, so I would love to love it, as a cheap option, it's ok, but definitely not my favorite!
Thank you! You just saved me a lot of money. I was thinking about trying Don Papa, seeing how popular it is, but now I won't. I tried Bumbu, and I didn't really like it. Way too much vanilla aroma for me. If Don Papa is even more, then no. I love Chairman's spiced (tried it because of some of your videos). Maybe I can find Don Q too, but it's quite rare here. I haven't thought of bacardi before, but now I'm interested in that too.
Bacardi Spiced used to be Bacardi Oakheart - they use it at Trader Sam's.
Is Trader Smith's the UK version of Trader Vic's ?
I know most of your videos are about the positives to each. If you get the chance, check out "deaths door" from northern Wisconsin USA. It was the first bottle I purchased when trying to refine my search. Omg, I never thought you could drink tree bark. It's awful. It made me have a great appreciation for used, or aged barrels for storage. They are truly what adds flavors to different syrup.
I hadn't heard of Angostura Tamboo until now. I've never seen this in the US. After a quick google search, it appears that we can't get this here in the US.
Yeah you can. Just not sure which states. These days, I always check things on Total Wines and a few other sites...as I know my audience is primarily US. But Tamboo was launched to the US market in the latter part of 2022.
I tried a bottle sample bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced rum and Sailor Jerry side by side recently. Both were horrible. The Private Reserve was my go to for Hot Buttered Rum.
I don't know whether it is my taste buds or issues with factory quality control, but I have tasted some batches of Sailor Jerry that I liked and some that I did not.
Can't say that i'd buy another bottle to test a different batch... 😂
@@StevetheBarmanUK After this last bottle, I agree with you. I had given up on Sailor Jerry until a family vacation where my niece brought one of the good-tasting bottles. I got a good one myslelf next. Then my luck ran out.
There’s a few recipes for spiced rum online and I’d love to see you make your own sometime
Nah, it's just not me! My whole ethos is Faff Free. I use & promote branded Syrups and Mixers. I don't go down the mixologist route, I prefer to save time and just buy off the shelf. Nothing against making your own. I'd encourage anyone with time to do it themselves. But there's a lot of people who simply don't have time.
I'm a big fan of the Chairman's Reserve, but it still is quite "bubblegum" to me. Not overly sweet, but the spices will remind most Americans of old-fashioned pink bubblegum simply because things like cinnamon and clove were also heavily used in the first flavored bubblegums.
Koloa Kaua'i Spice is fantastic if you can get your hands on a bottle or a sample. It's a little too subtle to be used in many mixed drinks without its spices getting lost, but as a neat sipper it's amazing. It's actually a bit woody/smokey on the nose which will surprise you, but it tastes more like what you would expect but its sweetness is relatively low for the style/group as a whole.
Agree on Sailor Jerry, the original was an outstanding value and was delicious mixed with Coke. I actually have about 50% left of an old original formula bottle in the back of my cabinet, though I haven't cracked it open for years. It's a shame that they've cashed in on their name to sell an inferior product these days.
Oh wow. Have to say, Chairmans Reserve Spiced is NOTHING like the Bubble gum we used to get in the UK. 😂
@@StevetheBarmanUK I also have to be careful using the "pink bubblegum" descriptor with Americans these days. Unless they are 50+ they think of the soft stuff that these days is flavored with a very specific artificial banana flavor that is nothing like the old-school stuff I am thinking of. It used to come in flat rectangles dusted in cornstarch and was actually quite firm until you gave it a few chews.
Hi Steve, well done with this. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Nick from York
Have you tried Liberté Gold Spiced Rum from Trinidad and Dominican Republic?
Was gonna say I’ve never heard of it. But isn’t Liberte the Lidl own Brand?! Are you UK/Europe?!
As much as I love Appleton and Diplimatico, I also love Bumbu and kraken
Cut to the spice is the very finest spiced rum. If you have a sweet tooth ir is unrivalled
Have you tried Soggy Dollar Island Spiced (British Virgin Islands) or Bayou Spiced (Louisiana) in your tastings? The former says it's Caribbean Rum while the latter is a spirit like Captain Morgans - they're.... interesting 😂
Another one for Bayou! Hahaha...I forgot about it as it wasn't listed on the US websites I was looking at!
Also worth mentioning Bacardi Caribbean Spiced rum, which to me is far tastier than Bacardi spice, and reasonably priced too at an average £21.
Yeah, didn't feature that, simply because it's not a US product...as far as I know.
its a shame that youtube algorithm is the way it is. cause you are very charismatic, i could listen to your commentary of watching paint dry and i would still have fun :D
Hahaha.. Thank you...i think! It's not the algorithm. Its just that the UK doesn't watch the sheer volume of RUclips that the US does. Plus in the US, you can watch TV via RUclips (like your cable channels). We can't in the UK.
The bottle definitely says spiced rum in the USA
Hi Steve, have you tried the Angostura 1919? I like the sound of the toffee and coconut notes.
He has in previous videos but doesn't feature here as it isn't a spiced rum. The 1919 is one of my faves.
Check his rum reviews channel
Spiced rum and pineapple juice 😋
I'm trying out Sailor Jerry's, I dont normally drink spiced rums, but this one tastes like I'm drinking grape cough syrup, I am never gonna get this one again, yuk .
Can you recommend a dark rum that is available to purchase in the uk please? Thanks
Check out my Blue channel. I LOVE my "Dark" Rums. I'll give a shout to my UK Buddies though. Check out Goldstone Dark and tell them StB sent you!
With Sprite. Gives it a Creme Soda taste
I have a bottle of Sailor Jerry US version. It is 47%ABV. I wonder would it be worth doing a comparison video with the UK 40%?
Favorite spiced rums Chairmans reserve, Black Tears, Canerock, Cargo Cult Banana, and prob a few others.
The Bacardi Spiced has surprised me. Never would think about buying that.
Maybe mate, but in truth, I don't see how SJ can be that much better! unless they've added a a tonne of sugar and flavouring to mask the awful taste!
@@StevetheBarmanUK Ya true if its that bad dont think it can be fixed. I have it a few years and never opened it. It may stay closed now 😂
Have you tried Dark Matter Spiced Rum?
Yup. Don't like it. Way too Nutmeg & Cloves for me personally. Or was back in 2020 when I last had it.
Are you related to aftv julian
Sailor Jerry ftw
Most spiced rum in the US is consumed as a Captain and Coke.
Don papa and coffee is pretty good
Scotch - single malt - any day over any rum! I have never been able to drink spiced rum. I like high quality spirits!
Rum is not just spiced. You can get higher aged rum for less than a 12yr Scotch. Granted that rum doesn’t have a rules across the board on how to make it.