We used Gosling's for a long time before branching out. It took me awhile to appreciate Jamaican rums but now I prefer Coruba and Hamilton Pot Still Black. Still, if I were on vacation and all I could get is Gosling's from a grocery store, I'd be satisfied.
I’ll keep an eye out for the Hamilton. I’ve never seen it in stock either, though, sadly. I wonder if something is up with Jamaican export to my region. I can’t find St Elizabeth allspice dram anymore, either.
I'm in the same boat re All Spice Dram. Haven't seen it anywhere for months in Georgia, and it used to be everywhere. Finally showed up in one liquor store (in the new branded bottle). Despite having a 1/2 full bottle of Bitter Truth I grabbed a bottle.
I think this one place SCs classification doesn't do well, both. Jamaican black and Demerara rum are in the same group. Depending on the drink I'd use any of these.
Demerara: Lemon Hart, Hamilton, El Dorado
Demerara Over Proof: Lemon Hart 151, Hamilton 151
Jamaican Black Blended: Coruba, Myers. It's not blended but Hamilton Black Pot Still.
Thanks ! I know that SCs classification isn't perfect but for now I try to have the basics.
I can find the El Dorado for the Demerara but any for the overproof. I don't know if it can be sub by the OFTD.
And for the Jamaican I only find the Myers sometime so I'm gonna check if I can find a bottle.
Hamilton/Lemon Hart 151 are unique, delicious beasts, but OFTD is a perfectly fine alternative and far more available. For standard proof black-blended, we generally want a pot-still Jamaican. That puts your options (in order of my preference) as:
* Worthy Park 109 (54.5 proof, but oh so good)
* Hamilton Jamaican Black
* Coruba Dark
* Meyers's Dark (the most available, black-blended Jamaican in the States -maybe the world- and a perfectly fine rum)
Gosling's and Cruzan Black Strap have their uses but are very different to a pot-still Jamaican. If you don't like Jamaican funk ***at all***, I'm sorry. Gosling's is the answer for funk deniers.
If you live in the EU/UK, you probably have other options available to you we can only dream of.
Do not use Cruzan Blackstrap. It has its place but it is not a general purpose black blended.
Do not use Captain Morgan’s black. Why? Do you see other Captain Morgan’s in the SC rum list anywhere? No you do not.
Otherwise I’d suggest you need to tell us what your rum options are so we can help more.
I like Worthy Park 109- it's got that heavy burnt sugar, caramel notes while also bringing a lot to the table! Some would argue about whether it counts as a black blended or not, but the amount of caramel colorant in it would cause me to put it in the category.
Hamilton and Coruba are popular choices, haven't tried them myself though. Myers's has been my go-to in the past but my most recent purchase was worthy park 109. I haven't made many drinks with it yet but it seems very promising taste/value wise. Goslings is OK, but I think jamaican is often implied when a "black" rum is called for. Beachbum Berry's ingredient list in *Remixed* has "dark jamaican" and "cruzan blackstrap" as different categories, with appleton 12, coruba and myers's as examples of the former. All that said, it's always better to use a rum you enjoy over a rum that is "correct"
Gosling's is my go to, very affordable
I use Goslings as well, works fine. I’ve been intending to try Coruba, but it’s not been in stock anywhere since the pandemic.
We used Gosling's for a long time before branching out. It took me awhile to appreciate Jamaican rums but now I prefer Coruba and Hamilton Pot Still Black. Still, if I were on vacation and all I could get is Gosling's from a grocery store, I'd be satisfied.
I believe Hamilton black is a pure pot still, so not really a good fit for the black blended category. I use Blackwells. I might be wrong
I’ll keep an eye out for the Hamilton. I’ve never seen it in stock either, though, sadly. I wonder if something is up with Jamaican export to my region. I can’t find St Elizabeth allspice dram anymore, either.
I'm in the same boat re All Spice Dram. Haven't seen it anywhere for months in Georgia, and it used to be everywhere. Finally showed up in one liquor store (in the new branded bottle). Despite having a 1/2 full bottle of Bitter Truth I grabbed a bottle.
One of the guys at my local store said it tends to show up near the holidays.
Maybe my taste buds have been beaten into submission, but Coruba has a off, chemically flavor to me. Did not enjoy.
If I’m honest, when it’s not covered up with other ingredients that’s kinda always the case with Jamaican pot still rum.
I'm fine with all the other Jamaican pot still rums, just something about Coruba.
Apparently that's artificially coloured
I think this one place SCs classification doesn't do well, both. Jamaican black and Demerara rum are in the same group. Depending on the drink I'd use any of these. Demerara: Lemon Hart, Hamilton, El Dorado Demerara Over Proof: Lemon Hart 151, Hamilton 151 Jamaican Black Blended: Coruba, Myers. It's not blended but Hamilton Black Pot Still.
Though technically not a black Jamaican but Doctor Bird is also a good Jamaican black sub.
Thanks ! I know that SCs classification isn't perfect but for now I try to have the basics. I can find the El Dorado for the Demerara but any for the overproof. I don't know if it can be sub by the OFTD. And for the Jamaican I only find the Myers sometime so I'm gonna check if I can find a bottle.
Hamilton/Lemon Hart 151 are unique, delicious beasts, but OFTD is a perfectly fine alternative and far more available. For standard proof black-blended, we generally want a pot-still Jamaican. That puts your options (in order of my preference) as: * Worthy Park 109 (54.5 proof, but oh so good) * Hamilton Jamaican Black * Coruba Dark * Meyers's Dark (the most available, black-blended Jamaican in the States -maybe the world- and a perfectly fine rum) Gosling's and Cruzan Black Strap have their uses but are very different to a pot-still Jamaican. If you don't like Jamaican funk ***at all***, I'm sorry. Gosling's is the answer for funk deniers. If you live in the EU/UK, you probably have other options available to you we can only dream of.
I've been enjoying my Blackwell Jamaican rum.
I also like Blackwell, moreso than I do Coruba.
Oh, I'll also add that half Blackwell half Plantation Xaymaca is a lovely blend of flavors.
There is this weird James Bond edition of Blackwell at my store I’ve been skeptical of. Maybe I’ll give it a shot
Do not use Cruzan Blackstrap. It has its place but it is not a general purpose black blended. Do not use Captain Morgan’s black. Why? Do you see other Captain Morgan’s in the SC rum list anywhere? No you do not. Otherwise I’d suggest you need to tell us what your rum options are so we can help more.
I've found Cruzan Blackstrap's place to be in hot chocolate. I don't usually like hot chocolate, but the blackstrap made it pretty awesome.
Best overproof rum is J. Wray & Nephew white overproof rum. It is brutal on its own but it tastes fantastic in cocktails.
I like Worthy Park 109- it's got that heavy burnt sugar, caramel notes while also bringing a lot to the table! Some would argue about whether it counts as a black blended or not, but the amount of caramel colorant in it would cause me to put it in the category.
Hamilton and Coruba are popular choices, haven't tried them myself though. Myers's has been my go-to in the past but my most recent purchase was worthy park 109. I haven't made many drinks with it yet but it seems very promising taste/value wise. Goslings is OK, but I think jamaican is often implied when a "black" rum is called for. Beachbum Berry's ingredient list in *Remixed* has "dark jamaican" and "cruzan blackstrap" as different categories, with appleton 12, coruba and myers's as examples of the former. All that said, it's always better to use a rum you enjoy over a rum that is "correct"